budge1-

I can't help with pricing, sorry, but we have a Lee sofa bought when a snooty boutique went out of business and I dragged mr.sandyponder in there to troll for bargains. That was 6 years ago and it gets used in the evening by us and our DD and by the stinky doofus mutts who call it home on long winter afternoons. It's held up beautifully and is still as comfy as the day we bought it. Linen and cotton covers come off and wash up great.

I love the one you linked, funky-yet-traditional.

Good luck-

sandyponder

Thanks sandyponder. I appreciate the info. One of the reasons I'd like the Lee is that I've heard such good things about the comfort and quality. We probably won't be able to actually sit in the model we chose to test it, but everyone says you can't go wrong with a Lee.

Drives me nuts tho to see the same sofa advertised across the border for $1700 with fabric included.

Hi Budge1

I was going to the Lee store in Calgary today so I priced out a sofa for you! I did not get a quote for the exact one you wanted but she said they were all approx. the same price range. So, sofa 3193-79 in the 79" size with a mid grade (m) fabric was $2837 - and that was with a 30% designer discount! The loveseat was 2745. Going with a lower grade fabric only reduced the price slightly to about $2600. She said they are great sofas - but that is a bit much for me especially when I know the price in the States is much less.

Hope that helps. They had nice fabrics too.

That's wonderful newhome! Thanks so much for the info. I'm a bit torn about getting a really good sofa and having to save a while for it, or get something cheaper now. I think I may get the Lee if they aren't going to charge too much more than the going rate. The the last sofa we got 10yrs ago and I wanted a william birch style then, but was talked out of it by my MIL and I still regret it. So I'm thinking I should hold out for what I really want this time.

ps I was just out for supper tonite with a fellow Calgarian - we mentor a girl in residence at my daughter's school and she's from Calgary. Why anyone would want to come to Winterpeg from Calgary is beyond me, but she seems to love it here :-)

Hi budge1 -

I hope it works out for you - it is a gorgeous sofa (I love the william birch style too) and the model they had (different style) was really comfortable to sit in. I am lusting over the sample fabric that I brought home!

Have a good night!

I just saw a Lee sofa on Ebay and it was 2600.00 new so that might give you an idea. It was good looking.

I worked for seven years in a high-end boutique shop which carried Lee. (19 years ago....yikes) They have had that style for at LEAST 16 or 17 years, now--it just keeps selling and selling! The lines are so classic, it just won't die. My own sofa is a Lee--super solid, and, in my opinion, moderately priced for the same quality as really high-end sofas. Once you get to a certain price-point, the innards are the same--it is just the fabrics and cushion treatments (down, etc.) which can drive the price up into the 4-7K range. Lee has GREAT fabric choices--you can't go wrong, here. The 79" is much cuter than the large one--better proportioned.

Good to hear shanghaimom.

Interesting what you say about the smaller one. I first saw the smaller one and absolutely loved it, but because we've always had a larger sofa, I looked for the 86" version and sort of thougt, it wasn't as special, but just thought it must be the fabric or different photo angle. I also found it odd that they only do 2 cushions on such a large sofa. We have 2 cushions on our current sofa and it makes it very awkward for 3 people to sit - who wants to sit in the crack?

I guess my next thread will have to be on whether a smaller sofa will fit proportionally in the room.

Love that sofa Budge! What type of fabric would you use on it?

I just ordered 2 Lee sofas - basically the sofa you linked but they have 3 bottom cushions (I think it was style 3277 which isn't on the website). I ordered them with 5 loose pillows and full slipcovers, so that I can change the look by season.

My base fabric is Garnet Whisper with Davis Patina for welting, the slipcover in Perth Coconut and the pillows in those fabrics and Palmetto Blue.

My DH is 6'4" & I am 5'4" and we were both very comfortable sitting on the sofa. I do need the loose pillows behind me so my stubby little legs can touch the floor.

I did not do the down upgrade because I'm allergic to down - and I had already sent enough! I did pay upcharges for different fabric for the welting, additional pillows, & the slipcovers. I ordered the first week in Jan and expect delivery the first week in Feb. I'm not comfortable mentioning the cost but it was in-line with the prices noted above by others. I did buy during a January sale. I used a local store but many people order thru Alan Ferguson in North Carolina (check out the furniture forum for more info on that).

As long as you have somewhere to sit in the meantime, I think it's better to save for the quality sofa you really want instead of wasting that money on a temporary sofa.

Budge-

I have that sofa (Apt Style 3452-74) with the back pillows instead of the tight back. We really love them-very soft and comfy. I paid 2898 for mine-this includes contrast welting and the cloud 9 seating upgrade for firmer cushions on the bottom. They have spring coils.

I went to a local interior design who came to my house, helped me pick, etc. BUT if you know what you want alot of people have used Alan Fergurson (sp?) in NC and have been very happy with service and price. Also I believe Crate and Barrel sells Lee and can order for you.

Any other ?s I will happy to help!

Thanks zipdee. I'm open to suggestions, but because our chairs are so chroma heavy, I'm thinking just a camel velvet or linen. Ideally, I'd love to do it in velvet and have a slipcover in linen for summer, but I don't think that's in the budget.

hhireno, your sofas sound beautiful. And thanks for the heads up on asking for other versions that may not be on the website. I've read about Alan F. but I don't think that would work since I'm in Canada.

Crate and barrel is a possibility bebetokids. We don't have one here, but they just started shipping to Canada. I love the look of your sofas - very classic.

Budge
I remember this from a while ago...

I too have a Lee sofa - which I purchased fr. local furniture store incredible deal $1300 - yes, it was there floor model but it worked and price pt was so great I couldn't resist

I think this is it but mine is 2 cushion style
http://www.leeindustries.com/viewZoomDetail.asp?style=3895-03&category=WhatsNew

I also purchased an apt size sofa & chair for my mom fr. same shop

http://www.leeindustries.com/viewZoomDetail.asp?style=123-01&category=Chair
Again incredible price pt - their showroom piece

In this fabric or close to it
http://www.leeindustries.com/viewFabricDetail.asp?Id=090019002073
I have the down cushions & it is the most comfy sofa

Where will your sofa be going?
I ? because, while I love the style & lines the arm height is only 21" if it is in a family room type environment - it is not a lounging type sofa - you can't comfortably rest your head on the arm & watch TV - more of a sitting room type - if that makes sense

I have 5 stores w/in 5 mi of my home that carry Lee - I would be willing to "sit" in one if you find what you like & photo it for you

http://www.leeindustries.com/WhereResults.asp

I would also contact Lee directly & see if they can offer any assistance

Hi j., yes, when we were looking at chairs, I remember you gave me great advice about Lee and I did contact them. They were great and called me back within hours with all kinds of info. At that time there were no dealers here, but she told me that this one store was thinking about carrying Lee. They eventually did, but not in time for me to order my chairs. And, as I say, they are the most expensive furniture store in our area and since they are the only ones carrying Lee, they don't have much incentive to offer a low price.

I really appreciate the offer to do a "sit test". We want it for our living room which is not a tv watching area (but might be in the future). It is more our entertaining area, but we do use it for reading on those rare occasions when we get to relax. So, yes, lounging comfort would be in order.

I'm going to try to go in and have a look this week and maybe get a quote. They usually have a January sale and seem to honor a quote even if I go in months later to order. Now that I have a steady job, I'm faced with the usual dilemma of now I have some spare cash, but no time to shop whereas I used to have loads of time to scout around, but no money.

Funny Budge - I hear you - but all the time spent scouting will pay off now, you have a very good sense of what you want.
Good luck -
let me know if I can help at all -
Another thought was - if you find style/fabric you like you could see if any stores have it in their inventory - I'm sure that would be less $$