I'm looking at several small couches and looked @ every manufacturer's website regarding their construction (see below). I read through a prior post in 2008 (furniture 101) which was excellent.

Looking @ 4 companies (Smith Bros, Decor-Rest, Best Home Furnishings, Leather Italia). Curious if anyone can read through the descriptions and weigh-in on pros/cons, any info missing that I should ask about, red flags, if there is a clear winner, etc. And if anyone has had experience with these companies and can comment on their longevity, reliability, construction, etc.

a. Smith Bros 233 or 203

joints: all high stress joints double-dowelled, glued, screwed, reinforced with solid maple corner blocks;

base rails (front and back) - made of 1 1/4'' solid maple lumber

frames: kiln-dried maple hardwood (framing is not outsourced)

legs: built directly into frames

spring units: coil spring units under every seat cushion (pre-engineered heavy-gauge coil spring unit); front edges of most spring units: elevated, flexible; coil spring units positioned by hand to the frame using suspension springs; coils along edges are thicker than in the center (seat firmer on outside); coil spring connections insulated with protective coating to eliminate noise;

Foam/padding: "highest quality available"; all seat cushions wrapped in layer of polyester fiber; arm padded with foam, cotton, fiber; 3 different foam core firmness levels; back cushion fiber blown into chambered bags to minimize settling and sagging

warranty: lifetime on frame (against warping or breakage for the lifetme of the product); lifetime on every seat spring unit against breakage and loss of resiliency; lifetime on all seat foam cores (not fiber wrap, or fabric casing) against flattening or loss of resiliency; one year on fabrics (not included: pilling, shading, fading, shrinkage, wrinkling, stretching); 1 year on leather; blown fiber backs: not warranted against softening and flattening of fibers - considered normal wear, not defects.

b. Decor-Rest (style no 2401, San francisco)

Decor-Rest (based in canada) -

12 gauage no-sag sinuous springs back;

Seating is 8 gauge no-sag sinuous springs; 5 springs/seat with sling spring for extra support; attached with polyresin spring clips;

Outside arm and outside back has reinforced webbing suspension;

Large deluxe edge roll added to hold seat cushion in place

Back has stabilizer bars (extra support for front & back rails);

Frame is "select, air dried north american maple or birch hardwood; Corners are double-doweled, corner blocked, glued, and secured with screws). Leg is 100% solid wood (doesn't say how it's attached).

Decks: full covered with body fabric and padded.

Toss cushions: blown dacron fiber or water fowl feather encased in 100% cotton twill for zippered cushions. 24'' water fowl feather toss cushion has channeled back

Arms: padded

Zippers: found on all toss cushions, inside backs and seats. Seat cushions have a home pocket for all zipper tags.

Inside back: channeled backs; filled with siliconized fiber to prevent flattening/shifting

Environmental green soya foam - eco-friendly foam; manufactured without CFCs; 1.8-2.5lb density; Foam consists of natural soya oils.

Standard, Firm, and Soft seat cushion options available on select styles; LUX seating also available - 2.5lb anti-microbial, bio plush foam pad, wrapped with 50% leather, 50% polyester, down proof casing (100% cotton)

warranty: lifetime limited on all wood frame construction, springs; 5 year lifetime limited on foam cushion; 1 year on fabric, exposed show wood parts, 2 year on leather.

I'll attach a photo from their website later

c. Best Home Furnishings (celena s90s6cp2e)

Nothing on warranty

seat cores are "extra thick, high-grade, high-density foam"

Critical stress points at joints are doweled, interlocked, glued, screwed, and corner blocked

seat cores: wrapped in a premium high-loft polyester fiber wrap

*limited info on picture (i'll attach later)

d. Leather Italia (LIU6287-03/488) - Fletcher model

fully pigmented top grain except split leather on sides/back

no info on warranty on website

*limited info on picture (I'll attach later)