I bought the Norwalk sectional. It was $1250. I called the local store who would sell me the exact model for around $4500 so I feel comfortable with the price. I loved the Lee couch but it just wouldn't fit up my stairs. The Norwalk just fit. It's comfortable and hubby approved.

i never heard of clayton marcus so i googled. looks like they use engineered wood as well. on paper, it looks like they are comparable to lee, although i couldn't find options for seat cushions. lee offers an array of choices in this department. good luck! Here is a link that might be useful: clayton marcus construction

The hourly fee + markup on things ordered is not unusual at all. Her rates are in line to what normal designers charge in my area of LA. You need to end the relationship with this person ASAP. She sounds like the designer I used about 2 years ago. Mine provided no accountability or details of the time billed and when we did order something there were also no details of the product, brand, fabrics, size, etc. of the items ordered. Her terrible record keeping led to some drapes having to be redone 3 times. At first she blamed me, saying that I had changed my mind. Only after they arrived wrong the second time did she bother to figure out her notes and see that she had made the mistakes all along. She did credit us back for the extra labor charges and her hours managing the whole mess. To give you an idea on furniture prices. We ordered a custom sized sectional from Century at the LA design center, through the designer. It was sized to the exact measurements I had decided on for the space and was roughly 9' x 13' and the cost was $14k. Your designer has not listened to any of your requirements. Why show you a $10k sectional when you have stated that that is the total budget for that one room? Taking a week to answer an email is unacceptable ... at that rate the project will drag on for a year and she will be billing you for all those hours she spends looking for "dream pieces". Even my disorganized ex-designer answered calls/emails within 24 hours. Pull the bandaid ... end it quickly!

Do you know the name of the fabric - is it Riva? If it is, this has 32,500 double-rubs which is a great number, it won't wear out quickly. I love this fabric! It will be soft and I personally love the feel of natural fibers. You will get fading if it's near a sunny window, but if not then don't worry about it!