Here’s the thing. Sometimes when you buy vintage (especially vintage for everyday real life use) its life span can end prematurely.
I have some really sad news. My orange couch has given up the ghost. It’s been a long time coming. At first it happened few and far between. I would be sitting on the couch, working on a post and hear a *POP* and think “That was weird. I wonder what that noise was.” After it happened a few more times I got down and looked underneath the couch. The springs were springing (not the actual term for what was happening but the general idea) The popping sound that I heard was when they hit the hardwood floor.
Do you know what I did? Nothing, cause I LOVE my couch and my living room.
Over the last 2 years I have ignored the fact that when you sit down on it you are literally inches off the ground.
But. The time has come. Every spring has sprung. The orange couch has to be retired. I have literally NO idea what will happen when I lift it up (maybe all of the guts will just fall out?) But I have come to terms with it. The couch has had a good run, but its time to accept the fact that it is giving us all back problems. (Happy Court?!)
Which brings me to the next situation. Can you have Seinfeld without Jerry? How about Cherry Garcia ice cream with out cherries? The orange couch was the star of the space, and without it, everything is just going to be so sad!! Also, I sold a lot of the other furniture at the last Hoard Sale. We are basically starting from scratch. A new living room is on the horizon.
The search for a couch has sort of consumed my thoughts for the last few weeks, there are just SO MANY CHOICES. I think this time I want something leather.
My first choice would be something this style. I love that its vintage, but not super mid-century, but still a leeeeetle bit. (This one is on 1st Dibs for $4k AND its in Brazil, so that a problem. Also not loving the color.)
If you look closely at this photo that I swiped from Mod Crib LA (aka Sunbeam_Vintage on instagram) they have a black one that is love seat sized and very much perfection.
But it’s still $1200 and I feel like I would still need another couch because a loveseat would be too little as the main dude in the living room. (You need to follow them on insta, they are literally the poster child for vintage furniture heaven.
Maybe I just need to attempt a DIY?
I am super loving the camel leather Hamilton from West Elm
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And my friend Adri, just bought a great couch from Monarch Sofas (you can see her post here) and I love that you can customize everything. They seem to be pretty reasonably priced and have a lot of great styles. I really love the tufted single cushion on the Kelsey, but in a 3 seater couch, not a sectional.
Craigslist has come up short, except for this guy, but its prices at $1800. WHYYYYYYYY?
So the hunt continues, maybe I’ll score something awesome at the thrift store?
Do you have a couch that you LOVE? Dude, don’t hold out! I need to see all of the options! Also, thoughts on the styles above?
Why not just have the couch repaired? The great thing about 8 way hand tied is that they can be re tied.
That was my thought too! Seems pretty drastic to re-do everything because of one piece. I bet the frame is great since it’s old.
Exactly my thoughts to – my family owns an upholstery shop and we repair that stuff all the time. The great thing about coil spring foundations is they can be repaired from the bottom without taking the fabric off – they get retied from the bottom and nw webbing put in place, dust cover back on and you’ll have a great piece for even more years to come. That is too fabulous of a piece to get rid of for such a small thing. Just a thought.
I was thinking this, too. Actually, my very first thought was “I’ll buy the couch from you, Mandi” and then have it repaired for myself 🙂
So sorry to hear about your couch Mandi! You’ll always have the memories and stunning photos! Let me know if you’d like any fabric as part of your living room make-over 🙂
I scored a almost new Room and Board mid-century style sofa for $75 on Craigslist a few years ago. I would pay full price for one now because with a husband and two teenage step sons plus a dog sitting on it for four years it still looks like new. LOVE IT!!!
You can see it in the after pic in this post.
https://thedomesticlady.com/2013/04/17/home-improvement-stenciling-the-great-wall-before-and-after/
You need to check out the Portland Flea For All, Portland Maine. They just got a pair of vintage caramel leather chesterfield sofa’s that are to die for! I love them, but just re did my living room. They price things beyond fair. Worth checking out… Can be seen on their Facebook page. I’m a step away from selling my furniture to buy them! Lol
So, I saw this on Instagram yesterday and freaked when I realized it was from JC Penney’s (um, hello, they have crazy sales every once in a while). I was really shocked at what a good looking couch it was and that it was from Penney’s of all places. https://www.jcpenney.com/for-the-home/furniture/living-room-sets/darrin-collection/darrin-89-leather-sofa/prod.jump?ppId=pp5001030015&selectedSKUId=79271640026&selectedLotId=7927164&fromBag=true&cm_mmc=ShoppingFeed-_-GooglePLA-_-Sofas-_-79271640026&utm_medium=cse&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=sofas&utm_content=79271640026&cvosrc=cse.google.79271640026&cvo_cid=45810122978&gclid=CPmYhPK2kcMCFcc-MgodiDMAAQ&kwid=productads-plaid^76121678018-sku^79271640026-adType^PLA-device^c-adid^45810122978
Sarah!! I have that couch! Got it almost a year ago, and yes I did leave a review on there (the one with a photo & comment about the french bulldogs nails). A year later and I’ve just noticed the gorgeous patina it’s getting. I love that sofa more and more every day. It’s still holding up to the dog and usual wear & tear.
I will note that I paid $1,800 for it, and then it went on sale again for another $100 cheaper & penny’s gave me the additional refund.
I ALSO have this couch and love it. It looks and feels so much more expensive than it is. I think I must have gotten CRAZY lucky because I bought it on sale/doorbuster back in November 2013, and I only paid about $1200. Major steal, and it’s holding up beautifully. I think I’m gonna have this couch for a LONG time.
I bought the Beatnik sofa from overstock a year ago and LOVE it! It has held up perfectly, and is so comfotable. And we chose because it is pratically a replica of the Hamilton from West Elm, but much cheaper. We also paid like $20 to be in Club O, which earned us like $85 to spend at overstock. We bought a hand tufted wool rug with it, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Holy shedding!
Get the sofa!
https://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Beatnik-Oxford-Leather-Tan-Sofa/8117559/product.html?searchidx=0
Girl-I LOVED working with monarch, so I cannot recommend them enough! Hope you love whatever you end up with:)
Why not get it fixed? If you love it (which you do) then it would probably be worth the cost to get it fixed. Bonus? It won’t give anyone back problems with new guts 😉
I just bought a really clean lined, 9′ sofa that I’m totally in love with, but it needs reupholstering, of sure. Not cheap, but I’m hoping once it’s all done I’ll love it forever!
A good upholstery shop can take the cover off your sofa and re-do all the inside guts. It’s not necessarily cheap, but if you love the couch, it’s well worth it.
I have a like red-pink chesterfield here, its huge. I bought it secondhand for 175 euros thats like 200 dollars. I just came in the right moment and place. I just love it, it sit very well, i love the color… i admit im in love with my couch.
My sister has this orange sofa from Scandinavian Designs and it looks quite sharp in her living room. A bit modern, maybe, for your taste?
https://www.scandinaviandesigns.com/living/sofas/fabric/lamare-sofa-saffron/4580
Hey Mandi,
If it’s only the springs that are gone and everything else is still intact professional upholsterer can fix only the bottom part of the couch without touching the fabric and it’s not even a big job. I have done it many times when everything else is fine but the bottom springs are broken. And Yes, I am professional.
It hurts me that you are thinking of giving up the orange couch. I agree with some others, tie up the springs and keep the couch. Go on line, I’m sure you can find out how and DIY. It has been many, many years since I have done it, but not too awful hard. Good Luck
I also go my (leather) couch at JC Penney. It’s not the same one, it’s this: https://www.jcpenney.com/signature-84-leather-sofa/prod.jump?ppId=pp5002641434&searchTerm=leather+sofa&catId=SearchResults&_dyncharset=UTF-8&colorizedImg=DP0320201317022796M.tif
BUt I did not pay $5k for it. I paid less than half. And I am totally in love with it and sometimes just sit on it and pet it.
My husband and I had a similar problem a few months ago, but we were able to be patient and we scored a vintage beauty at a local thrift store in Durham for $40!! You can kind of see a picture of it here:
https://instagram.com/p/wymj92QjS-/?modal=true
I would LOVE to see a DIY plywood side/back sofa! And, you are just the gal that can do it!
I have a mid century style sofa I bought from Macy’s (the Clare) almost ten years ago for only $699, an awesome price for a mid century look and it has been a great sofa (still going.) They do not carry this model any more but they have replaced it with this guy. It’s even orange and a deal at $899 (but they run sales regularly)
https://www1.macys.com/shop/product/karlie-fabric-sofa?ID=1878851
That is an awesome couch!
Missing your thrift store and Homegoods finds in your posts. Love what you did with the Nugget but missing the good “ol days when I can rush off to TJMaxx or Homegoods and try to find the same stuff you scored at yours. Maybe infuse a little more of your shopping finds back in your blog. Thank you
Beware of tufting on horizontal surfaces! They are little sink holes for dust, lint, dog hair, crumbs and anything else that comes their way.
I thought I spotted your living room chairs in the Hoard Sale pics. I have been wondering what you were up to in your living room ever since. Can’t wait to see what you decide. I am sure it will be inspiring. I want to thank you for inspiring me. I have done more DIY since discovering your blog than I ever thought I would do. It all started with a $10 garage sale chair. My husband thanks you. I am sure we will be having our own Hoard Sale soon.
Crazy thing is, we have the first couch you pictured! The one from Brazil, but it isn’t leather, it’s what we like to call “rare, extinct pleather”, and it’s dark brown and has matching loveseat and chair. Yes, vintage 70’s chocolate brown vinyl. Most comfortable sofa we’ve ever owned.
Have you check out this sofa at Urban Outfitters? I have been crushing on this one forever. https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/m/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=32144602&category=A_FURN_FURNITURE
Oooh, I want this one. I wonder if it is as comfortable as it is cute?
Definitely that last one!
Last year we bought a leather couch for our upstairs den off a yard sale page for 40, aside from a free couch we got when we married it’s the least we have ever spent on a couch and the most comfortable couch we have ever owned.
I love anything (almost) from West Elm. They are pricey but not so much as Restoration Hardware or Pottery Barn (on some items). Over 2K is a big investment, you better LOVE it.
you should totally DIY something!…use your mad skills to show us underlings how to create a piece with substance and style!…that would be a piece we would all remember and appreciate!
Long time lurker, never commented. We have the Hamilton leather sofa from west elm and LOVE it! It’s super comfy and the leather (I’m a first time leather buyer) is soft and is aging nicely (I have 3 kids….so….). Anywhoo, my two cents.
I think I’d contact the Craig’s List person and try to haggle. It appears to be in AWESOME condition … is that price for both the couch and the chair? Good luck! Can’t wait to see what you do! Do y’all have a good Habitat Restore there? Both of our couches came from there. $125 and $240.
This has been my obsession for the past few months and we have very similar tastes in sofas!! I actually purchased a Joybird loveseat (actually 78″, so not toooo small) but haven’t had them build it yet because I’m still on the hunt for vintage gold. Your story is making me think twice :-\ Are you looking for a low-cost vintage piece to shine for the next couple years (like the orange sofa you have now) or for something that you’re going to love for the next decade?
I love vintage furnitur! I have it reupholstered a couple different pieces in the past and they turned out great, but recently I decided I wanted a new couch and not a vintage one. After the great sofa hunt of 2014 I ended up buying from Joybird Furniture. I am super pleased and love it!!!
Please ignore the “it” that is out of place in my comment above. 😉
Yes, I have to agree that if you love the sofa, you should just have the springs re-tied. It is inexpensive and will extend the life of the sofa. Alternatively, one can just build a sofa base and then have cushions made (that’s what we did–using African hardwoods that were lying around in a pile at a lumber supplier whose customers thought that the wood looked too weird). The benefit of the wooden frame + cushions is that all one has to replace is cushions–which is $1K or so every 10 years. The first one you show is not really a tough build–the cushion would require a professional–but not really the frame (apart from the arm, which might need simplifying for DIY). Some people are using pipe these days rather than wood–which seems quite sensible to me as it is more easily disassembled and transported.
The best sofas are by Mitchell Gold and Lee Industries. Mitchell Gold makes a lot of the private label ones for Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware. Lee Industries has a lot of custom styles. I’ve bought some of these new and used over the last thirty years and have been very satisfied. An older sofa is always going to be better than a new sofa. The older ones were constructed better. The wood was dried properly. They should last for close to 100 years. Most sofas can be re-shaped once the fabric is off, so you have a lot of flexibility. I would beware of the Monarch Sofas. They are just too inexpensive.
Oh noooooo! Couldn’t you just get it fixed?!?! Salvaged somehow. How sad!!!!
I love Sunbeam (followed them for a long time) and Monarch is awesome too. I know you will find something amazing. That 1stdibs couch reminds me of a lot of couches growing up in Germany and they are NOT comfortable LOL.
Noooo!!! I really think vintage is the only way to go. You have too much style for the new soul-less, contemporary couches. FYI – I love the first leather couch, sweet!!
I just bought the Hamilton from WE and I L.O.V.E. it. More than I ever thought I could. Plus the leather will just get better with age (a feature that’s unbeatable for value).
Hi.Sad news about your couch.
There are new springs, called sinuous springs, which are attached at the front and the back of the inside. Then, you replace the dust cover. But, it might be more fun to replace the couch, entirely.
If you really love your sofa, then repair it. I had a sofa that I loved but I let it go instead of at least trying to recover it and fix the springs. Okay, so I fixed the springs but was too nervous to recover it. I now wish I would have because the worst that could have happened is that I’d have to toss it and I tossed it anyway. I miss that sofa and will not likely ever be able to replace it. I now have a puffy sofa that I’m not so much in love with. You’ll likely need help to pull the springs back in place while they’re re-nailed (stapled). If the bottom cloth is removed carefully then it can be reused unless you want to grab a paint cloth and use it instead. Just an idea. 🙂
Mandi! Don’t change that room! Everything in there works so great, a one of a kind killer look! It sounds like your orange couch might be past repair but there are other great orange couches out there! Don’t give up! Last year my daughter found 2 old, old chairs in her husband’s grandmother’s attic. They looked horrible, but had nice bones and were structurally pretty sound. She had been looking for some orange chairs to put in an area of her hallway. (her house is 7200 square feet, sh she has hallways with sitting areas) She had searched everywhere. She took those chairs to a furniture repair shop, had some minor repairs done and ordered some gorgeous orange velvet chenille online to have the chairs recovered. Can I just say “F-A-B-U”?! I’m on the “save the orange” side. Don’t let this room we all love be changed!
That Craigslist set looks like vinyl to me! (Definitely not worth $1800!!)
As a person that loves vintage couches myself (but can’t buy because the sofas aren’t deep & comfy enough for my husband), I’m curious if your family really uses the living room much, or do you have a separate & secret ‘family room’ with the truly comfortable couches & TV where everyone really hangs out! I want to see photos of that room!
If you like it,keep it!! Get it a facelift with new springs and new orange velvet upholstery! Or, here is your chance to change colors. You have the perfect room for any bright color.
Just saw this awesome sofa on Dot & Bo and thought you might like it! Very vintage inspired – mid century modern – the site has other great sofas as well…..! good luck, Cathy C
https://www.dotandbo.com/collections/bohemian-sanctuary/22923-edith-sofa#Latte
https://www.monarchsofas.com/roxy.html
I think this is the perfect couch for you!!!
Well, I have had a change of heart. I thought I was in love with the Urban Outfitters couch, but this one takes the cake. “Roxy” is the perfect name for this sassy piece!
Have you considered taking the couch to be re-upholstered? A good re upholsterer may be able to fix those springs, and give you a “brand new” couch.
Have you checked Chairish.com? The prices can be pricey too but things sit on there for a while and you can make offers. Lots of things are free shipping to so that is a plus. Check it out..
http://www.chairish.com
Please before you make the same mistake I did think it through! My first sofa was an amazing vintage white velvet goddess! Sadly her springs did the same and I threw her out! Every day I regret it because now that im more in touch with my interior design side I have realized (and researched) that I could fixed it for the same price or cheaper than it costs for a new sofa! So please if you love it don’t give up! (Dramatic I know but I still cry inside from my loss lol)
~Christina Marie
$1800 actually seems like a good deal on the last one. But I can’t vouch for its condition, so whatevs. Maybe you should just blanket the room with bean bags and have the ultimate sleepover space
I actually love our couch. We got the couch in the link below from Direct Source and then for $40 more you can have it in a customer fabric. So the original couch I think is ugly but we got it covered in a dark grey and looks so Mad Men. I love it.
https://www.directsourcefurniture.com/aukland-collection.aspx
Lol about the couch. https://joybird.com/ has gorgeous couches.
Hi Mandi! The one from Brazil is Brazilian most classic piece of furniture, the sofa mole (something like soft). It was made by a designer (Sergio Rodrigues) on the fifties, and he wanted it to be something that you could “spread” on it. It won a italian design prize on 1961. So it actually is super mid-century 🙂 But I know what you mean. 😉
This one from etsy is adorable https://www.etsy.com/listing/219712878/vintage-tufted-velvet-yellow-couch-love?ref=unav_listing-other , and this mid century beauty aswell https://www.etsy.com/listing/218568853/gorgeous-green-hollywood-regency-mid?ref=unav_listing-other
Ha, I just stumbled on this and I totally bought that bottom couch. I didn’t buy the chair and talked them down on the price! It’s a good one!
I really like that the couch closest to your style is in Brazil. I am a big fan of sectionals because they are big and perfect for watching movies with friends. It would take a totally redesign of your living room but, change is good and fun. I hope everything turns out better than you expect.