apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Wow, that's a big-not-so-nice "surprise" for the purchaser.

Maybe she could make a slipcover/pillowcase to cover those bars.

Ooh, I've been doing this recently with a couple pieces of furniture I'm thinking about getting. It really is quite helpful!

how to discourage buyers in under a minute. What an ugly back.

beyond the ugly factor, I can't imagine that it is very comfortable or even stable-small bars, big cushions; I can't imagine that the cushions sit very well on that back

Yeah, I saw that in the store and it was terrible. What a turn off UO...

And regarding using Flickr - I do it all the time! I need to see what furniture looks like in a real home!

Did you honestly expect a beautifully-crafted solid-wood back for such a cheap price???

Once again, this proves that your money is better spent on well-made vintage items instead of the new cheap imported crap.

I'm really thinking that Urban Outfitters thinks the only place for a couch is against a wall.

There's no way that back is intentional. Great luck for you finding this!

Perhaps the back would be somewhat less offensive if it was painted the color of the cushions.

I bought this same sofa some months ago without making an in-store visit. Big mistake. I was woefully disappointed and subsequently sold it on craigslist before ordering my current sofa from R&B. THe saving grace, it's actually not at all uncomfortable.

I search flickr for paint colours I'm contemplating.

WOW. I am so shocked. Urban has great design and great prices but this makes me so nervous. I have been going back and fourth on buying one of their fainting sofa's and really want to see a picture of it before I buy it. I know a lot of urban stuff ends up looking smaller and cheaper in person.

Wow...That is just SO unfortunate. How difficult would it have been for UO to put wood slats on the back? Or even imitation wood...

It's important to see all sides of any piece you don't intend on putting against the wall and many companies that sell furniture, clothing, knick knacks etc do not seem committed to accurately representing their products. Buyer beware.

http://www.MyDesignSecrets.com

I search Flickr for wallpapers I'm thinking of using too

ewwwww, the back is horrible, cute home though!

gee. it's so swell in every other way. how about attaching a piece of close to matching wood to that ugly ass frame, a long rectangle to float almost to the edges of the seat back cushions.... if it's a still a buy....

Yea, a good reminder not to buy things online where you need to see the fit and finish (furniture, clothes, etc.). Urban outfitters is mostly geared towards college kids so they usually have dormroom-style furniture. Not to say they don't have some cool pieces sometimes, but I'd be leery of anything over $50. It's no coincidence they didn't show this angle on their website.

good call - that back is horrible!

How difficult is it to accurately copy a classic Danish Modern design, Urban Outfitters? What an offensive "homage" to Scandinavian design!

I guess UO relies on the fact that their customer base is conveniently too young to know any better.

I check flickr all the time... and even contact the owners. People are usually very friendly and will tell you how the piece has passed the test of time. Since I live in Tallahassee and we aren't privileged to Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel or anything except Ashley Furniture. So EVERYTHING in my apartment is bought online. I used flickr to see how the pieces actually looking in real life, with real proportions, not glamorized in a uncatalogued or magazine. It came in handy when I was looking at sofa's and trying to decide between the Karlstad (ikea), Movie Sofa (cb2), and Jasper (R&B).

Cheap doesnt need to mean ill thought out Bepsf.
It would have cost the manufacturer sweet-nothing to make a slip cover to hide the steel - this is just lazy design.

I actually liked the sofa before I saw that picture...

I check etsy first all the time! I live in Kansas and the only good stores are a 2 hour drive from where I live.

Now if only the US ikea website had the vinstra bed..

JuliaL...may I inquire as to which sofa you decided on? I've been looking at the Karlstad but am wondering how the cb2 and R&B compared for you.

Would love to hear your thougts!

thepinkmenace-
I love love my sofa! It's my favorite lounge spot and I am really happy with it. It's the 3 seater with an attached chaise. My boyfriend and I can both lay on the sofa at the same and stretch out (I'm 5'10 and he's 6'0) with my dog laying on the foot of the chaise. It is surprising deep... and I've spent many nights (including last night), passed out on the couch. The seat cushions are rather firm, but the back cushions are softer.

What I don't like is that the end of the chaise sags down a little because the frame of the chaise doesn't extend the full length of the chaise seat cushion. I have it in natural, which I wouldn't recommend if you are a spiller. However, I keep mine constantly covered in a sheet and blanket when I don't have guests, so mine has stayed very clean. The nice thing is that the covers can be dry-cleaned, which is pretty easy. (I had my dry-cleaned after a watermelon spill... took the stain right out). And I really don't like any of the legs that it comes with, so I am hoping to get legs made for it, which should be inexpensive. And I wish the back was taller so you could rest your head on it... but then it might look dumb.

Didn't got with Movie sofa because the Karlstad is modular. When I move in with my boyfriend, we will replace the chaise with a loveseat to make a corner sofa. Plus, as from the watermelon incident, I am a spiller and at that time you couldn't get covers on the Movie Sofa. Now that it does though, I do like it more than before, but I would still go with the Karlstad, because you can stretch out on it (that is a definite bonus). However, I may get eventually if we move my sofa into his "guys" room. FYI: AT did a post on the Movie Sofa http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/good-questions/chi-good-questions-hows-the-movie-sofa-from-cb2-042843

Didn't go with the Jasper because I contacted several owners many of whom said that it started to sag after the first year and really hasn't kept up with time. I figured if I was investing that much in a couch and had to pay for shipping, I wanted something a little better.

I bought it the Karlstad in March and it's stood up to my dachshund and boyfriend. I would definitely pick it all over again due to it's comfort and flexibility. Just make sure that if you get a lighter color, you'll need to keep it covered.

Sorry that was a bit long

I'm not sure if I should be offended or delighted about this entry regarding my apartment/sofa... I guess I'll choose the latter if only because I didn't design the sofa. I suppose it wouldn't be hard to make a slip cover for the back, though honestly I don't mind the exposed bar look in this particular setting of my apartment. Of course the exposed bars aren't for everyone, but it works for me... for now at least. I dream of getting a new sofa - one more sturdy and comfortable as this one is showing some wear. But I make do with what I can afford. Until then it's just the exposed bars and me.

JuliaatLivingLuxely - Thank you for all the detail in your post! I'm happy to hear you are liking the Karlstad as that is the most feasible for me to purchase - as there is IKEA here in Canada. The shipping on the cb2 & Room&Board sofas would kill me :-) I also really like the style of the Karlstad and the slipcover is a definite bonus. I did sit in it the last time I was in Vancouver and did like the firmness level.

I was also thinking about getting chaise option - down the line. Good to know the pros and cons of that as well!

Thanks so much for the great details - really helped me!!

I had this misfortune of buying this sofa only to find that it was extremely cheaply made. The cushions were super thin and the fabric plastic-coated. There is a comment on the Urban Outfitters site that I saw after purchasing that a buyer had his collapse on him after a month--he reinforced it and kept it. I called for an immediate return on it, the agent laughed and scheduled a pickup for free as it has gotten so many returns. BTW, it *only* took 4 weeks to have the freight people come and another 3 to get credited. I realize you get what you pay for, but never again will I buy something like that online. We bucked up and just bought a sofa at Mitchell Gold--one that we could look at in person.

snapshot - be delighted, I clicked through on Hot Posts because I loved your room, and had no idea it was about the back of the sofa.

And Shirley, as far as being too young to know better, Pbbbbbbl! ;-P