*** UPDATE: Designer Sofas Direct had some administrative business problem this year (I think one of their biggest problems was customer service – it took them five months to get my sofa to me, with the understanding that I was going to blog about the experience in exchange for the sofa and shipping, so you’d think they’d move faster on that one. Nope.). The company has recently closed it’s doors. If you have any further questions, please email me and I can pass along the info that Don provided.

I know there are other sofa knock off companies (I think Custom Sofa Design might still be operating?), but it’s important to understand the risks. Sure Crate and Barrel and Restoration Hardware are pricey, but they are a for sure thing and the time line and the quality is guaranteed. I bought my Lee Industries sofa as a floor sample at C&B for less than a Custom Sofa Design piece costs. Also, I think Room and Board is a good value. And I actually really like IKEA’s Ektorp series! Holds up as well as the Rowe for Pottery Barn pieces. ***

Hi friends!! Long time, no talk! We are all moved in to our new apartment, but we still don’t have internet. But, to be honest, it’s been sort of nice to get a little break from the www. :)

The move went really well and I think we’re going to be very happy here. Most of the furniture I brought is fitting in the space as planned and I’m really excited to share my apartment decorating adventures with you all!

We moved into a loft space downtown, so we have a nice amount of living area. There is enough room for two full size sofas! I had my green LEE Industries sofa reupholstered (more on that later) and I contacted Don from Custom Sofa Design (which I blogged about HERE) for options on the second sofa. Don recently launched a great new website called DesignerSofasDirect.com and it’s awesome.

I’m going with the Kenmore sofa that I’ve loved for months now. Don has been a dream to work with. I asked him to send me linen options in the gray family and in two shakes there were several beautiful swatches in my mailbox.

I’ll keep you updated on the sofa progress but in the meantime, I thought you would enjoy seeing photos of two sofas my internet friend and fellow decorator Kristen Dowd ordered from Don. Kristen is really talented. Remember her gorgeous entry?

Here’s her email to me:

Jenny,

As we discussed, I ordered two custom sofas from Don Jefferies at DesignerSofasDirect.com earlier this summer. I was in the market for 2 new sofas and had not found exactly what I wanted. After shopping several local custom sofa manufacturers, I knew it was the route I wanted to go. I actually saw your blog post on Don’s company, and decided to be the “guinea pig” so to speak. His prices were far lower than any of the other shops I had visited. I kind of thought it was too good to be true. My husband also gave me the classic eye roll when I told him I had sent a check to Don for two sofas I had never “actually” seen.

For the first sofa, we needed something big, and I knew I wanted a white slip covered style. I reviewed all the styles on Don’s site and chose the “Aubrey”. I chose to upholster it in a white Belgian linen slipcover with black piping. Pillows are a down fill. I also wanted a short skirt to make the sofa appear a bit more casual. The last change I made was to add casters to the legs on the front. I cannot be happier with this sofa. The quality is amazing, slipcover is impeccable and has washed beautifully.

The second sofa I needed was a love seat. My husband and I had actually both seen the “Pauline” sofa from Z Gallerie and loved it. It did not come in a love seat size from Z Gallerie, so I asked Don if he could make it, and of course, he could! I also wanted this sofa skirted, and he was able to accommodate that. I chose to upholster this one in a putty colored polyester velvet.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Don’s company applies individual upholstery nails for the trim as opposed to a strip. At his low price, I was expecting a strip. This sofa is my daughters favorite. She is two, so needless to say, the sofa has seen its share of Teddy Grahams, juice and stickers and still looks great. I love the velvet manufactured by Queen because literally liquids roll right off of it.

As far as quality, both sofas have held up beautifully. I am thrilled with every aspect of this product. The look is perfect, the quality is impeccable, price was less than half of what I was quoted from competitors, and shipping was very quick.

A tip I would give others who are thinking about ordering would be to visit local furniture stores and look through the fabrics they have. If you see something you like, write it down and ask Don if he carries that same fabric. Every fabric that I had liked at local stores, Don also carried. It is sometimes easier to see the fabric up close as opposed to a tiny fabric swatch.

I would highly recommend any of your readers to order a sofa from Don. They will be so happy they did! They can feel free to ask me any questions as well.

I am thinking I may order a headboard from him next…

Kristen

Gypsy Soul Interiors

Space 1121 at White Elephant Antiques

Here are some of my favorites on Don’s new site. The prices for these gorgeous sofas is outrageously competitive – starting at around $599. You’ll see on his site that the sofas come with all sorts of sizing and configuration options. Also you can view all of these in 3-D online:

Lorenzo (love this one!)

Reims – so gorgeous in a library!

Dante (I would get this beauty skirted)

Madera

PS If you order before September 19, you’ll get an additional 10% off!

The truck is coming to my house at noon today and we’ll be loading up lots and lots of furniture and home stuff to sell this Saturday, August 7 from 7:00 am – 1:30 pm at the Arlington, VA Flea Market located at North 15th Street and Quincy (here’s the map).

Cash only.

I will be on the ‘E Level’ which is open-air. Please come and say hi and introduce yourself. I’ll be the girl with paint-stained hands and a baby on her hip.

Here’s a sampling of what will be coming. I’ve included some of my reserve prices here. All prices shown here and on the tickets at the sale will be firm until 11:00 am.

**Please note that I won’t be at my computer much until the sale, so I won’t be able to accept ‘dibs’ or put holds on pieces. If there is something you see here or know of in my home that you want to make a generous offer on, email me and if I’m tempted, I’ll consider working something out.

I tried to keep prices reasonable and also tried to bring a range of furniture that’s either ready to be used at a fair price, or less expensive things that need some TLC.

For example, this mid-century dining hutch was something I painted, so it costs $250

But this vintage hutch is ready for you to customize yourself and costs $60. There is cool paper in a gold cane pattern lining the shelves already.

Likewise, due to cost of materials and labor, my Chiang Mai settee has a reserve price of $350.

But this vintage tufted sofa is only $50. I love the ivory flame stitch upholstery. This piece is screaming for gorgeous pillows!

All mirrors $30-$100

China $1-$3 per piece

Pair antique twin bed frames (head and foot boards) $250/pair

Drexel twin canopy bed, $100 ($5 side tables seen to the left)

Antique daybed (rails not shown), $200

Lamps $5-$40 ea (these are the less exciting ones, relegated to the basement)

Artwork: I have boxes and boxes of art to sell, most for $5-$30 ea. This series of eight prints of scenes of NYC is $100.

Pair vintage bombay chests painted BM Marlboro Blue. $80/pair

Side tables GALORE!! Priced between $5 and $60 each.

Benches, some needing a lot of love (for $5), others already upholstered in designer fabric, like Ralph Lauren’s leopard. This vintage pair of painted steel benches is $200.

Lulu DK footstool $45

Credenza $50

Blue gray wall mirror, $40

China Hutch, $250

I featured some of the pretty things, but like I said, there will be many diamonds in the rough, like this $8 pedestal table and the $5 mirror to the right.

And then, of course, at 11:00 am all offers will be considered. I don’t want to haul anything home.

Other things of note:

Dining room hutch, $150
Dining curtains, set of four panels, $100
Chiang Mai headboards from girls room, $300 for the pair (the fabric alone is worth twice that)
Black and white striped living room curtains, set of two panels, $150
Brand spankin new, still in the package seagrass rug with black binding from Ballard, 8×10, $135
Black Campaign chest (the mate to Joanna’s), $50
Red-orange CB2 Office chair, $35
XXlarge sunburst mirror from my DR, $75