La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl
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Please Help with my La-Z-Boy Design Decisions

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

Remember when I admitted to you that we sit on a dead couple’s sofa? I’m ashamed to admit it, but Pretty Handsome Guy and I have the same sofa that was handed down to us by my godfather when his parent’s died. Several years ago I agreed to stop bringing home inexpensive big furniture pieces. Instead, we decided to wait and save for quality furniture that would last a long time. During the wait, I made the best of an ugly situation and covered that old sofa in hunter green plaid in the 90’s.

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Then I bought a bright red slipcover for it in the early 2000’s.

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A few years ago, I added a white slipcover to hide it’s true identity.

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But, when guests sit on it, they know. I know it by the looks on their faces as their rear ends collide with the hard cushions. It’s like sitting on concrete. Not to mention that the sofa is small. Not just in width, but in height too.

I was talking to my sister the weekend we were working on the beach condo. She is an interior designer and she expressed her disgust with my poor excuse for a sofa, “Brittany, for heaven’s sake, you are in your 40’s! Grow up already and buy a new sofa.” I was shamed and agreed that we needed to find some time to go furniture shopping again. But, this was akin to driving a broken ox to plow through a muddy field (Amazing Race reference.) Handsome Guy hates shopping…especially when it involves looking at multiple colorful swatches and fabrics. I on the other hand don’t mind that part, but I’m particular about quality and comfort. Finding furniture that will last the abuse of our boys and last for decades is important to me.

We set out one date night to hunt down the perfect sofa and drag it home to our lair. We went to half a dozen furniture stores, but none of the showrooms felt right. One was too modern. One had cheap quality sofas. One store had a pushy salesman. (Am I sounding like Goldilocks here?) Sadly, we returned home empty-handed.

In a twist of fate, I was introduced to the new look of La-Z-Boy when they approached me about participating in the Design Dash. Before then, I never considered buying a sofa at La-Z-Boy because — you know — my grandfather had a big fat roll filled La-Z-Boy and it wasn’t stylish! Boy was I wrong!

I walked into that showroom and was blown away…as in “Shut the Front Door! This can’t be a La-Z-Boy showroom.”

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

Everywhere I looked, there was gorgeousness.

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

I had to double check that I was in the right place because some of the room settings looked more like Pottery Barn than what I expected of La-Z-Boy.

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

And that’s why I knew that I wanted to select furniture for my living room from La-Z-Boy. After the Design Dash each blogger was promised a sofa or other furniture as a thank you for working so hard on our rooms. I asked if I could have a rain check because I wasn’t ready to work on our living room. After the holidays I decided to use that raincheck and made an appointment at our local showroom. I was greeted by a design consultant named Lexie. (Isn’t she the cutest?!)

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

Lexie insisted that before I begin picking fabrics and colors I needed to sit down. For the next half hour I did a lot of this:

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

My tushie sat down on every sofa in that showroom. And honestly not one of them felt like that brick we have at home. I wanted to move into the showroom and sit on sofas all day! Lexie asked me a lot of questions about what I liked and disliked about each sofa. She gently guided me to the back where I met this gal:

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

Pretty Handy Readers, meet Bree.

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

To me she has the right balance of elegance and comfort without being overly pretentious. She has stylish curves and beautiful piped trim. But, best of all, she is soft and plush, but supportive of my backside! 😉

As we finished up the initial consultation, I quickly pointed to a few fabrics I liked. Lexie said, “Great, I’ll bring them to your home when I come over for the next step in the design consultation.” Say WHAT?! You heard me correctly, La-Z-Boy has designers that come to your home to help measure your space and make suggestions based on your home! This has to cost money, right? Nope. It’s a FREE service they offer!

Fast forward a few weeks (because we had to contend with the holidays and an out of town trip) and Lexie showed up as she promised. She came with several catalogs of furniture and rugs…

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

…and with the fabric samples I had chosen plus some more she thought I might like.

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

While Lexie carefully measured the room, I laid all the fabrics onto our existing furniture to see how they looked in the lighting in our house. I also tried to envision them on the entire sofa and ottoman, etc.

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

Lexie helped me coordinate fabrics and made some suggestions, but she also let me make my own selections. She offered the perfect balance of design assistance without pushing her style on me.

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

A few days later this arrived in my email:

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

Lexie had put in our room measurements and worked on some furniture placement suggestions.

Itching to see how new furniture would look (or fit) in your room? There is a 3D Room Planner on the La-Z-Boy site if you want to play with your own layout and furniture arrangements.

 

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

This is feeling so REAL now! I am biting my fingernails as I need to actually decide what to choose for our living room. This is where I need your help. Will you be my BFF and virtually come to the La-Z-Boy showroom with me and help me pick out my fabrics and furniture? Lexie and I have already narrowed it down to the pieces I want, but I need help with fabrics. (If you really want to be involved you can actually go to your local showroom and ask to see the fabric swatches in person!)

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

You could walk around the showroom and lay swatches on different pieces. Then turn your eyeballs into a ping pong game and look back and forth at the fabrics to see if you think they coordinate. Just don’t sue me if you get dizzy and pass out. On second thought, maybe see if a designer there can help you.

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

I will be painting our living room a beautiful soft Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams. And I chose a gorgeous watercolor rug to coordinate with the walls. Here are the choices:

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

a. Bree Sofa in Piccolo Stone, Daphne Storage Ottoman in Bradstreet Lemongrass, Bradley Low Profile Recliner in Pearl Leather, Cosmopolitan Wingback in Ikat Fret Pewter, Crossnore Sofa Table

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

b. Bree Sofa in Piccolo Stone, Daphne Storage Ottoman in Bradstreet Lemongrass, Bradley Low Profile Recliner in Ikat Fret Pewter, Cosmopolitan Wingback in Wrigley Oasis, Crossnore Sofa Table

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

c. Bree Sofa in Piccolo Stone, Daphne Storage Ottoman in Bradstreet Lemongrass, Bradley Low Profile Recliner in Ikat Fret Pewter, Cosmopolitan Wingback in Pearl Leather, Crossnore Sofa Table

La-Z-Boy Living Room Decisions | Pretty Handy Girl

d. Bree Sofa in Piccolo Stone, Daphne Storage Ottoman in Tourmaline Ikat Fret, Cosmopolitan Wingback in Bradstreet Lemongrass, Bradley Low Profile Recliner in Leather Powder Blue, Crossnore Sofa Table

I’m so glad you are willing to help me. I definitely appreciate your input and will take your comments into consideration. We’ve waited a looooong time to upgrade our furniture and I’m hesitant to choose furniture that will look dated in a decade or more.

PHGFancySign

Disclosure: I decided to work with La-Z-Boy because I liked their quality furniture, product selection, and comfort.  I was also impressed with how many readers commented on the durability of their old La-Z-Boy recliners. I approached them about working with me on my living room makeover. They agreed to partner with me. I received complimentary products, but I was not told what to write or share. Please know that I am very selective about which companies and products I chose to work with. And I will always disclose partnerships and sponsored posts to you the reader.

 

 

 

70 replies
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  1. happy frog
    happy frog says:

    my opinion? esp with low maintenance in mind and kids, and pets – is to go leather fabric. and best advice i was ever given was to go the CHEAPEST leather fabric i can find. it will survive anything the children and pets do to it. over a decade later, it still looks brand new and i never even got the leather kit out of the packaging. i would just wipe off spills and oops moments with kitchen wash cloth.

    i do love the pretty fabrics you chose – anything will look good. but i am sold on leather fabrics – before i had the leather stuff in living room, i always had pretty prints – but now, i won’t consider anything BUT leather for living room and kitchen chair covers as well. . .

    Reply
  2. Michelle Morton
    Michelle Morton says:

    Yes those two chair selections would be good….but also the lemongrass wingback and the Cosmopolitan wingback…unless you have to have a recliner… And I am trying to get rid of blue in my house (oh and that paint color I was just looking at it last week) nice grey that pulls out blues or greys. I find myself looking at greys and yellows but leaning towards blues..

    Reply
  3. michelle f.
    michelle f. says:

    i am liking B and D but not the lamps. my husband chimed in to say he likes D best. i love the blue/green color on the leather recliner in D. it helps bring in the colors in your rug. a light color will definitely show more dirt, especially with boys. that saying i also think lazy boy has excellent furniture and a recliner will change your husband’s life.

    Reply
  4. Gail
    Gail says:

    I like B best. I think it’s because of the blue chair. The other choices seem like such light colors for a family with young children.
    We got a La-Z-Boy sofa bed several years ago and guests have said it’s the best sofa bed they’ve ever slept on. It has an air mattress instead of a thin, folded mattress. We love it!

    Reply
  5. Beth in AZ
    Beth in AZ says:

    I like D…the colors seem to balance each other out. The chair colors are picked up in the pillows and the rug. I can’t wait to see the finished room! I have been trying to get my DH to pick a new recliner for a year and a half. MY new chair is over a yr old..and still no decision! When we redo our bedroom, that recliner is NOT going back in!

    Reply
    • Brittany Bailey
      Brittany Bailey says:

      I think D is in the lead. Although, I’m contemplating changing the recliner to white leather in photoshop to see how I like that. Your thoughts? Oh and too funny about trying to get rid of the old recliner. It must be comfy!

      Reply
  6. Cheryl P
    Cheryl P says:

    Definitely d…the colors & patterns flow together! If you were to put an ikat pattern on anything it should be the ottoman. U will get tired of the gray patterned chair and it will start to look dated. The ottoman can be changed out cheaper than the chair! By the way….love your blog!!!

    Reply
  7. AnnW
    AnnW says:

    I think D is the best. The print on the recliner makes your eyes dizzy. Also, because of the curves, it will never line up totally. I don’t like the floor lamp though. Too colonial. Solid color large pieces are the best. In ten years when you get tired of the print on the ottoman, you can just drop a slipcover over it. The yellow ottoman is blah. Just too safe. Good choices.

    Reply
    • Brittany Bailey
      Brittany Bailey says:

      Ann, yes, I’m struggling with being too safe vs. not pushing my design sense far enough. But, as you can tell, we hold on to furniture a loooonnng time, so I need to also be smart about my choice. I like the idea of the slipcover when I get tired of it ;-).

      Reply
  8. Christina
    Christina says:

    Brittany, I adore your writing style! 🙂 You reminded me of the beginning of the movie Just Like Heaven when Mark Ruffalo’s character is trying to rent a furnished apartment based on how comfortable the sofa is. If you haven’t seen the movie, I dare say I believe you would enjoy it. Romantic comedy.
    Trailer: http://youtu.be/gAljpQSxgJs
    That said, I vote for B. … it’s colorful, comfy and slightly funky. :)))
    Enjoy your new living room decor and thanks for the heads up on La-Z-Boy!
    ~ Christina

    Reply
    • Brittany Bailey
      Brittany Bailey says:

      Christina, no one has ever said that before. Thanks for the compliment. I haven’t seen that movie but looks like I’d enjoy it. I’m not sure which combo I’ll go for, but lots of votes for B and D so far. I might have to combine the two ;-D.

      Reply
  9. SharonG
    SharonG says:

    They are all gorgeous, but for me it would be a toss up between A and B. I love them both, but also just adore the floor lamp in picture D!!

    Reply
  10. Jo Ann Miller
    Jo Ann Miller says:

    I love the choices in group D. We have had two sofas and too-many-to-count recliners. We’ve had leather, fabric, and rocker recliners, regular recliners and low profile (no lever) types. We got our first in 1965 and the most recent two weeks ago. The quality is great but I so have to say it’s not as good as 50 years ago. I love your blog and I have read all of Diane’s books. In case you think the multiple chairs have worn out – no – I just like to buy new ones! Haha

    Reply
    • Brittany Bailey
      Brittany Bailey says:

      Jo Ann, this will be our first recliner. I’m actually getting it for Pretty Handsome Guy. He currently naps on that tiny sofa with his legs on one arm and head on the other. I think a recliner will elevate his naps to a whole new level 😉 zzzzz.

      Reply
  11. Bonnie Goodrich Wilcoxson
    Bonnie Goodrich Wilcoxson says:

    Go with B but snag that chair cushion in A, C, and D and put it on the sofa. B or D floor lamp. Good luck!

    Reply
  12. Maggie Lee
    Maggie Lee says:

    I hope you have more luck with your LaZBoy product than we did. My husband got a LaZBoy recliner and within the year the arm fell off. He put it back on himself and I guess it’s been Ok since then. I wouldn’t buy another one though.

    Reply
  13. Linda
    Linda says:

    Your choices are lovely! I’m struck by how similar the sofa is to the IKEA Ektorp 3 seater sofa which used to be available in a hardwearing fabric in a soft greeny-gray colour. We are definitely in the IKEA price range, but its always nice to look at more expensive options! I hope you enjoy updating your room!

    Reply
    • Brittany Bailey
      Brittany Bailey says:

      Linda, thanks for your comment. We are trying to move beyond our IKEA furniture (not that there’s anything wrong with them). But definitely looking for furniture that is heavier and more substantial. 😉

      Reply

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