The best sofa I have ever owned (actually we still have 2 of them) are by Conover Chair in NC. They don't have a strong presence in the MidWest where I am at this time, but seriously they are 24 years old and need recovering due to stains, etc but there is not one thing wrong with their construction and their workmanship is second to none. You might hear that they are out of business but they are not. They were just bought out by a different family but their standards and workmanship are still the same. We are opting to have them recovered instead of buying new ones. Another good company for sofas is Norwalk. They literally are a stone's throw from my brother's home and have been in business for ages. Candice Olson from Divine Design has her own line through Norwalk.

Oh gosh, I don't know - the second one is the one I like better off the top of my head. But it is a little too orange. Can you find something the color of a gorbanzo bean? I am sitting here eating my greenbean/gorbanzo bean salad and the 2 colors look very nice together, there's also a small amount of purple onions. I don't like the pattens together in #1. I like your drape and chair fabric together.

Your questions are all on what WE would like and that should not matter in your selection. Your couch has to fit your needs. Personally I do not like a deep couch that I can't rest my back on, but others may like a deep couch if they use it for laying down and reading like so many do. Skirted couches do not seem old fashioned but maybe the one you have your eye on looks too feminine with the skirt and your DH thinks it looks too 'old lady-ish'. Or, maybe he wants a Modern look and not Contemporary and this is the way he is wording it. Firm or Soft?? What do YOU like? That is what matters. Personally I insist on firm because they are easier to get up out of, but I am older and not a fit teenager or a guy. Regarding the Rust color for a couch..........I do not consider it a "neutral" and see a possible clash with mahogany (depending on what other colors and styles are in the room). If DH is worried about a couch being old fashioned or dated looking the Rust color might be what makes certain styles look '70s. Personally, if I had to go out and buy a couch today I would go for a Slate Gray or Charcoal. Still, you can make a Rust color work in any room depending on other elements. I could make a pink and orange room work too, but it would be a lot of work and expense to do it over that way. You say mahogany and beige walls. Is there other furnishings in already or is this really a blank slate? What other furniture, curtains, or art is in place already? What style are you aiming for? Southwestern? Beachy? Victorian? Craftsman? I'm not talking about a theme room, but it's leanings. A rust colored couch may or may not work in certain styles. You mention a mahogany floor but are you going to put down a rug also? You may want to take in the rug considerations when making the couch purchase. If you are looking for a fabric that will wear well with heavy use go for a Bouclé. You say you are going for a couch and loveseat for the family room. Have you considered going with a couch and two chairs instead? This give more room arranging options and would give teenagers and DH 'their own space' when seated.

Gee, I guess Patricia's comment was pretty bad :/ it was taken down before I could read it..lol. Anyways..I have pretty thick skin. So on to brighter things :) . I do have a flex steel recliner and I do love that brand, it sits very comfortably. There is only one furniture store that carries King Hickory and they usually only have a couple of sofas on their showroom floor so I do plan to check that brand out, thanks for the suggestion pink_peony. The sofa I have does have down wrapped and I do know that I want a firmer cushions with attached backs. The cushion on my current sofa are not and are not very supportive. The sofa has been a good one, it's comfortable for lounging and watching a movie etc but is more for a younger demographic, I need one I can get up off of easily..lol.