Probably 4-5 years too late but maybe we can weigh in a little here as well. When it comes couch covers or sofa covers, the traditional sense would be that it's loose and unfitting and yes - companies that sell sofas or slipcovers like us would put in a lot of effort in making the end result look super crisp like so: You're right - it's unrealistic to be super focused on one's decor and presenting it to the world but when we do it for a living it's kinda something we have to do. It's constantly having to show our best work every single time, but it's definitely important to note that not all slipcovers can be made equally. In our experience, we could classify aesthetic sofa rejuvenation into 3 major categories: 1) ready-made slipcovers / universal covers / drapes These are the typical "Stretch covers" you see everywhere going for about US$100 to $300 and claims to fit every single shape of sofa, which they don't. (I've personally tested this on a Chesterfield sofa and looked like a trampoline. Feel free to pm for a photo.) They are economic but aren't the best looking - hence, good for a quick fix. 2) tailored made sofa covers (can be further sub-categorised into "relaxed" or "snug" fits) These are the slipcovers we're most familiar with since CB sells them or we can go to an upholsterer to have it made for about $800 onwards -- which I have to say sounds cheap because upon inquiring many upholstery shops that's just the charge for labour as far as I remember. $30/yard extra for fabrics, which brings the total to $1200 but once again this are upholstery shops. Nowadays online slipcover makers like us and others are able to provide these at about $500 or so for a complete so slipcover set inclusive of seat/back cushion covers. This can go a couple of ways, with the "relaxed" fit looking a bit more shabby with a skirt and some people do intentionally go for this look. Alternatively if you want something more fitting and closer to upholstery, it is very possible for sofas that constructed more squarely as per the image above. While it's also possible for more curvy sofas, the outcome won't be as perfect. Having said all that, the more fitting the slipcover the less likely it'll look saggy in a couple of years. 3) upholstery Not much needs to be said as this is literally putting fabric over the couch so the fit should theoretically be perfect. The downside is just cleaning and as you all mentioned, potentially quite gross (even steam-cleaning isn't a 100% solution). Of course, it is just as expensive as getting a slipcover made from that same upholstery shop. Hope this gives a bit more perspective to everyone else despite the tardiness! Just like everyone else though we're also quite interested in what you went with in the end!

Threegrad - There have already been a bunch of aftershocks, all at about 2.0, which aren't felt. The Monterey Peninsula is basically a high hill of granite, so we don't feel much below a 4.5 anyway. And no reports of injuries anywhere. This was an odd one, like a double shaker. A big thump, then a few seconds of nothing, then everything rattled and rolled. Not long enough to get frightened though. Learned my lesson about what to hang where during the 1989 Loma Prieta 7.1 shaker. Nothing that is breakable, heavy, or not glued down goes over five feet high in my house, except for pictures and am very cautious about placing mirrors. And our water heater is double-strapped to a concrete wall in our tiny basement. And, of course, no one builds with bricks. AFAIK it's against code.

Justerrilyn, what is the name and mfg of the last sofa you posted. If it comes in another color it would be perfect! Thanks for that link jlc, and I also think a nubby texture would look great. Renovatorgirl, I went to the TEU site and they have a surprising range of sofas and fabrics, I will look through them all tomorrow, thank you. Pal, I cannot believe they finally pulled the plug on French check! They have been rotating the colors for years now, making one or two unavailable then bringing them back and pulling another color temporarily off the market, or so the carpet lady told us. Now that nylon rugs are made so much better (and stain resistant) nobody wants to pay for one room what a whole house would cost. The higher end mfgs (Maslan, Stark, etc) have gotten so expensive they are out of reach for most people, and they used to represent just the "best," not the "stratosphere."

Happy Monday! Thank you SO MUCH for all the thoughtful comments and pics!! We ordered a cat condo; it will be placed on the wall where the money tree was located. The tree has already been moved to the left of the fireplace. It does well in our family room as it likes indirect sun. Also, we trimmed our cat's claws and she didn't mind it a bit! I was more nervous than she was haha!! Thank you, ingrid and shari, for that recommendation. The right words at the right time can make all the difference :-) Anglo, I do like seagrass rugs and maybe now we can consider looped rugs after all. Beverly - your suggested layout would def be my preference, and we did try to make it work. But the z-chairs - which we really like and I couldn't find any swivel chairs that I liked as much - kept getting moved around for better tv viewing. And since the tv over the fireplace was most functional for us, we had to find a furniture arrangement to accommodate it. The interrelationship of all these factors has me spinning in circles! As I find items that are appropriately sized, I would greatly appreciate your assistance in making them all work together. Susan and havingfun - I love love love the rugs and bird/owl/gingko pillows you've posted and am hoping we can create a layered cohesive look. Initially I started this process by looking for a rug, but now I'm thinking I'll look for the artwork and design around that. l agree with everyone who posted about finding art that resonates. The three prints currently hanging are special to me - they depict Inferno, Purgatory & Paradise as imagined by Salvador Dali in his watercolor series of Dante's Inferno. We saw the collection on our honeymoon, and my husband gave me the first print (Inferno hehe) on our first wedding anniversary. We've going to move these prints to the master bedroom. If you have any suggestions for reasonably priced interesting artwork sites, please share! Thank you! mjlb - I'm going to try to get a better pic of the chairs' true color. Also, fyi that the hardwood floors are going to be refinished with a medium brown stain. Thank you for all your suggestions. Thanks, everyone, for all your great feedback. I so appreciate it!! I tend to tackle home projects in a piecemeal fashion, then get stuck because I don't really know what I'm working towards. Thanks again! :-)