TRy looking at Lee Industry Sofas - I just got 2 (still waiting for delivery). There are a ton of styles and nice fabrics. I bought nine from Alan Ferguson % assoc and saved a bunch of $$!

Thanks, susans02! I read other threads on Lee and am looking forward to checking them out! Also saw something on Costco, I'd love to buy from them (for the unbeatable return policy) but would have to sit on it first - I'll call customer service and figure out where that is possible.

Bummer, Costco only has their homestores in WA and AZ - not on our travel route.

I hate to take the time to shop when we could be vacationing instead (the kids will hate shopping). But we've gotta have a sofa! I hope by narrowing down the possibilities beforehand I can be efficient.

What other brands that offer contemporary/transitional choices should I consider? Anything with recliners (motioncraft?)?

Glad I'm not the only one that takes forever to shop. lol
I look around forever, research etc. and then finally have to get myself in an "anything's better than what I've got" mood and just buy something. I really don't want a sofa that will last for 30 years. I know I'll be tired of it long before then and it might be hard to justify getting a new one if the old one is still in good shape.
I did finally settle on a leather sofa and loveseat that's well made but not nearly as pricey as something like H & M. It's the same one I mentioned in an earlier post. "Please help me research this brand" or something like that. It wasn't a brand I was familiar with but I know the store carries good brands and I trust them because I've bought stuff there before. I prefer to buy locally. Delivery was free. I'd rather spend two or three hundred dollars on getting a better sofa than having something delivered that I've never seen or sit on.
In general, the reclining sofas and loveseats aren't as comfortable, because they have more hardware underneath I assume. I can tell a difference when I sit down. I have four kids also and decided against reclining - one less thing to break.

Have you found anything you like online? That would help you narrow it down. Just check the websites of name brands like Broyhill and Flexsteel or whatever is in your price range. They have pics of the sofas they sell. Then you can easily find out what stores carry the ones you like so you can give them a sit-down test. Some websites will let you put in your zip code to find stores near you and if they don't, call them. The same stores will most likely have other brands that are similar quality. For instance, if a store says Natuzzi is the best they sell, LEAVE. If Broyhill is their bottom of the line, then it's probably (hopefully) a reputable place.
With kids, I've learned not to buy anything that's a light color, hide the sharpies, make 'em eat and keep their drinks in the kitchen, and threaten to ground them from fingernail polish until they're 21 if they ever get polish on their carpet again and then cut it with scissors so I won't see it. (new carpet by the way) lol
Good luck on your sofa shopping and don't buy anything you love TOO dearly since kids do have a way of testing it.

C'mon, 5 years and you can't pick something out? You're still sitting on a futon? You're setting a terrible example for your kids. You have fears or issues about being stuck with something you might not like, so instead you make your husband and kids and guests sit on a crappy futon. And now you're going to ruin days of THEIR vacation (yes its not just your vacation) so you can see every sofa ever made for the 50th time. Because thats so much better than deciding you should have picked a different color or arm style and living with it.

Florida is just about the furniture store capital of the world. Stores EVERYWHERE. Go to a store nearby and buy something inexpensive so that you can afford to replace if in 5 years when the kids and dog are done chewing it up or you get tired of it.

I have no pity on you. Anyone who can pick a house, a car, or a spouse (all things that may not work out, all things that are not easily replaced) can certainly pick a sofa. ITS JUST A SOFA!

Thanks for the replies! Here is an update:

We stopped into Lexington Furniture in KY, not enough contemporary stuff on the the floor for me, but I sat in a wonderful H&M sofa and totally understand why people are in love with that brand.

We spent 1.5 days in NC, visited Boyle's (nice), Black's (yuck), and Furnitureland South. I decided on my room arrangement (2 sofas, one large round chair, large coffee table ottoman, one end table) and then worked hard to find the right pieces. I found fabric selection difficult, but fell in love with some Carter chocolate and blue check fabric and ordered the 'mypod' as a defining piece in the room. The Huntington House sofas (2 identical) will be in a light blue microfiber.

I think I'm going to get the large ottoman from Costco http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11173101&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=&s=1 , it isn't exactly what I want, but the color/size/price are right and their customer satisfaction policy can't be beat. I might get the end table there, too....I think I'll take some time with that and find something wonderful at a wonderful price.

I'm nervous about ordering with FLS, sure wish they'd take some form of credit. But their current standing with the BBB is good and I really like my salesperson. Their pricing was significantly better than local FL stores and they came down a bit further on the HH sofas when I found a better price at another NC store. My total for the three pieces (2 sofas and mypod) is $5000, delivery and tax included.

The HH sofas are among the most comfortable couches I sat on, and the microfiber is a great color. I had a hard time with accent pillows (mogator would have had a stroke if she'd seen my dithering), the salesperson was very patient.

(And btw, mogator, you can bash me all day for being slow, incompetent even, when it comes to decorating - but your post impugning the way I care for my family was off base and had a nasty tone. Even if it were 'just a sofa' and not the whole room, this is the FURNITURE forum and dismissing anyone's concerns with 'just a' is silly. But we had a lovely vacation; and wonderful holiday season, and hope the same was true for you)

The mypod is going to be everyone's favorite seat, I love the style and comfort and only hope the quality is good enough to last awhile.

I'll post again once my order is delivered, I'm trying not to get excited about it because I know it always takes longer than one hopes.

Here is a link that might be useful: costco.com ottoman

kksmama, just FYI, I have purchased the majority of my furniture from FLS. I find what I like locally, and then call FLS to see if they carry it and cost. They always are significantly less expensive, even with shipping. I highly recommend them! Glad you had a nice holiday with the family!

Thanks! I've read complaints over the years, but I guess with a company that does as much business as they do there will be complaints (...but you don't typically hear complaints about Boyles...). Their in store selection was fabulous and the salesperson seemed to be very familiar with all of it - working there would keep one fit, the place is huge! I hope I'm happy with Huntington House, FLS sells a lot of it and it isn't a brand carried by many other discounters; I'm guessing they have a special relationship.