Argh! The moral dilemma. OK, the reason stores like Boyles and Lexington can fireball the prices is they KNOW you've used local sources to finalize your order and all they are doing is reaping the benefits of the sale someone else actually made. It takes all of 15 minutes to process and phone order, and maybe another 15 minutes later on to follow it through to delivery. Total time invested is maybe half an hour for a 'paper' sale. If they can make $ 300 on a sofa, thats not a bad wage at $ 600 an hour, is it? They are parasitic operations, and that's all there is to it. I know I've lost sales to them in my store after spending hours and hours with a customer to get them exactly what they want. But that's just the way business is and one has to expect that. However, I've NEVER lost a sale to a customer who has asked me to price match an item. As time goes by if a local store loses too many sales then one of two things happen: 1) That product line is no longer viable and they will drop it, or 2) a store can no longer stay in business. (I can tell when I've lost the sale because the customer simply evaporates after all those hours of work, of in some cases they actually are naive enough to ask me to assist in warranty issues on an item they bought out-of-state.) If the product no longer becomes available locally, then the parasitic businesses can no longer use those local store as their 'showroom' and they too will go under. The the manufacturer is scrambling to find someone to carry his line, but the word is out on it and soon they go under as well. This is exactly what happened to the wallpaper business in the 80's and 90's, and the collapse of Kinney and Imperial wallcoverings because of the 800 discount selles (pre-internet days). So yes, you should stay loyal and support your local business, especially since you used their time, showroom, building, expertise, samples and so on to make your decision. I can appreciate your wanting to save some money as well - we all do. So before you buy from a Boyles or Lexington, take a written quote from those companies to your local guy and ask him to get as close to it as he can - give them a chance - hes earned the sale. If he can't match it dead on, then I bet they can get close (don't expect them to eat the sales tax, they can't do that legally) . Plus, they will be there for you if you have a warranty issue, and after-the-sale service. Remember too, that every dollar you spend in your community goes back to your community in the way of business taxes and the like. I pay sales taxes, property taxes, gross receipt taxes, and taxes on my trucks and computers. That's what makes our schools and hospitals run, as well as our fire and police departments, and roads. Would you rather help your local school system or one in Kentucky? Save a buck for sure, but don't always go for the last nickel. Give your local guy a chance to price match. BTW, don't automatically assume your money is safe with the big guys. I've heard rumors in the trade that one of those stores mentioned above is in financial difficulty. When in doubt, check with the maker of the goods to see if a stores account is in good standing. Good luck! Duane

I was typing a note and then my computer completely froze! But I'm back. I called the shop and revealed myself as a total nut job inquiring about the bed bug/flea spraying process. I've read that the spray they use really doesn't do anything. But I figured I would ask. He said they have never had any issues. He even told me I could have a 2nd spraying, a heavy 2nd spraying if I buy it. arapaho, thanks for clarifying! And I know there are the tartan lovers out there. But I'm just not a plaid gal. Thanks for that link to Polo House. I just found her blog a little bit ago. She was being photographed for a magazine and I was told to check it out. I think I'll get it. What the heck. I mean I need to balance out all the dressers I'm hoarding with something. Seriously, I'm not kidding about the dressers. 2 campaign dressers in the basement (one is Henredon, other Campaigner) there is a Dorothy Draper chest knock off in the garage, a black campaign small bachelor chest, 2 white campaign bachelor chests (debating to get the desk and other cabinet she had) and then there is the faux bamboo Thomasville triple dresser dragged home from Salvo (fancy word for Salvation Army). And we won't talk about the giant hutch. I have a lot of painting to do as soon as this snow melts! And I can get busy again. Winter is the buying season, I guess. Yes, mtn the back is low. But I like the lines. The windows in the sitting room are low. Here is a picture of the space, it has a pair of chairs in the photo that are from my family room. They get moved there during Christmas.

exactly, kwsl.... my color was a medium gray velvet 'pewter' and the color is more like a deep loden green...i actually tried to talk myself into the color (btw, be sure to note that the fabric companies have a CYA notice on the samples stating that 'fabric colors can vary'.....well, alrighty!! that fixes it! (vvbg).... but the more i looked at the sofa itself, (it already has cushion wrinkles!) i realized that no amount of 're-working' or even a new sofa in a different color would be satisfactory...the cushions are poorly made and there is definitely a design issue with my back cushions....in essence if you are sitting on the far side of the sofa (as one typically does to be next to the end table) the cushion leans forward on you, and you are always pushing it back...it quite literally is 'in your face' if you have someone on the opposite end of the sofa (yours is 3 cushion, mine is 2, so i doubt this will be as much of an issue for you)....as i said after just two weeks the cushions are wrinkling and have developed the 'concave' spots where you typically sit....cannot even imagine what it would look like in 6 months....there was a poster here, i believe it was beverly, who even posted a pic of a LEE sofa for one of her clients and she pointed out to me that the cushion quality wasn't the best (but this was after a couple of YEARS so i didn't give it the credence i should have) i'll consider posting pictures, but i will not do so until the matter is completely resolved to my satisfaction...i plan to meet in person with my sales person and customer service rep at C&B this week i checked the date of your last posting which was only a few days ago, and that is why i decided to go ahead and respond this way....mostly though because you said you really preferred the tight back sofa, and as i pointed out, thomasville has one, which i have actually seen in person and sat on...my experience with LEE may not be the same as yours....i too preferred a tight back sofa (all of mine have always been constructed thus) but decided to go with the LEE loose back because of the overall design (just like you) anyway, it took several weeks before my fabric went to LEE for manufacture (it was shipped to C&B then off to LEE) so there was/is plenty of time to put the order on hold should you decide to do so as i doubt the fabric has been sent (although it might have been) one thing i would suggest is that you go to see the fabric yourself, ask your designer to have it delivered to him....mine was a solid color and definitely 'off' (i took a picture of my sample laid upon my sofa and the color differential is obvious but yes, i guess you could call it 'grey' certainly not the color i picked....so anyway, that would at the very least what i would advise anyone getting a custom sofa (live and learn!) i agree with you, kswl....while a $3500~$4000 sofa isn't 'high end' it is far too much to spend on such mediocre craftsmanship...i have an old sofa i bought from macy's over 20 years ago...off the floor, WHITE, and it is STILL in nearly perfect condition...the cushions look better than this brand new LEE...i am NOT joking! way back then, i think i paid $600 for it! it's very frustrating because obviously stores cannot keep every make and model of sofas (LEE has a LARGE catalog of sofas) so sitting on one is pretty much impossible unless you purchase a stock item....i sat on one of the sofas at C&B that was closest to the model i ultimately selected, and even after having the salesperson get a DIAGRAM of my sofa showing the pitch of the back (which was my biggest concern at the time) i still ended up with an unacceptable product... btw...LEE has a TERRIBLE website....they don't have side views of their sofas, let alone a 360 degree view! that should have been the 'tell' for me...how hard can it be to make front, back and SIDE views of custom upholstery? on a more positive note, the thomasville sofa was very pretty and comfortable, and if the LEE is VERY similar, you should be happy with it....looking back i wish i had probably just purchased their floor model! sorry this is so long...your basement is going to be lovely....very much looking forward to the finished room!

mclarke said: "You say they would be in "professional" office? A professional what? " A law office. But a law office with repro Barcelona chairs in the reception area. I'm not a nailheads and hunting prints kind of gal. So I'm pushing the envelope a bit, anyway. _______________________ palimpsest said: "Edward Wormley, imo, sometimes walked a tightrope between awesome and hideous, and usually pretty successfully too. So, some of his stuff is awesome and hideous at the same time. I don't think these are hideous but they are very specific, and all of them have the wrong fabric on them. These need to sit where the sculpural quality of them can be appreciated, and that, to me, would be a somewhat under furnished room." Points well taken. I don't plan on having a lot of "stuff" in the office. But I think I'd have to have just the right desk to make this work. I haven't settled on a new desk, and will probably use one of two existing ones in the mean time -- a simple frosted glass with chrome legs, or a 1920s English oak refectory-type table/desk. There is also a small sitting/work area at the end of the office. It's about 7.5' x 9'. I could perhaps use these chairs down there with an interesting table and put something more subdued as the guest chairs at the desk. What type of upholstery do you envision on these? ________________________ allison: I'll definitely hit the Pelham store. Hitting all the usual suspect stores is on my agenda for this afteroon as I try to tie up some loose ends.