Like most couples, as newlyweds Mr. Burt and I couldn’t afford all-new furniture to fill the new home we were starting together. We did scrape together enough money in wedding gifts to purchase an essential mattress, bedroom suite, and dinette, but our living room was fitted out with hand-me-downs from my parents, who conveniently bought new furniture shortly before our wedding. With inexpensive slipcovers, we were able to bring a little personal style to the inherited furniture, and make it feel somewhat new. Mostly we were just glad to have a place to sit down!
- May, 2006, just after we bought our house.
Nonetheless, we’ve been saving for proper furniture, set back last spring by gale-force winds blowing down our fence, again in the summer by our air conditioner dying, and again this spring by a car wreck and a tornado taking off our roof within a week of each other. We managed to get our feet back under us over the summer, though, and have been on the lookout for a new living room set for months.
At first we thought we’d get a sectional, but alas, they were all either too modern, too frumpy, or too huge. When we finally found a suitable one at Havertys (option C, in cappuccino), it was a bit more than we wanted to spend, and they weren’t bargaining! Waiting for a good sale, but not entirely certain the Havertys sectional was the ideal layout for our living room, we kept our eyes open and were struck by this sofa and matching chair set, which was a better price, but would get pricier by the time we added occasional tables. Still, we planned to wait until a good after-Thanksgiving or after-Christmas sale and buy those pieces, because they were super comfy, just right for our layout, and even matched our accessories.
That decisiveness still didn’t stop us from looking around. This past Friday night, wanting to get out of the house and thinking we might find a coffee and end table, we went to The Dump, which is not as shady as it sounds! It’s actually a very nice store that buys overstocks and closeout furniture and furniture from dealers who are going out of business and resells for 50-75% off retail price. Not five minutes after we arrived, we saw a living room set that were very similar in style to the set at Havertys, just as comfortable, and way less money, plus it included an ottoman that could double as a coffee table. After about thirty minutes’ debating, we made a salesperson who’d been ready to go home very happy by walking out of The Dump with the invoice for the newly-purchased furniture. It was delivered around 5:30 last evening, and after a quick trip to Lowe’s for new matching curtains, we could not be more pleased with our new living room.
- The old furniture, sans slipcovers, relegated to the garage till Mom and Dad pick it up. (What are y’all going to do with it, by the way?)
- Awaiting new furniture, we cleaned up our nappy old carpet as best we could.
- Note the big yellow rectangle underneath where the old sofa used to be. Thankfully the new one is big enough to cover it completely!
- Dorrie spent most of the day being utterly disconcerted by the disappearance of her furniture.
- Although, she was also equally mystified by the arrival of new furniture.
- Every square inch of upholstery had to pass a scent test.
- Eventually, everything passed Dorrie inspection.
- Mr. Burt approved, too.
- I, on the other hand, was far more interested in getting Lost in a Good Book (which actually isn’t that great of a book).
- In true cat fashion, Dorrie immediately tested out the ottoman for nappability.
- In the end, she decided it made a better bathtub.
- The whole room, from the corner between the piano and the entertainment center. We think between the sofa, chair, and ottoman, we can actually comfortably seat eight. Note the matching valances I got for the dining room window, which was previously bare. Eventually we’ll have a tray atop the ottoman for drinks, and we’ll get an end table for the corner between the sofa and chair. (That’s where our Christmas tree will go, too. Good thing we bought a skinny one!)
- View from the kitchen. We weren’t sure if our art would still work with the new color scheme (which is actually olive green, not brown as the pillows make the upholstery look), but nothing else of ours worked better, so we’re leaving well enough alone for now, and not troubled by the look of anything. Neutrals go with everything, right?
10/11/2008 at 3:09 pm Permalink
Happy New Furniture to you! Looks very nice, and a good price makes it even nicer, Mr. & Mrs. Bargain Hunter.
10/11/2008 at 4:25 pm Permalink
Thank you! I’ve been sitting on the couch most of the day, working, and I highly approve. And there’s another satisfaction that comes from the bargain!
11/11/2008 at 1:12 am Permalink
Perhaps I might find your furniture useful, as Doug and I (well, really our whole room, too) will be moving off campus next year.
12/11/2008 at 5:37 am Permalink
How AWESOME was this post! I loved living the moments as you wrote!!
So, speaking of the writing…how’s it coming? Any new paragraphs lately? sentences? pages?
Hey, I love your profile picture…it is cracking me up!!!
12/11/2008 at 5:39 am Permalink
Hey, how do I add a profile pic? I can’t do such a pic as yours…John’s parents haven’t brought us our family Christmas present—a WII !!!
12/11/2008 at 7:35 am Permalink
Thanks! Although it took me way too long to write this post the other day, lol.
Ooh, a wee! That’s lots of fun! Y’all will love it! Are John’s parents coming for a visit soon?
Sentences, paragraphs, pages, chapters, baby.
I cannot remember how my userpic works…It’s uploaded at some website or other that displays my pic anywhere I’m signed in — Wordpress, Blogger, etc…But I can’t remember what the site is. I’ll get back to you!
12/11/2008 at 7:54 am Permalink
Here we go: Gravatar. You upload a pic there and it’ll attach to your accounts.