I don't have it yet, but barring any miraculous craigslist find, I should be getting it soon.

I have spent a lot of time reading blog reviews about them, and they seem to be pretty solid, especially for the price. I'm reassured by their 10 year warranty.

I think the pb ones look frumpier due to the down. I loved the comfort of them in the store, but they get fairly negative reviews and I can't find any warranty info about them online. The ektorps were definitely not as soft, but we tend to like a firmer cushion anyway.

I am planning on getting 2 sets of the white slipcovers since they're so cheap, and then maybe a velvet or linen one from ikea or comfort works.

Seen this?

Here is a link that might be useful: Review with in-use photos

noel, thanks for your info. You had me go right out and do some blog review hunting.

Jamies, no, that one I didn't see. And guess what? That is exactly what I needed to know. I feared that the look would get wrinkly and slightly too casual. As I said, this is for a room that is directly in front of you when you walk in. It needs to be casual, but yet look neat.

So, I popped over to some other places looking for white sofas. Got a little side tracked--Did anybody else know that JCPenney is now carrying Jonathan Adler stuff? Sofas, chairs, shelving units, etc? And some other new things too.

well, back to the drawing board.

I have the sectional. My only real complaint is that the back cushions have become somewhat deformed, but they are abused by my 6'2" son and his equally large friends.

For less expensive sofa options I much prefer Macy's selection, comfort and choices to Ikea. I had the ektorp and it always needed making. It is meant to look "relaxed" and to my eye that does look messy and frumpy after a few sits on it. And although it looked soft and cozy it was inreality really hard and uncomfortable. I returned it with in a few weeks and got the potterybarn slipcovered one, which was as messy all the time but was more comfortable. I only keep the replacement for a few years in my living room and replaced it with a tight back. I much prefer a tight back for looks and comfort.

Here is a link that might be useful: macy's sofa not much more expensive than ikea....

I don't own an Ektorp but had considered buying one after hearing so many glowing reports online. I loved the idea of having a couple of different slipcovers. However, when DH and I went sofa shopping we had tested other sofas so as soon as I sat on the Ektorp I immediately removed it from the possible list. It was so much less comfortable than others and I found the cushions didn't even support my light-weight and I was actually sitting on the wood edge below the cushions. We ended up buying 2 La-Z-Boy loveseats which have much thicker cushions than the Ekrorp and are very comfortable. They did each cost 2 1/2 times what an Ektorp sofa would have even on a half-price sale but are well-worth it in comfort and likely in longevity.

I've had an Ektorp sleeper sofa for several years now (maybe 5-7), though it isn't highly used. It's in our office and has a white slipcover. It does have issues with getting dirt on it, but I haven't tried to wash the slipcover yet. I'm hoping to do so this summer. I think the wash instructions said it could not be dried in the dryer, so I need to be able to hang it somewhere to dry (and I'd prefer to do that outside when it's finally warm enough.) It isn't heavily used, so I realize that makes a difference. But it never looks frumpy. (I don't really like sofas that look frumpy/lived in.) We wanted it for occasional use and a pull out bed for an affordable price and I've been pleased with it so far. I've also been thinking about buying another slipcover that's not white now that they have more colors available.

Bee -- > I had the ektrop sofa and arm chairs and the chaise in white slip covers in our family room for several years. I would not do it again.

- the seat cushions had a tendency to slip forward and would not stay aligned. The cushion cover is almost like a paper. The white stained easily and I was washing it constantly. The zippers are very poor quality. The slip cover had to be ironed with sufficient pressure to look tidy. The fabric looked wrinkled and tidy otherwise. The skirts especially crumpled up and looked wrinkled. The cushion got lumpy after a year (this was in a heavily used family room)

I am in much the same position as the person you are working with, Bee. I really need to do something about my sofa ad while I'd love to buy The Perfect Sofa TM, my experience tells me that 1. It takes me *forever* to find the sofa I like and 2. I can't afford the sofa I want just now.

Like others, I have tested the Ektorp and found it very uncomfortable for an evening of laptopping and tv watching. I had a great experience with my last Macy's sofa (under $1000) but they've changed brands and I just don't care for what they currently have to offer (though I am tempted by the Martha Stewart velvet chesterfield-- but that's a very different look than you are going for).

I'll say this-- I am far from an "everything in its place" person and I like a comfy, lived-in look but I just don't think I could live with the rumpled seat backs and wrinkled slipcovers (steam them? maybe but not likely.. iron? never). For the Cote de Texas look perhaps you could lean in a different direction-- a linen or velvet upholstery on a more casual style. I am seriously considering reupholstering my roll arm leather sofa in a flax linen-- not for the Cote de Texas look but I think it could surely go that direction.

I also so a more refined slipcovered sofa recently-- not sure where it was (darn it).. maybe Williams-Sonoma? Maybe Bob Williams? I'd still be wary but it might be worth looking into.

I saw some interesting JCP furniture online-- but this board sent huge warnings out when I was considering a chair there 5 yr ago so I've just not seriously looked there since. Is there a showroom anywhere near here? There used to be a very small one in Lancaster but I think they shut it down.

This area is HORRIBLE for upholstered furniture IMO. I've shopped them all-- Gerharts (or whatever it is called.. near Ashcombes and Country Market), David's downtown, Whitco in Linglestown, Wolfs, VCF, Bonton.. everything is so uninspired to me. Heavy on run-of-the-mill traditional or cheap contemporary.

Does anybody know whether one can put additional stuffing or wadding inside the cushions. Unlike many here, I find the Ektorp way more comfortable than the PB sofa, in fact, pretty much most sofas because it is very firm.
So, my question is whether the Ektorp softens up after some use, and if yes, if one could then stuff it? haven't found any info about that on the Internet.

Go and see the sofas in the Ikea store - they get sat on all day every day by thousands!

We owned an Ektorp for many years. It held up extremely well - no saggy spots, divots or squeaks. Even with many moves from apartment to apartment. We started out with the white slipcover which looked great but did rapidly show marks. We used to keep a throw on it. Then after so many washings we wanted a new slipcover - my mom made one (she had a business making custom drapes and upholstery). It looked nice for a few years too.

it did NOT always look perfect or tailored, the cushions did tend to slide out when in use (I hate that!) but I found it very comfy.

In fact I wish we'd kept it and bought another new slipcover instead of giving it away on CL when we moved and buying our current leather sofa (Jennifer Convertibles) which already has a saggy spot where we sit most often. We are not heavy people, either.

So, I don't think I'd call it the perfect sofa but it's probably one of the best buys for the price. It was recently on sale for $499, too!