Adding to my post -

I realize that I should give some preferences: I'm looking for fabric (I love paisley!), not leather. And not contemporary.

I know exactly what you're talking about! I've been wanting one for myself.

I've seen them in the large furniture stores where I live. If you have a large furniture store that sells a LOT of recliners, I'm sure you can find the one you want.

I've always wondered why they don't use pretty fabric on the larger recliners. They're always a solid color or leather.

oakleyok, where do you live? What are the large furniture stores you've been to? I have looked at the large furniture stores in MA and NH. I'm sure that I will be able to choose the specific fabric I want once I find the recliner itself.

Pics, thoughts, anyone?

Here's a suggestion that would save you time and gas. Call all the furniture stores and ask them if they sell the small printed fabric recliners that are usually for "women." I'll bet they'll know what you're talking about.

I had a small recliner in a print that I bought some years ago at Lay-Z-Boy. It held up well and when I moved into my daughter's home one of her son's friends took it for his apartment.

Here is a one similar to the style I had:

http://www.la-z-boy.com/Furniture/Recliners/?ViewAll=true

We have 2 small La-z-boy recliners. I have been to their warehouse and was amazed at their selection of styles and colors.

Well, that didn't bring you to what I was wanting to show you. Go to the La-Z-Boy site and scroll through their recliners and the one most similar to the one I had is called Kimberly High Boy and one of the more inexpensive ones, just under $500. My recliner got a lot of use and I am not a light weight person and am fairly tall.

We have a small living/family room. Palliser has some small recliners that recline with no extra space from the wall. The come in two versions -manual and electric. The electric are really nice as you can recline in infinite positions unlike the manual versions that are either up or down.

Lots of ideas here - thanks! I'll check the things you've suggested out on the web and then look for local dealers.

Suzieque

The only recommendation I have is stay away from Lazyboy.I have had 3 and they didn't wear well.My cousin worked for 20 years in a reputable furniture store.They carried Lazyboy,Lane and several other name brands.She always recomended Lane over Lazyboy.She said the mechanisims in the Lane was much better and wears better.I have had 2 Lanes for about 10 years now and they still work perfectly.I did have to replace the handle on one a couple of years ago but other than that they are fine.The one I had before was a Lazyboy and it lasted about 2 years.I would recommend a wall away.Will never have the regular kind again!

You really need to go sit in it and try it out before buying it. This isn't something you can buy over the internet. You can feel if the unit is heavy, it's probably well-built, no matter the brand. Going strictly by brand is not usually good advice these days given the subcontracting that goes on. Shorter people will want a shorter height and shorter depth, however this will be uncomfortable to tall people. Heavy people will like a wider chair more often than not.

On the last recliner I bought there was a dilemma. I narrowed it down to two different chairs. One brown, one green and I don't care about color. I want COMFORT! The problem is that the one was far more comfortable for *sitting* than the other, but the other was more comfortable for reclining! After thinking about it, I decided I usually flip it back as soon as I sit down so the more comfortable reclined was my priority.

Which brings up the other point. Don't just sit in it. Recline. Use every position like you normally would use. Get up and walk away, come back, sit down, recline, get up, and do this a few times, especially if you have any physical challenges. For some, higher arms are better as an assist to stand up. Which goes back to my point, you gotta take it for a test ride!

My husband sits almost all day long every day in his Lazy boy he has had for 30 years...We bought 2 new ones but he still uses the old one and the new one sits at the other end of the room. We also have a lazy boy sofa.

Lazy Boy !! We've always bought them and have always been pleased !!

new to me brand but one lady on the decorating site, reccomended smith brothers..

This is my Lazy Boy, which I have had 25 years, now! And it keeps on working and working!

I now have it in a spot where it doesn't recline, due to ROOM!

I have slept in it for 6 weeks, when I injured my back, and it was my soul mate when I broke my wrist, 4 years ago.

It is a ladies size and fits me perfectly and WORKS!

Have perhaps rocked many a mile in it!

Bet you can still find one, maybe the style has changed somewhat.

I highly recommend Lazy Boy!

{{!gwi}}

Thanks again, all. I have been to La-z-boy and haven't found anything that I'm looking for. To me, if it looked good it wasn't comfortable and vice-versa. Of course, it is absolutely an individual preference.

I won't buy anything unseen and un-sat-in over the internet and apologize, cynic, if I gave that impression. No way. I want to sit in it, recline, relax, etc. and get the whole look and feel.

Suzieque

Try Lane Furniture - I bought two last year - not too expensive and actually got it at Macy's - very comfortable.
I see that it's on sale, The one's I had picked out at another furniture store didn't arrive and I didn't like the ones they had a La-z-boy.

Here is a link that might be useful: Macy's chair

Tip: LazyBoy prices tend to run high unless the item is on sale. Study the taxing body for your store location. Find out when the close of the year is for inventory. Often, in the month before the inventory date, stores in my area throw good sales. This is not distressed stuff; They are reducing inventory for tax purposes. Stores in my location pay an inventory tax on the amount of goods they have in stock at the close of inventory day.

Typically, as this month wears on, selection dwindles, and then suddently after the first of the next month, the selection is greater and the old prices are back.