7 Questions to Ask Before You Buy a Couch
Home experts reveal what to look for—and what to avoid—when hunting for the perfect sofa.
By Joann Pan
Photo: Courtesy of Homepolish
1 of 7
Should I Buy This One-of-a-Kind
Downton Abbey Sofa?
Even if your flea-market discovery looks
exactly like Lord and Lady Grantham's favorite seat—the crimson
Knole-style sofa—in the Highclere Castle library, a vintage couch should have three things, says Evan Schwartz, an interior designer with
Homepolish: (1) a sturdy frame without cracks; (2) its original hardwood parts—no low-quality replacements; and, (3) high-quality upholstery without rips or stains. Fair warning: Restoring midcentury furniture can be costly and time-consuming. Expect to pay upwards of $2,000 to professionally re-upholster and replace the original filling, Schwartz says. "You may need about 20 yards of fabric, which can cost about $75 a yard in the midrange."
Published 02/19/2014
