I think at this point, since the builder made the decision to go ahead & pour without consulting with you first on the necessary changes due to setback issues, he needs to stop what he's doing and go over what his new gameplan is with you. I'm guessing that the setback issue is on the kitchen/desk area/stair wall since the dining room would be obliterated if the problem was on that side of the house. That missing foot of space can really mess up your stair area as well as the doors that are in that space. You may have to lose one door & the space at the stairs will be very tight (unless the builder thought enough ahead & moved the porch door wall out a foot when he poured). The builder is right that 24' is the maximum width he could've made it regardless of any discussions you may have had, but that 1' changes alot of other things that DO have to be discussed. Bottom line--work has to stop until this is sorted out to your satisfaction given the setback issues you've encountered. If you're still at a loss as to what to do with the layout after listening to the builder's ideas, you may want to try seeking layout help from SummerfieldDesigns, MarthaElena or BigKahuna on the GW site.

I would buy a used antique sofa, since they were made MUCH better than is furniture now, but only with the intention of reupholstering and definitely having a new cushion made for it. People do very icky things on sofas. But the cushion thing has me positively stumped. I paid $6K for my Hickory Chair sofa, and the cushions is lousy. Did SO much homework on the cushion beforehand, asked for Bayer foam, went into a store that sells Hickory Chair sofas and SAT on them, LOVED the cushions in the store, they were so comfortable, firm and supportive but not hard, didn't sink into the sofa frame. I was psyched. Got my HC sofa…thoroughly lousy cushion. NOt at all supportive, sank into the frame..I was PISSED, and NO one would take responsibility for it, not HC nor that store through which I purchased it. So, I will eventually have the upholsterer I use make a cushion for the sofa. I think that is the only way to get a decent cushion, to NOT have the manufacturer make it. HC agreed to make one of their standard cushions, the one I would have gotten had I not requested the Bayer foam, for 1/2 price, so $200. That thing is worse than the Bayer one! I just don't get it. Great cushions in the store. Lousy on the actual sofa they make for you.

Horrible Sofa.. I bought the Sven Leather sofa and the back cusions got flat in 8 months, we put it in front of the TV qnd use it daily. ARTICLE sent me the back cusions replacements, but they leather color is lighter, faded and it seems very stiff (maybe storred incorrectly). I instered couple od dawn pillows in the back cusions which bought me around a year. Now it looks horrible and deformed. Now installing the replacements which would probaby last 8 motnhs as well, then will add the dawn pillows to buy another year. will end up getting 4 years out of this thing!! The side round pillows sagged after a year, they sell them for $180! My 12 years old Ikea leather sofa which I moved to the basement has 0 sag what sp ever! Very comfortable, no sag what so ever, the leather peeled off little at some placese, corners but thats about it (after 12 years). Do yourself a favor and buy from Ikea, they have some high end leather sofas, prices are close to Article and quality is much better!

Yes, there is one sure way to avoid puddling of leather, and that is to never use the sofa. Sorry, couldn't resist, as I get asked this question several times a week. I sell a lot of leather furniture and can tell you this about puddling: 1) Know the leather you are buying. There is cowhide, and there is steerhide, and it runs in grades. Cowhide (female) will always stretch more and is less desirable for that reason, so it costs less to the manufacturers. Steerhide (male) is less prone to stretch. Companies like Hancock and Moore will only use A Grade Steerhide, and it makes a difference. The problem you will run into is 99% of all furniture salespeople will go blank if you ask them this question and will never have heard of this. 2) Yes, you can can extra full backs and extra firm seats which will cut down on puddling. However, you have to find a balance between firm/full and comfort levels as their are many density levels of foam you can request from the better makers. As you increase that firmness and fullness, your comfort level declines. I have had customers so concerned with puddling that they make their sofa into something that is almost as stiff as a wooden park bench and its miserable to sit in. Then - they get to buy all new cores for seats and backs for about $ 900 to get then softer. I recommend most customers go one step up in firmness/fullness, but not more than that unless they are over 300 lb. Choose wisely 3) Any cushion with down is going to puddle more and have a more relaxed look to it. The Marshall Unit Spring Cores will not help. 4) When the piece ages get new seat and back cores for it. That can really helps a lot. There are various replacement policies in place from most the makers - ask. For example Hancock and Moore does free back and seat cores to the original owner, not even a shipping charge. Bradington Young does seats only as replacements but you pay the shipping (Backs are full replacement price). Duane Collie