Have a seat.

This weekend was supposed to be kind of a lay around, catch up on a few things, relaxing kind of weekend.  It's DH's last weekend on leave, although it's not like he really has to do any work or school for a few more weeks.  But he'll have to sign in and put on his uniform and stuff like that.  So we really wanted to just chill out this weekend. 

Then I went and checked Craiglist yesterday afternoon, like I've been doing several times a day ever since the movers unloaded our living room furniture off that truck.  They put it in our new living room and I thought, "Gah, I hate that furniture so much!"  I didn't realize how much I disliked it until I saw it in a new room.

The old sectional, (prettied up for selling on Craiglist):

Let me give you a brief history of our living room furniture.

First there was the dusty rose sofa set that DH had from his first marriage.  Dusty rose and ex-wife juju? That had to go and quick.

So I found the blue flowered sofa and loveseat that a co-worker of mine was selling.  She lived in the barracks and was getting out of the army.  She'd bought it from one of our other co-workers, so I have no idea how old it really was.

The loveseat went to the kids rooms when they were babies so I could snooze while they nursed at night.  My mom gave us a futon for the living room that had been my grandparents.  That was comfy to sleep on, but not so much to sit on.

We replaced the futon with a used sofa bed bought for $100.  It was quite firm.  Like something the Flintstones would have sat on.

For some reason, we traded that sofa bed for a different one that some guy DH knew had in his garage.  It was as attractive and well maintained as you would expect a garage sofa to be.  Every time we had someone over I felt like apologizing.  I used a variety of blankets as slipcovers, but at least we didn't worry about the kids eating on them.

We had the blue flowered love seat and the garage sofa for about 6 years until my mom gave us the sectional sofa that is pictured above.  They bought the neighbor's house after he died and it still had a lot of furniture in it and we are well known for our "accept all free furniture" policy.

The dead neighbor sectional wasn't so bad.  At least the pieces matched and it didn't look like it belonged in a garage.  But it was very green.  And the pieces would slide apart and holy crap I hated fixing those stupid pillows!  11 of them and they were always scattered all over. 

So I've been looking for new furniture.  But not new-new.  'Cause brand new furniture is stupidly expensive and then I'd be too afraid to actually sit on it.  For the last month, all people have been posting on the local Craigslist is super ugly or overpriced furniture.  Until yesterday.

Here's our new-but-not-new sectional:

DH is embarrassed that I took a photo of him napping, but I think it shows perfectly how comfortable the new sofa is.  That's the Soleil tank in progress in the bag on the ottoman.  (That's also the sum of the knitting content for this post.) 

I just love this furniture.  It looks grown-up, like furniture that real adults own.  But since it wasn't bought new for a small fortune, I won't freak out too greatly over normal use.  See, my son is eating ice cream on the sofa.  I better not catch any of them wiping their greasy popcorn fingers on it, though.

Comments

[Orghlaith]

Congratulations on the new sofa. It looks very comfortable. And there is no truer test than the napping DH. I love bargains!!! It makes the new acquisition so much sweeter.

[Tammy]

Very nice... and comfy looking too. Enjoy!

[lauriec]

YAY for new furniture! The Ex-wife's couch comment made me laugh--I had to deal with the same thing! I vowed if I ever met her I'd tell her what horrible taste she has!

[Carly]

I love that the pooch even has space on the new furniture :)

[Lydee]

that's awesome, there's no better feeling than a new couch you finally love; it looks super comfy too!

[Renna]

Wow, you really hit the jackpot! It's really pretty, and is pretty much what I'd like for my own living room. I guess I should start reading Craig's List, too.

I see the dog looks quite comfy in his (her) bed on it, too. ;-)

[Marie]

Yay on finding something you like at a good price.

[weezalana]

The new-to-you couch is fantastic! I love that your pooch is staring at your hubby while he's napping. I wonder what she's thinking? ("Dude...use a pillow." Or maybe, "I wonder how many times I'd have to lick him before he wakes up...")

[Valerie]

Fantastic! It looks contemporary, comfortable and sounds like the price was right!!

Happy Knitting on it :)

[Sheila from the ZOO]

My mouth dropped open. I really like the new couch. I am especially envious of the ottoman and chaise area. The chaise thing looks like prime knitting territory.

[Holly]

Love the little dogbed and little dog on the chaise lounge portion of your "new" couch. I think she likes it!

[jen]

yeah for finding a good deal on el paso craigslist. i'm glad you found it before me, though, because i might have been tempted and i don't need new furniture!

[Gayle]

We too, have an "accept all free furniture policy" and the house shows it, but your sofa chronology is hilarious! From ex-wife to Flintstones to garage to dead neighbor. The new pieces are really nice. Congrats on your furniture score!