oceanbaby, re the white slipcovers...Oh yeah! I have slips on my f.R. sofa( not white). They aren't loose- shabby chic, and though I love switching them out ONCE A YEAR, it is a bit of chore. I'm guessing the white slipcover/upholstery folk with kids or dogs go my route: When not wearing slipcovers, I place a nice looking quilt on the seats, and remove it when I please. Otherwise,the dog's muddy feet(this is her one sofa) and kids spills could be tough to deal with. Without this device, on white, I'd need a maid to wash them weekly! caroleoh, not to start up "McMansion" talk again.... and I guess there have been many, though I've seen only a few....I really wish the expression was used vs. abused, before it loses all meaning. In most parts of the country a 5 million house would be a large custom built home, and other than a few places such as Ca., usually come with some land. A McMansion, refers to very large tract house. Though large, there are many of them, all the same...Mcmansion.

I have 2 Karlstad couches in leather with Aluminum legs in my family room. They get a lot of use and abuse from couch potatoes, food, cats (with claws) etc. They look brand new even though they are a few years old. I don't have any problems with the back cushions because they are velcroed into place and never move. We had looked at the Kivik in leather but I didn't like how the arms are wider and lower. Personal choice, I felt they weren't in proportion with the couch. Otherwise it was comfortable and our second choice.

peegee - it's so funny you mention that. I was going to mention the very same thing on this thread, but then I thought, well, it's probably not true in upscale suburbs, so I won't mention it. (Although I believe I have mentioned this very thing on another thread here.) We're not selling for another couple years or so, but I sort of obsessively pore over the real estate listings so I can get a sense of what's out there, and what things are selling for. So many of the photos are HORRIBLE. My own next door neighbor's house has mostly pink walls with darker pink trim, with a turquoise bedroom. There is a hideous 1980s style shiny brass and glass ceiling light fixture (in a house built in 2002.) This is not in Florida, though the owner is older... this is in rural NH. All of the windows are covered in heavy maroon drapes. Every photo shows clothes over unmade beds, grocery bags and tools on the kitchen counters... I will seriously never use the real estate agent who is selling that house... why he decided to put those photos up online, rather than getting better photos, is beyond me. But anyway, these ugly interiors are pretty much the norm, with any rare "nice" one really standing out. I'm in an area with large lots (5-10 acres, with a few that are smaller and some that are much bigger) and it's a hodgepodge of houses... old farm houses, restored mansions, new colonials and capes, mobile homes, old capes, old-ish little square one-story houses, etc.. There is no "standard" look. I am relieved by all this because 1.) I don't need to stress over my house looking "perfect," but 2.) when we do sell, I think I can pretty easily set my house apart by having fairly neutral wall colors, minimizing clutter, and putting some stuff in storage. I don't need to go wild with staging, but a little should go a long way. I have been worried, though, that a whole generation of buyers expects their houses to look just like HGTV houses. But, if that's what they expect, that's not what they're getting around here, so I can breathe easy... my house already looks a million times better than many of the houses I see for sale in my area.

I saw the loveseat in my store and loved the Ljungen Blue color so much - it was exactly the color I was looking for, and the size is perfect for my small apartment. I sat on it many times before deciding to order it. I can't wait to get it in a couple weeks! The kids are out of the house now so it won't get a lot of wear and tear - we just needed extra seating for gatherings. I think with a couple nice pillows and a throw, it will look wonderful and also be functional. Yes, it isn't the highest quality, but I find that with a lot of Ikea furniture - made to serve you well for a few years, and affordable. P.S. The black legs make it look more elegant than the light brown ones.