"Bottom line? IMO..so much money was involved here that one would be hard pressed to find a politician that did or does not have his hand in the cookie jar somehow, some way." Here are a few more folks who have made out handsomely at the communal 'cookie jar'. Namely, Henry Paulson and his close circle of friends... Who is Henry Paulson? By Tom Eley September 23, 2008 The plan to rescue the US financial industry arrogates virtually unlimited money and power over the financial affairs of the state to the office of Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. Paulson is a figure with a long history of intimate connections to the political and financial elite. In 1970, fresh from the Masters program of the Harvard Business School, Paulson entered the Nixon administration, working first as staff assistant to the assistant secretary of defense. In 1972-73, Paulson worked as office assistant to John Erlichman, assistant to the president for domestic affairs. Erlichman was one of the key figures involved in organizing President Richard Nixon's notorious plumbers' unit that carried out illegal covert operations against the president's political opponents, including espionage, blackmail, and revenge. Ehlichman resigned in 1973, and in 1975 he was convicted of obstruction of justice, perjury, and conspiracy, and was imprisoned for 18 months. Utilizing his connections, Paulson went to work for Goldman Sachs in 1974. In a 2007 feature, the British newspaper the Guardian wrote, Not only was he well connected enough to get the job [in the Nixon White House], but well connected enough to resign in the thick of the Watergate scandal without ever getting caught up in the fallout. He went straight to Goldman back home in Illinois.... A link that might be useful: www.wsws.org/articles/2008/sep2008/paul-s23.shtml

Unless they are very complex shapes, I would think that anyone who has some sewing experience could use the old ones for a pattern and make new ones. In other words, if your neighborhood has someone who takes in sewing, it could probably be done for 1/4 what an upholstery shop would charge. An experienced person should be able to look at it and know if they can do an acceptable job or not. If you are using a very heavy material, then it will probably take a professional shop to do it....need an industrial seewing machine. Unless, this is very high quality furniture...that means a sofa that cost $1,200-$2,000+, then I think you would find it just as cheap to buy a new set rather than have an upholstery shop recover it.

I've only had a sectional in a room that pretty much dictates not only a sectional but also the direction. Most rooms where I would use a sectional seem either fairly equal or like they dictate the placement. If your room can take the longer length in either direction, have you looked at how it impacts other furniture placement and paths around the furniture? Does one placement suggest a chair where one would not? Then consider how often you use your fireplace, the views out the windows. All things being equal, I would probably have the long side face the fireplace, but hopefully not blocking or preventing a view out the windows. And I am sorry that you found it so difficult to get an answer to your question. I cannot tell you how many hours (days, weeks, months) I have spent searching for furniture for my family room -- twice now (15 years in this house). In order to have seating that fits us and the room, our home and our lifestyle, it had to be a sectional (and a very difficult size at that -- which is part of why I tried everything else). The last thing I would want to hear is a bunch of folks who have never seen my room or looked at the options or reasons for my choice trying to talk me out of it. No one is asking them to pay for it or to use it. So many one size fits all types here. At six feet tall and with friends a foot or more shorter, I have never understood how one size is supposed to fit all. Not well, anyway. Do it well. Arcy -- I'd be limited to floor cushions! LOL

Thanks for the great tips. Yes, it's a good point that 16 won't be sitting at the same time...more like 12 or so. Sadly, I have to go fairly dark due to the cleaning and staining issues. I should have added that I plan to add a large 12 x 15 area rug to break up the dark sofas from the darkish wood. I can't go with medium gray because it will look too "matchy-matchy" with the med. gray stone fireplace. Quick question/concern...I searched for sofas that are made from "Sunbrella" people here suggested and there are only a few and they are outdoor sofas. Mostly, the Sunbrella fabric is pillows. Also, I'll be removing both sofa tables behind the sofas that are there now, so that will give me another~ 4+ feet. But I still plan on putting more narrow sofa tables as I don't want the sofas right up against the walls, so it will be more like an extra 2 feet I'll be gaining. Any other suggestions for a "tough" fabric that won't be torn easily? We've had issues with guests sitting on the sofas, etc., with keys, etc, in their back pockets that tear the fabric or snag it. What are opinions on leather? Vinyl? Also, I'd like to lighten up the room with a cleaner, more modern white (ish) paint, maybe with a touch of gray, )but not with any blue or "pink" in it.) The walls are now painted Sherwin-Williams "Accessible Beige" and the Doors (not seen in the pictures are "Dovetail"...which I LOVE, but is way too dark for the walls. I've already gone down the line of the "Dovetail" paint strip and the lighter colors look kinda "pink-ish" in that room.) Thanks again everyone