Please Help with my La-Z-Boy Design Decisions
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.
Then I bought a bright red slipcover for it in the early 2000’s.
A few years ago, I added a white slipcover to hide it’s true identity.
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.”
Everywhere I looked, there was gorgeousness.
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.
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?!)
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:
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:
Pretty Handy Readers, meet Bree.
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…
…and with the fabric samples I had chosen plus some more she thought I might like.
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.
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.
A few days later this arrived in my email:
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.
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!)
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.
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:
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
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
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
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.
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.
I would have to say #2 is my favorite for the simple reason that there is no leather furniture. Leather is old in the winter and in the summer you have to pull your skin off it if you wear a skirt or shorts, unless you keep it covered and you are all ready doing that. So # 2 and it is beautiful.
You reach a point in life you just NEED to have a recliner and it’s great that La-Z-Boy has found a way to make them attractive. I love ours with the bamboo arms that fit in well in a sunroom. We use them constantly and they are like new at 10 years old. Can’t wait to see the new loot in your living room!
I love this post and now gives me something else to look at when it comes time to replace our sad furniture! I really like all of them but my vote is D!!
I love your choices! As much as I love them all, I kept scrolling back up to that first design board. The rug and pillows murmur sweet nothings to each other, while the ottoman quietly nudges you to pay attention to it, and the pattern on the chair is just the right amount of visual texture to balance the rest.
So, I’m voting #1!
I vote D with the white chair and lamp from C. Switch the ottoman color to the pewter Ikat. Good luck! All of them are beautiful options! Makes a very tough decision.
Lisa, thanks for your opinion. I’m considering that option with the pewter ikat (safer decision), but I love the aqua so much…what to do ;-).
Isn’t it funny how easy it is to make decisions for someone besides yourself? I much prefer B or D. I think D would be my choice. Have fun!
Maggie, oh definitely! I can help anyone and everyone with their own furniture choices. But, when it comes to my own… I’m blind and mute. Thanks for your vote.
Great frame on that sofa! But if you want it to last and last and last, I’d rethink the that piping on the cushions. In my experience, it’s the first thing that frays and thus ruins the sofa’s looks. Especially the piping on the upper edge of the seat cushions. When I made the leap for a new sofa many years ago, I chose a custom fabric and had the piping left off the cushions. It was the best decision ever. My sofa is – yes, it gets used everyday – 25 years old. Granted it was hellaciously expensive in the first place, but the point is that there is no wear anywhere on the sofa. (If I’d realized it was THAT good, I’d have chosen a more classic fabric!) No piping equals longer wear!
Ann, oh noooo. I’m going to have to seriously consider this. But in all honesty, the piping is what drew me to the Bree. It looks so pretty and trimmed out. Like crown moulding in a room. Wow, that’s awesome that your sofa is still ticking along at 25 years! Thanks so much for your input.
I think I’m the lone solid A here. Yes, A without a doubt because I’m looking at the wall color as well since I’m all about walls. I want to desperately know where you’re getting that watercolor rug from…Please? I love that, could use that & want that!?!
Awww, it’s okay Colleen. You weren’t alone, there were some other “A” lovers that weighed in via email and social media. The rug is from Surya. There are a couple of different color ways in that pattern.
I love B and D! Can’t wait to see if all installed in your home.
Melissa, you and me both! I might have to combine B & D. I like them the best too (today.) That might change tomorrow.
I like D the best. It would make me happy every time I saw it and with kids I think the colors would do better. I have had kids then grandkids. I always pick the color of dirt. Brown.
Susan, LOL “always pick the color of dirt” brown. Yup, I know what you mean ;-D.
I sent an email with a floorplan attached. x
I really like all your choices but I think you will be happiest in the long run if you choose group C . It is the most neutral and you can change accent colors easily.
Beth, my thoughts were definitely in that camp last week. I’m all over the place. It seems that I could go neutral and add my color in pillows and accessories. Thanks for your comment.
Brittany, I’ve been going back and forth between all of the choices for a while. D is definitely most pleasing to my eye. The combination of textures and colors, specifically the chairs, has a cozy, comforting feel. The leather chair is a perfect color, not too dark and not too light. My feeling is that leather needs a bit of color to draw someone to it. The color is very soothing. The color of the ottoman is perfect. Love, love, love it. The pops of yellow and yellow grass color are just enough. I like the floor lamp. The style and soft lines of it work well with the curved lines of the sides of the sofa. It looks very kid friendly. Good luck and have fun. It will be beautiful, whatever you select.
Thanks for your thoughtful insight Cher. I agree with what you said. I’m still on the fence between a white or light blue leather chair. But, I appreciate your thoughts on leather needing a color.
I would go with D and let hubby pick the color of his “recliner then”. I am liking the idea of them coming to the house I will try and look into the service as well….
Michelle, isn’t that the most brilliant idea? The designer comes to your house to see how the furniture will look and fit in your home. Love that!!!
Brittany, no, he never contacted customer service as he’s sort of a diy guy. He must have done a good job though, because it’s been there ever since. We, too, were quite surprised it happened, especially considering how much we paid for it.