Hi BBMom; did you try Buchanan's in Lancaster? They advertise H & M. We are in the process of buying 2 matching Evening Sofas and are getting quotes from Lexington, Elite and Boyles. As far as quality and comfort, you cannot go wrong with H & M. We drove about an hour and a half to go to a store that had several H & M models. Although ALL were extremely comfortable, we found that sofas DO vary so much in size. Look at arm height to match up with your existing end tables. Seat Height and Seat Depth are two biggies. I am 5'9 with very long legs and my husband is 6'2 with long legs. When we sat on a sofa with a wider seat depth than 22" and higher than 20", my feet would not touch the floor and I felt like a little kid! Of course, I plan on curling up on the couch most of the time! But if you have company, like mama says, you need to sit up! I recommend you go to a local store and sit on some different (leather)sofas. Ask the salesman for copies of the specs. Don't tell him, obviously, what you're doing. He will happily provide the info and you can circle the dimensions that fit you best. No matter which H & M sofa you order, you can specify slightly different dimensions because they are handcrafted. Two more issues you will have to confront: leather quality/color and cushion type. A good mid-range Class "3" leather will probably be fine. Get "protected" leather if you have kids and dogs. Unprotected is usually softer, but not as durable and cleanable. You might be able to get Lexington to send you some swatches if you can accurately describe the color family you are interested in. I like Cavalier; it is actually a Class 2 and is sort of a golden spicy nutmeg brown. A lot of people on this website have ordered Equestrian which is Class 3 (protected). If you go to the H & M homepage and click on "craftsmanship" it gives you a description of the leathers (unfortunately no pictures). I believe you will also have to decide on seat fill which will affect how soft or firm it is. If it all seems a bit overwhelming, remember that this sofa will probably last your lifetime and beyond. Good luck with your decisions!

Thanks so much, christycollects, for your response. I can't believe I found someone who is purchasing the Evening. I know it is a personal preference, but what do you like about the Evening over the many others you looked at???

I will check out Buchanan's. I've been in contact several times with three stores in Columbus, which is two hours away. I'm willing to drive, but I can't find anyone that has the Evening on the floor. Lexington Furniture has it in their showroom, but I'm trying to find someone closer than Kentucky.

It is a bit overwhelming. But I'm not in any hurry, so I'm trying to learn all I can before purchasing.

Thanks again, you've been a great help.

Kittle's in Columbus has some Hancock and Moore if you haven't already contacted them.

We're furniture shopping too and are definitely buying Hancock & Moore due to the quality craftmanship, warranty on the core and choice of leather.

I would never purchase any sofa or chair without sitting in it first. We've almost decided on the Austin Bustle Back because of the comfort and back support when sitting up (the Austin also comes with standard back cushions). I prefer the look of standard back cushions but it seems that the lower part of the bustle back is what gives our backs the support needed to be comfortable when sitting. Yes, most the time I'll be lying down or have my feet up but when sitting up it needs to fit you and be comfortable---and your feet need to touch the floor. My husband complains about a lot of seating that cuts off the circulation in his legs.

We've sat in many sofas where you sit down then end up laying back before reaching the back cushion. Some you feel you're perched rather than sitting down. And ChristyCollects.... you're right. It can be overwhelming with what needs to be considered concerning cushion type. Seat cushions can be down/spring, etc. The Austin we sat in had the standard cushion insides with the bustle back. I'd love to find the same sofa without the bustle back that has the down/spring seat cushions. It IS a lot to consider. The one thing I will not do is sacrifice a certain "look" for comfort----that could be an expensive mistake.

BasketballMom.... I sat in the Evening sofa. I'm 5'4" and my husband is 5'8"----the seat was too deep for both of us. My husband is real long-waisted----more so than me. I really love the look the the Evening but it just wasn't comfortable for either of us. It's very frustrating.

We live in Lexington, Ky and will be buying from Lexington Furniture even though I'll be shopping around for other styles to sit in that they may not have on their showroom floor. I've known a couple of friends that have purchased there and been very happy. Lexington Furniture has been here many years and has a great rep as far as I know.

we ordered two h&m chairs from lexington furniture last year. can't go wrong with the quality, that's for sure.

we were happy with lexington furniture but d&d delivery left more than a little to be desired. my extended comments are still on a thread here somewhere--a search should find you my comments and those of a few other people.

Thanks, everyone, for all the help.

msboo - I'm 5'2", so I guess the depth of the Evening will be even worse for me.

I will keep looking, and keep reading this site for all the great suggestions. I've learned alot from so many of you. Thanks again.

First, you cannot go wrong w/ Hancock & Moore. I have a 20 yr. old sofa from them. But as one who grew up in North Carolina and has been in furniture manufacturing I still cannot figure why someone would make a major purchase from a store which is not local. Service before and after the sale are critical. I can tell you horror stories about bungled or midnight deliveries and unresolved complaints. I learned long ago not to buy something from the least expensive place. My suggestion is to find a reputable store nearby and a designer or sales person who is knowledgable and let them earn your business. I am appalled at the lack of respect for other people's time and the failure of many to see that it is not right to use a sales person when they have no intention of buying from them. Sorry for the lecture but I am dissapointed that so many people on this site always think cheaper is better.

artisan,

sorry but i've gotten WAAAAY better service from boyles than anywhere i've ever gone locally! since boyles has been as much as 30% cheaper for me, i probably won't be buying locally ever again!

as much as is possible, i do my research without expecting a local salesperson to wait on me with no hope of a sale. i don't think there is anything wrong with going to a local store to sit on a piece of furniture that they have in stock, but i wouldn't monopolize the salesperson knowing full well that my business is with boyles. i don't think there's anything wrong with looking thru their swatchbook on my own and writing down numbers--it doesn't cost them anything.

if a local retailer wants to earn my business, they can have it, but so far the local furniture shops here have struck out with me--both on price AND service.

angela w.

I guess I am one of the few lucky ones. I have wanted a H * M sofa/loveseat so long. I picked my style, color,quality of leather. Did a search and just wished.I never went to a store to check them out, there are NONE near me, but I wanted it on reputation alone. One day I saw the exact set I wanted for sale on e-bay, VERY reputable seller. I bought it, it was only 3 years old. Immucalte (sp) condition. now I have my dream sofas.dark cherry red leather, antique nail head trim, down filled back cushions, bun feet on all four corners, all backs and seat cushions detach... beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, and so comfortable and so far the dogs do NOT go near it. Good luck.

UPDATE for BasketballMom..... SORRY I was incorrect on which sofa I sat on. I stated I sat on the Evening but it was the September sofa. Today we went back to Lexington Furniture for more research and help from the salesperson with which we're doing business. I like the looks of the Evening and a few others a little better than the Austin we are also considering. The Evening may work for us but we definitely need to consider the cushion type. When we sat in it we DID NOT lean way back (as we did in the September). However the cushions are Ultra Down/seat and back---they sit firmer. We're ordering anyway so we have a lot of options. H & M will make this sofa with their standard foam seat cushions along with Ultra Down back cushions if we wish. Whatever our choice, I feel we should keep seat and back cushions the same (all standard seat & back or all Ultra Down seat & back).

Our salesperson and one of the owners really gave us a good education---we all learned something from fooling around with cushions today. Whether going with standard or down, all seating will "break in" and be more comfortable after some use. Try to find where you can sit in both types to see the difference. Standard cushions are more bouncy in a good way. In a furniture showroom some seating isn't as firm as when it first comes in due to being sat in and tried out. On three cushion sofas try sitting on the middle cushion and see the difference as to the side cushions---most people sit on a side cushion when trying out furniture. Lord the list goes on, doesn't it?

I know exactly what I'm looking for so I will be traveling to Louisville and maybe Cincinnati to hopefully sit in an Evening with standard cushions or an Austin without the bustle back. I will be very clear, when approached by a salesperson, that I'm just looking.

Good luck and let me know how your search goes.

Thanks, msboo, for your message and clarification. I just called a store here in Cleveland who told me they have the Evening in their Warehouse and they can bring it out for me to see. So, I'm going to do that this week. I'm still really interested in the Evening sofa. But I have to sit in it before I buy, only because I'm so short. I'm excited that I finally found it locally to try out. A rep from Lexington Furniture told me on the phone that she definitely prefers Hancock's foam cushions over their Down. I want to sit in both to see the difference. Let me know what you decide to go with.

Good job on getting a "try-out" sofa...if you like it, be sure you ask for a discount since it will be "used"! (That was for artisan, apparently an undercover furniture salesman) LOL!

Furniture is a HUGE investment and anyone considering H & M has already done their homework. If my local store has the sofa for $5,000 and I can order it from NC for $2,200 I would be a FOOL to get it locally. But to each his own. As far as "using" the salespeople; I'm not suggesting you monopolize their time, but there is nothing wrong with going on a "fact-finding" mission at your local stores. After all, you may refer pleasant and helpful salesmen to others. One other thing you should know: there is another cushion type called spring-down that is comfy but firm. Only about $100 upgrade from the NC stores. Take care and good luck!

We recently returned from a trip to Hickory, NC where we bought a H & M sofa from Boyles. It's a Charter sofa, and Boyles has a special deal with H & M for these sofas, but for this deal it only comes in one color (Cavalier Molasses-Cavalier is the type of leather, not the color. Molasses is the color.) with ultra-down cushions. It's very attractive and extremely comfortable and costs only $2500. If you change anything about it, the price goes up over $1000. If it didn't, I would have ordered it without nail heads. Before ordering I called my local furniture store to get their price and they told me it retailed for $5700, but they would sell it for $4700. Boyles also had a special during June when we purchased it that included 5% off and free shipping. It's supposed to arrive the end of Aug.

Artisan,
Long before I had even heard of North Carolina, I was shopping in my local retail store. I was trying to decide on a fabric for a very expensive SWAIM sofa and the salesperson insulted me by saying "You know I have a sister who's in therapy right now because she can't make a decision either!" Well I was infuriated and then ironically found out about discount shopping. (Long story there too) so I ordered the same sofa COM from out of state. Maybe where you're from people are nice but here salespeople can be very snooty, condescending and rude so they got what was coming to them. I don't apologize for taking my business elsewhere. I've since become a decorator and NC is now my home away from home.

I would like to order a Hancock & Moore "Austin" sofa with the standard back cushion (not the bustle back). The seat depth is listed as 18" and even though I am short, I am concerned that 18" is just not very deep and the sofa would be uncomfortable. Has anyone sat in this sofa and what cushion (foam, foam down wrapped, etc) would you recommend with this sofa. Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Well I am not a furniture sales person and I agree that to take up someones time without having any thought of buying from them and just using them to get information so as to buy elsewhere is not ethical.

In today's world honor and ethics seem not to matter any more. It is all about "me" and "what I can do to help myself at any cost". I didn't raise my children that way and I was not raised that way. You honor is the most important thing that belongs to you. Without that you are nothing but a lesser person.

I do understand the economic pressures we face and also that getting a bargain is important. I also shop this way. I go into a store and sit on a sofa but I will tell the salesperson that "I am just browsing" and not take up their time. Then I would buy on line. As for styles, fabrics, stock numbers etc., usually you can find them on line at the manufacturer's web site.

To pkspigs, wow, what are the chances you found the sofa you wanted. I tried looking thru e-bay also, I suppose it would be iffy to find desired H&M sofa's. But I want to make sure I'm not missing anything. Did you simply insert "H&M sofa, how much less did it cost than originally and was shipping expensive?