Let me walk you through what buying living room furniture has been like for us so far:
We arrived. We unpacked. The living room was empty. We decided it needed to be filled. He wanted leather, I liked the idea of leather as long as my living room didn't turn into a man-cave. I didn't want black leather. Brown. Comfortable. He wanted modern. I hate modern. He hates traditional. We agreed it would be something in-between. 2 couches? A couch and a loveseat? chairs? 'Well, if you know what you Don't want...can you tell me what you DO want?' I have a picture in my head of a comfy, yet classy living room with enough seating for guests that doesn't look like a furniture store, but it's hard to describe. So...we went to the beach.
Fortunately, while at the beach, someone told us that Laz-y-Boy and Leon's were having a big sale that weekend. So after the beach, we hit up Laz-y-boy and The Brick, with plans to go to Sears and Leon's as well. We took the whole afternoon at Laz-y-Boy and The Brick. Furniture is expensive!
Back out in the evening after dinner to check out Leon's and Sears, and UFW. We went to UFW first...and stayed there all evening. Picked out a ton of furniture (living room sectional, a bed, mattress, 2 dressers, 2 night-stands) and put a $20 deposit so we could go home and think...plus, we hadn't made it to Leon's and Sears.
Side note: I hate furniture shopping...I've decided. I hate that the price isn't 'the price'. "Oh, that's the original price, but it's on sale for this price...but I could give it to you for this price." "So and so has it for this price." "Oh, I could beat that." "But you said 'this' was the price?" "I could beat it." Can the price just be the price please?
Next day, Leon's and Sears. We loved a couch at Leon's...and considered getting two. Is it black or brown though? It's brown, says the salesperson. It looks black. It's brown. Ok. Plus, it's genuine leather...high quality. Other people may have been showing you bonded leather. That's cheap. Basically they take vinyl and spray leather bits onto it. It wears off. Did you know that? I did not know that. I've never bought leather furniture before. So, was the stuff we liked at UFW and The Brick bonded leather? I can't remember.
No trip to Sears.
Next day...Sears. Nothing we liked.
The next day is Sunday. The people who told us about the sale tell us that they bought some couches at Leon's the day before and that Leon's was the best in their opinion. What did you guys get? Nothing yet. Still looking.
Another day...Back to Laz-y-Boy...back to The Brick. Bonded leather. a-ha! Pretty sure UFW will be the same.
(are you exhausted reading this...I'm exhausted typing it...and I already lived it).
I'm pretty sure we'll get the ones at Leon's. But we have the design lady coming from Laz-Y-Boy on Thursday afternoon, so let's just wait and see what she says. Maybe she'll have a different idea for the space that we haven't thought of yet.
So all morning Thursday morning I clean and tidy and get ready for my visit from the Laz-y-Boy lady. We're not buying furniture from them because they're way too expensive, but we'd like her opinion. We'll get the 2 couches from Leon's after she's done. My appointment is for 2pm. At 1pm, they call and say they're not coming because she's sick. Nice. So we get in the car and head to Leon's.
My kid's have a love-hate relationship with furniture stores now. It's awesome to run around and play hide-and-seek in a warehouse-sized living room and Leon's has little kid's recliners that are oh so cool to sit in. But seriously, another furniture store? I think we're going mental. On our way to Leon's we stop at some random furniture store. The kid's and I stay in the car while Tyler runs in to see if there is anything worthwhile. 15 minutes. Not worthwhile.
Next store (another no-name random furniture store). We wait in the car...20 minutes. At this time Max has slapped his sister in the face a few times and Logan has screamed....I can't count anymore. Not worth it.
Leon's. Tyler...you do your thing and negotiate. The kid's and I will play with mini-recliners and bedroom furniture. Oh, and be quick, because Logan's supposed to have a nap in 15 minutes...and our house is 20 minutes away.
Oh, and did I mention that we have spent our evenings for the last week at Canadian Tire, Loews, Home Depot and Rona checking out Patio furniture? Yup...we have.
Two 'brown' leather couches purchased. One to be delivered the next morning (Friday) and another in a week or so. Done. We will settle on a rug and chairs another time. Two couches will do for now. I'm satisfied. He's satisfied. The kid's are spent. Let's go.
Oh, and how do you punctuate 2 weeks of furniture shopping? By having one of your crazy kids push the handle on the emergency exit door while Dad is 'doing his thing...negotiating', setting off the fire alarm. Bells and whistles...lots of tears, "I didn't know what it was!!!" and a big fire truck racing into the parking lot...guys in full gear. Max (as if you didn't know already that it was him), had to give apologies to a lot of people.
I hope this was worth it!
But having an empty living room has been fun:
1 comment:
Fun and loud, I bet!
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