I can't tell you which brand to get, but I can recommend that you get a hide that is FINISHED, rather than Aniline-dyed. It will hold up longer and be easier to clean. If you want overall durability, then a solid (or engineered) wood frame, screwed/doweled/glued as well as a hard spring edge, and preferably 8-way hand-knotted springs in the seat deck. I almost hate to say it, but in most cases the more expensive the piece is (within reason)- the better its going to hold up. -Duane

I never really buy new furniture, most of my stuff comes from classified ads or consignment stores or yard sales, but I always pay way more attention to my painting. In the advice department, I tell people to buy their sofas and chairs first, pick a paint color after. That's because I know that most people shell out hard dollars for furniture. For myself, I see it like this; My walls and floors cover almost all of the space in my room. Choosing the wall color is really important to me. I want the room to 'feel' a certain way, and for that, the walls need to be beautiful, the floors too. Furniture can be added later. And since most all colors that I use work with each other, I just assume it will all come together. Red

I have an 8,9 and 12 yo. A few items to add to already great advice... KIds seem to create copious amounts of artwork. We used to string clothesline and clothespins in the garage and the hall to the laundry room. They could hang up and take down the art themselves. You can display a ton of stuff very easily and take it down with no fuss or damage. The cubbies I see in most mudrooms are too small to hold shoes. Especially as my girls love Uggs and they take up a lot of space! Make sure you allow enough space for shoes AND boots in the mudroom. I don't like a chest of drawers in a kid's rooms. They are never closed! If possible, put inexpensive ikea chests or even just shelves, inside the closet so keep the mess in there. Every day before dinner they pick up any scattered toys/books/stuff and they go in a large basket --- Friday night they have to empty that basket and put the items back in their respective rooms. Anything left Saturday morning goes to Goodwill (never happened). No after school snack until your shoes coat and backpack are put away. I don't know if you are remodelling but very soon you will want to have established places for the following 1 Where do they use the computer? We strictly limit screentime of any kind, so we have one MAC desktop for them and it is visible from the kitchen and family room. 2 Where do they watch TV? We don't want to make it easy to watch TV (it is too easy already), so we only have one. 3 Where can they do crafts? We were able to devote a room to this, and my kids have always just wondered in there when they have free time and busied themselves. 4 Where can they do homework? You need both quite spaces where they are out of the mainstream, and places where they can work while you oversee.

Yeah, something nice and boxy usually works well for slipcovering, but some covers are more tailored than others. I'd get a high end fabric underneath, in the hopes that some day it could be free. But it would have to be fairly neutral, especially since you want it to last. I hate sofa shopping so it darn well has to be timeless! If not slipcovering, I like leather because it can usually be wiped clean. I don't know where leather fits in on the eco-friendly scale, but GOOD leather lasts a long time and sometimes the most eco-friendly thing to do is replace things less often. I'd ask at the home decorating forum about fabric choices, too. Very helpful and knowledgeable folks there. http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/decor