Home Fashion: Help me pick a sofa!

Yesterday I posted about how Chris and I are buying new furniture for our living room. If anyone wants to weigh in with their opinions on some sofa options, we are pretty torn between these:

 Room and Board Eugene

I like the feminine but still MCM shape of this sofa. I love the buttons on the back and the three legs at the base. This one is Chris's least favorite though.

 Room and Board Murray

I like the color of the legs. I like that it is three cushions. But I think it is a bit plain. It looks like it could go into a doctor's office waiting room. And I worry that the unattached cushions in the back will get lumpy like our current couch's (since Speck likes to perch). This is our compromise choice since we both like it along with the fabric selection available. It is also the least expensive of the three sofas from Room and Board.

Room and Board Reese (without chaise)

This is Chris's favorite. And I adore the look of it. But it is the most expensive and I worry that the buttons are going to be dirt traps when they are attached to the seat rather than the back. I also think that they will be more likely to come loose when they are constantly sat on.

We ordered fabric samples from the company and are eager to make a decision. But we also have contemplated buying the much less expensive but still mid-century-modern sofa from Macys called the Corona:

 

I don't care much for the Corona fabric but they have a great protection plan and the couch is plenty comfortable. I don't know where Macys furniture is made but Room and Board is all made in the US which draws me to them. We sat on many Room and Board sofas when we visited their store in San Fransisco. Still I wish we could go to a store to see everything in person to sit on things now that we've narrowed our choices to the above three... Sadly there is no showroom in Pittsburgh. Any thoughts?

On-the-go OOTD

Limited (via Gabes) chambray dress skirt

MBMJ Daisy cardigan in ivory

 Lands End Canvas cords (worn cuffed to make them Spring-appropriate)

Burberry Brit jacket from Larrimor's

Tory Burch LeeLee flats (tri-color Patent Revas)

Kate Spade Journal Bon Shopper

I wore this to run some suburban errands the other day/night. I needed to get Mother's Day stuff (cards, odds and ends, etc.) so I went to Wild Card. I had a few things to grab in preparation for a friend's upcoming surprise birthday party. I also needed to buy replacement cushions for a new (albeit vintage) piece of living room furniture purchased by Chris. He bought a Arne Wahl Iversen chair from a dealer so we had the covers dry cleaned. But the cushions were 50+ years old and full of cat dander (to which Chris is allergic). They had to go! The chair looks like this:

(disregard the Speck toys and the old, oversized, soon-to-be-replaced couch)

We're in the market for a new sofa which I would love some guidance on tomorrow.

Two-Wheeler in action at Yo La Tengo and a Home Fashion Update

Here you can see Chris and I at Yo La Tengo in the park! When I asked our friend who took the photo to get head to toe, Chris lamented his choice of footwear but honestly, he wasn't wearing shoes for very long after that. It was a beautiful evening! We ate watermelon and drank surreptitiously on our blankets with friends while the sun set and it felt too perfect. 

A few weeks ago, we made another home upgrade. The kitchen ceiling fan was among the most loud and hideous I've ever seen. It was awful enough that I didn't think to photograph it until it was safely removed from the house.

We replaced it thanks to Chris's handiwork.

Much better!

Dreaming of Fall Already in Wool See by Chloé

This wool babydoll dress with a peter pan collar by See by Chloe was a recent ebay find. The auction included one lone and blurry camera phone photo of the dress. But it was just clear enough that I could spot exactly which frock it was. I had lost an auction for another one only a few weeks prior! Whereas, I was the lone bidder for the newer listing. The wool is thick making it pretty difficult to wear unless I do so on an evening when the weather dips into the 50s. Luckily for me last night it did!

See by Chloé black babydoll dress (many seasons old but new to me!) (similar here, here, and here)
Marc by Marc Jacobs captoe mary jane pumps (similar here, here, and here)
Kate Spade Larabee Dot bag (similar here, here, and here)

You might have noticed that the hallway is brighter than it once was. That is because last night Chris and I switched the fixture! Well, Chris did the actual work but I held things and was an excellent helper.

It is now so bright, I can't get my flash to induce on its own! I had to turn it out.

I'll update about the sale next! Picking out things to sell was challenging and bittersweet. In the process, the above Kate Spade bag I had originally listed on Bonanzle has found its way back into my rotation. I have to take the listing down. It is sort of funny and annoying that something I was so sure about selling seems to have endless wardrobe possibilities. .

Shopping My Closet and Saving My Budget

Since it is a new year, I heartily enjoyed the epic sales of Fall 2008, I have taken it easy since mid-December when I wrapped up my xmas gift shopping. I've only bought 2 plane tickets to NYC (for a mid-February conference my fiancé, Chris is attending), food, and materials for my bathroom which Chris is remodeling himself.

He's further along than this now but it was already taking shape here.

I'm not feeling especially consumed by anything specific, online or in stores. My estalking habits have decreased for the moment. And my desire in general to shop is low.

This usually happens after the holidays, but the feeling is significantly more pronounced this year. After all, the overindulgences typical of the holiday season must be tempered by a staid January. My typical post-holiday consumption dry spell was reinforced by the news coverage of the recession, layoffs, etc., and my enormous winter weather gas bill. After tallying the costs of the renovations I was offered more than sufficient reasons to shop my closet and be thankful.

Some recent outfits comprised mostly of 2008 finds.

That said, I am anticipating anxiously the launch of Net-a-Porter's outlet site, called Outnet. I don't know when it will occur but I am interested in seeing if a few items from their notoriously lame sales end up dropping further in the outlet context. In the meanwhile, I'll continue to shop my closet.