Recently we remodeled our basement. Need a sectional sofa for tv watching and lounging.

EDIT: Problem solved. I found a gently used, local B&B Italia Tufty Time. We love it...

We want something that’s modular, ideally 1970s “Italian looking” but ideally not 2020s “Italian priced”. (Max $10K budget.)

Low to the ground. (We're in a basement.)

Good for naps.

Can’t be deeper than 93”. It could be very wide (as much as 18’), but we’ll likely choose something far less wide than that because we're not crazy people.

It must be dog-friendly. (NO white boucle. Ha.)

Too many options out there. I went way down the rabbit hole, so maybe someone in the future can find this post and won't have to go to the same depths. (You're welcome, future visitor.)

We’re based in the US.

See below. Let me know your thoughts! What did I miss?

In no particular order, here are the sectionals that we’re considering:

• Room & Board Fia U-chaise config

  • $5,600 for stocked fabric

  • $7,000 to $8,000 for more interesting fabric options

  • 64” by 160”

  • Smaller footprint than the RH Cloud, equally slouchy and deep enough. Frame seems a bit more structured than the Cloud but future Reddit reviews may end up hating it because it probably won’t stay wrinkle free. (Not a huge concern for us; this is for a basement.)

  • 8 weeks for production, if not in stocked fabric.

  • As of 2/14/2024, nothing but five star reviews on R&B website. (They don’t prune bad reviews, like some DTC brands.)

• RH Cloud 6-piece U-chaise (Luxe size)

  • $9,000 in lowest cost upholstery

  • $300 delivery

  • Only neutral colors; not ideal

  • 90” deep by 177” wide

  • Loved and hated by Reddit. Most complains not about quality but the fact that it foam on the inside and lacks structure, making it uncomfortable for some and not look like it did in the showroom over time.

  • Lots of gently used inventory available for $3,000 to $6,000; new slip covers can be purchased from RH but a full set will likely cost $5,000. Local RH outlet may have some discounted options.

  • Have been able to sit on it in RH showroom; I find it comfy

  • It’s probably the least “Italian” sofa on this list but that’s ok

• Arhaus – Reddit seems to generally like this company

  • Coburn could definitely work

    • Colors are a little boring (50 shades of grey)

    • Currently everything is around 50% off, depending on fabric

    • Seems very well made for the price

    • I’m walking distance from a showroom, so can definitely test it out

    • Keegan would be a contender (with sale price) but no fabric options

• Ikea JÄTTEBO u-shaped config

  • 63” deep by 150” wide, so even smaller footprint

  • Super cheap at $3,300 – not sure I want to spend that much for Ikea quality

  • Removable slipcovers

  • Comes in a nice green color that we like

  • Can drive home with pieces of it on the same day

  • Made out of particle board and velcro – almost assuredly won’t last for more than a few years. Some complaints online about wobbly construction that’s pretty typical for Ikea stuff.

  • Sat on it in person at Ikea. It’s so-so on the comfort level. A bit rigidly square in construction but squishy cushions.

• Castlery Jonathan

  • Chaise Sectional Sofa with Ottoman

  • Love the look of this one

  • Comes in leather also

  • (Currently on sale) under $4,000 + another $1,000 to make it wider by one armless section – would be about 70” x 145”

  • Ships in a couple of weeks

  • Nowhere nearby to try it out – 20% restocking fee on returns

  • Warranty costs extra; shipping costs extra

  • 1 star out of 5 on bbb.org

  • Reddit has loads of complaints about Castlery – bad customer service, bad shipping estimates, back fabric (their website has some one-star reviews buy most products are in the 4-5 star range)

  • Bonus sofa: the Todd (currently on clearance)

    • Nothing but 5-star reviews on their site, but somehow this one is on clearance; can’t currently make the configuration I need with the components available

• Article – Sanna Magnet Green Left Conversational Sectional

  • Very tempting, lots of seating surface for under $4,000 (currently on sale)

  • Many DTC companies get roasted on Reddit. (Thanks for the warnings!) Article seems like one of the least bad, especially given their relatively high quality items for relatively affordable prices.

  • I have purchased a couple things from Article (a bed and some poufs) and my experience was great. Shipped on time. Quality was better than expected.

  • They don’t seem to cook their reviews (actual one-star reviews on their website). Some of the complaints are irrational (“the couch wasn’t as green as it looked on my monitor!”) And some of the old issues on Reddit had to do with long waiting times during the pandemic, when everyone was having problems.

  • Return policy seems somewhat sensible

• Kardiel Shelter

  • Price is right at under $5,000

  • Not sure what to make of these folks

    • 365-day trial of furniture…?

    • 3 year warranty?

    • The couch we like is out of stock until 5/31 – four months not ideal

    • 2/5 stars on BBB – not great but better than a lot of the DTC brands

    • A few horror stories out there

    • Don’t like that they rip off other designers, e.g. Cassina

• West Elm – Remi

  • Loads of colors about $1,000 per modular piece (six piece with ottomans would run about $6,000, u-shaped with chaises would be maybe $5,000), kinda boxy and upright; and the Ariana – similar style, slightly less boxy/upright, maybe 10% cheaper

  • “Hand-built frames with hand-finished upholstery”

  • “Solid pine and engineered wood frame with reinforced joinery”

  • Presumably could sit on these and test them out in a nearby West Elm, although they don’t always have every model on the floor

  • West Elm has a decent return policy but made-to-order items can’t be returned

• Crate & Barrel Angalore

  • Really wanted this one. Love the look, love the shape.

  • Almost looks like a 1970s Italian import.

  • About $7,000 in the config we wanted. Occasionally goes on sale.

  • Never had this in any of their showrooms, so couldn’t sit on it. Currently quoting a May delivery (three months out) and it would be custom-made, which means you can’t return it if you don’t like it.

  • Too risky for a sofa that has zero reviews (although there’s a lone one-star review for one of the ottomans, saying it was poorly made and falling apart…)

• CB2 Faible

  • 4-PIECE GREY PERFORMANCE VELVET SECTIONAL SOFA WITH RIGHT ARM runs about $5,000

  • 142” by 92” deep (almost too deep for our space)

  • Stocked in a chenille velvet charcoal; 4-week delay and extra $1,000 for other custom colors

  • Probably will be able to sit on one at a local CB2 but need to confirm

• Bludot Sunday U-shaped Sectional

  • Have owned quite a few Bludot pieces and the quality is generally quite good

  • $9,000 to $9,500, depending on fabric (only 4 options)

  • Have sat on this in the showroom and it’s super comfortable for lounging

  • 150 x 76

  • Most versions in stock, ready to ship

  • Also tried Cleon but didn’t find it comfortable

• Hay Mags Low and Quilton

  • Might be able to squeak one of these in under budget, depending on the configuration and fabric

  • Reviews online are extremely mixed

  • Have seen Hay furniture up close (in London) but haven’t had a chance to sit on either one of these; local DWR doesn’t keep these on the floor

• Gus Modern

  • Nexus

    • Good quality

    • Cushions contain an eco-friendly, synthetic-down fill made from 1441 recycled plastic water bottles

    • Inner frame is 100% kiln-dried FSC®-Certified hardwood in support of responsible forest management (FSC® 092551)

    • Roughly $1,000-1,500 per segment, would need 6 segments

    • 80 x 160

    • No-Sag, sinuous spring system

    • Low stock in a number of places

  • Podium – could also work

• Ethnicraft Molly

  • Very similar to the Gus Modern Nexus, similar price point

• Bend Goods Cube Sofa

  • Six-piece config (rearranged into a u-shape)

  • Scant reviews online, especially about sofas

  • Made in China

• Maiden Home Bruer Modular – way over budget in the size/fabric we want

• Euro options?

  • B&B Italia Camaleonda – ha… easily $20,000; even finding one gently used (once you account for shipping) probably would not fit into the budget; also, maybe this fad will pass

  • B&B Italia Tufty – same

  • Roche Bobois, any model – same

  • Arflex – same

  • Lignet Roset Togo – same

  • Audo Copenhagen – same

  • MOOI BFF – same

  • Flexform – same

  • Poliform – same

  • Cassina – same

  • Muuto Connect Soft Modular Sofa Corner – just slightly over budget

• Other DTC

  • Lulu & Georgia – nothing here works for us, style-wise

  • Albany Park – nothing here works for us, style-wise; reviews very mixed

  • Apt2B – nothing here works for us, style-wise

  • Eternity Modern – horror stories all over reddit about this company

  • SettleIn – very cheap prices, seems like a lot of horror stories online

  • Brooklyn Space – not our vibe

  • Industry West – this Loom Modular Sofa @ $3,125 seems nice and affordable, but I think they are just reselling some other manufacturer? Really don’t know anything about them

  • Modloft – don’t know anything about them; this one could work; not my first choice

  • Rove – not great reviews online