We recently saw a write up about designer-lookalike sofas by Custom Sofa Design on Little Green Notebook and were pretty astonished by the offerings and the prices.
We’re talking about sofas that are dead ringers for spendy Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, Room & Board and Anthropologie versions with prices that start around $599 (with many many options under $799).
They even offer up chic designer-based upholstered beds at a serious markdown from the original versions. Apparently if you read the comments over on that post, lots of people have had a great experience with the company and rave about Don, the owner. And we were further surprised to learn that everything is manufactured right here in the US, that his company has been around for years, and that he’s based right out of Los Angeles. How on earth does he have such low prices? It’s mind boggling, isn’t it?
Apartment Therapy was also chatting about this very company back in February and the reviews generally seemed agreeable (there were more raves about Don mixed in with a few negative comments, but even things that have five stars on amazon.com still have a few super negative reviews in the mix).
So it got us wondering if any of you have ordered something from Custom Sofa Design? If you have, we’d love to know what your experience was like. We’re just trying to figure out if they’re a reliable source for discount furnishings, because if they are they could really make those higher priced retailers sweat a little (while saving you hundreds if not thousands of dollars). And even if you haven’t ordered from them, we’re always up for a chat about stunning sofas, so feel free to chime in with your favorite models. We’re currently drooling over The Elena (starting at $549), The Kentwood (starting at $799), The Paramaunt (starting at $599) and The Harward (starting at $599). Which ones tickle your sofa fancy?
Psst- On the subject of sofas, here’s what we learned (the hard way) about Pottery Barn sofas. Oh well, now we know!
Jennafer says
My husband and I just bought new couches from here in January! WE LOVE THEM! Would recommend this company to anyone! We purchased the Renata sofa, love seat, chair and ottoman at C&B this would have cost us over $5500 for the Petrie set… here we spent just under $3000! AMAZING! :) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Here’s our set:
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jennafer, Elaine, and Amy,
So glad you all had such great experiences with Custom Sofa Design. Thanks for chiming in!
xo,
s
Claudia says
i LOVE the Brandon sofa. I am so glad they have great reviews as I am definitely putting them on my source list, thanks guys!
Susie @ Maddie's Nest says
I’ve just found your site and love it. I am enjoying reading all of these comments…I, too, saw the LGN post on this company and I am very intrigued!
Elise says
Love the sofas! I just bought a new house that I’ve been working on renovating and your site has been a huge help and source for inspiration! I have a large open living/ dining room and would love a pretty table, but renovating hasn’t left much more money for furniture….I plan to start with the couch sites you listed but any suggestions for tables???
YoungHouseLove says
We love tables from Target, thrift stores, Ikea, garage sales, JC Penney, and Home Goods. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Marisol says
If anyone lives in the southbay are of California, they have a show room in Culver City!
Kelly says
One of my best friends bought a sofa from Custom Sofa Design and I’ve had the pleasure of sitting on it many times. :) The craftsmanship is good and the materials are decent. I was happy with the quality of her sofa for the price, so I ordered a bunch of swatches of my own. The materials they use are thinner and not as nice as room & board or crate & barrel, but for the price, the sofas are still a steal.
Stacy says
I love the Emma…though slipcovers with my little ones might be the wiser choice! I will definitely keep this link on hand!! Now I need to decide between sectional with one accent chair or sofa with two…choices!!! =)
Torey says
I checked out the Custom site yesterday after reading about it on LGN and my main concern was the shipping. Sure the sofas are cheap, but if you have to spend 500+ or more having it shipped to you, where is the savings? Does anyone know how much the shipping averages?
YoungHouseLove says
Good question. Anyone have any idea about shipping costs?
xo,
s
Carey says
I saw these on LGN as well and drooled over the Kentwood. however, when I saw the Modeste on your page, I drooled even more. This model is by far my fave! I may just have to order one very soon.
Lis @ the shiny/filthy order says
Bought my sofa there last year…if some ridiculous catastrophe occurred and my boyfriend could only save one thing – me included – it would be that couch. Don wasn’t always easy to get in touch with, but Custom Sofa was quick, exact, and a deal. I highly recommend them!
mollie says
Some of you were asking about sleepers… after a ton of research, we purchased Ikea’s MANSTAD, corner sofa-bed with storage. We are THRILLED with it! At $699 ($200 cheaper than last year’s price!) it was a real bargain, and was just what we were looking for. It’s a sectional type, but not huge and fits great into our small sun/family room. It pulls out super easily into a bed (see the link below; it’s not your typical pullout!), and is nice and firm and very comfortable. The cushions are comfy and detached, and we love the color (a dark beige, also comes in a handsome blue-grey). It also has a ton of storage, which is perfect for bedding, blankets etc. ALSO, we didn’t have to pay delivery charges, as we were able to easily fit the boxes into our van. We put it together with no problems in about 2 hours. We love it! Check it out!
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70125723
mollie says
hi again, i just posted the above comment on the MANSTAD, also wanted to mention… if you go to the link below, and look at the large display sleeper sofa photos… scroll to the right, to the 5th sofa, and you’ll see the MANSTAD… click on it, and you can see how it opens up into the bed, the storage, etc. It’s not your typical sofa bed… very cool!
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/living_room/10663/
Anna See says
Solana, William and Kirby are shouting my name.
Saw this co. over at LGN and am glad to see it featured here, too.
Felicity says
hi youngsters – while we’re on the subject of couches and saving money I’m wondering if you could do a post on purchasing custom furniture (leather couches) in Highpoint, NC. We’ve heard great things, but I have no idea what company to use or even contact. We have a small stash of cash from our wedding to put towards a new sofa and chair and I really want to make sure we’re getting 40 year quality and not 10 year quality.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Felicity,
Unfortunately we have no experience with Highpoint furniture dealers but we’re sure you can google around to find some recommendations and some more info- it’s definitely referred to as the furniture mecca and I’ve heard nothing but great things about the quality. Happy hunting…
xo,
s
Rose says
Yet again….I am tempted to move to US just 4 the shopping……….
But at age 36, a family and no green card I do not like my chances.
Ok for Australians I have seen some cute cheap sofas (we call them couches LOL at Early Settler (I know your’re thinking country cottage but they have some great classics nowdays)..ikea….Freedon (during a clearance) but that’s about it….
Still want to move …anyone want to adopt me?
Jennifer says
The info in these comments is great!
So what other blogs do you read?
YoungHouseLove says
Just check out the “Link Love” section on our blog’s sidebar to see a slew of blogs that we regularly enjoy. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Haben Ariel Delallata says
This is an awesome find! But I too am wary of buying something I haven’t sat on! I wish there was a way to try it out before you bought it, but I know that is impossible. The furniture is beautiful and soooo well priced…maybe if I just bought the chair first and see how that felt?
Tiffany says
I saw the post at LGN as well and am in love with the Paramount. It’s the same shape and shade as the overstuffed chair in our living room. I think I love anything with tufting :)
Amy says
Felicity, my parents live in SC and I have heard my mom talk about visiting Highpoint, NC for furniture. And she is a stylish yet thrifty home decor guru and bed & breakfast owner – so I’m sure there are great places there. Also, there is a great family owned furniture store in Society Hill, SC (http://www.palmettofurniturecompany.com/) that has beautiful pieces and wonderful prices. If you are willing to drive to the Washington, DC area, Belfort Furniture has a diverse range of pieces and I bought my Ashley leather sofa there that is beautiful for around $950.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for tossing out that info for Felicity!
xo,
s
patrice says
Hi guys! I’m in CA and just got a quote recently from Sofacraft. They are located in Laguna Niguel. I expected them to be extremely pricey (family owned business in an expensive area + absolutely beautiful custom made to order sofas and sectionals), but we got a quote right back the next day and it was SUPER reasonable!
You’ve got to look at their website: http://www.sofacraft.org and see their amazing style options.
We haven’t ordered yet, but this is probably where we’ll go when we’re ready!
Keep up the awesome blog!! Love it.
Jessica says
I am not familiar with this company, but I think the biggest thing you have to look for when buying furniture are the quality of materials used. Are the fabrics going to wear too fast? Most fabrics will tell you how many “double rubs” they can take. What are the cushions made from? Foam wears out faster, where a blend down (down surrounded by foam) will hold it’s shape, and back pillows and throw pillows with down can be fluffed and reshaped for their entire life. Checking what the frame is made from is another important aspect. Hard woods and thinker plywood frames will hold up, whereas softer woods and plywood that is too thin may break.
Norwalk is a good company to check with, and Baker has a Simply Baker Program with 5 different frames and 3 different price points depending on what fabric you choose.Mitchell Gold is another one. Still pricey, but I am a firm believer that my $1500 sofa will way outlast the $599 and probably me. Sometimes you get what you pay for and it just depends on whether you see yourself replacing furniture every few years.
Felicity- You may also want to check listings in Hickory, NC.
JennyM says
Has anyone heard of a place like this in the Chicago area?
Rachel says
WOW. I will definitely be buying a sofa from this place. I’ve been looking at Crate & Barrel, Room & Board, etc. These are just as lovely and SO much cheaper. Thanks for sharing!
Katie says
While I admit these sofas are cute and very much like the Crate and Barrel / Room and Board / West Elm styles, I was wondering if someone could explain to me why these brands are so popular? I LOVE the look of them, but I went to all the showrooms and sat on them – let me just tell you that it seems like modern is still syn. with uncomfortable. The sofas were so firm I can’t imagine sitting in them for long. Am I missing something here?
erin pearce says
would love to know if anyone has had experience with slipcovered furniture from this company???
or if anyone knows of a similar company in the chicago/milwaukee area?
i learned my lesson buying a pricey tufted sofa and loveseat with my toddler, he loves pulling the buttons off, and the fabric on the arms looks horrible from being cleaned so many times…. the removeable seat cushions however look great since they can be washed so i am definitely going with a slipcovered set this time!
ashley says
Do these come with slipcovers like the PB ones?
YoungHouseLove says
Some models do, just click over and read the descriptions on their site. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Vicki says
Ahh the older I get the more I learn about what I want/need in furniture… currently I have two super comfy sofas but they look alittle on the shaggy side.. the back pillows are pillow… and with dogs and kids they are mishapen… I now know that sacrificing alittle comfort will give you a longer life with the sofa… and heck I add more pillows anyway!
caligurl says
love all these timely posts! we’ve been sofa shopping…. i absolutely love the slipcover style (i.e. pottery barn) and were were *this close* to buying the j.c.penney friday sofa (soooooooooo comfy!) but decided the slipcover style doesn’t fit our house…. the one we really like the look of is the ikea karlstad but i wonder if it’s really worth the money… will last? i’ve read both good and bad… UGH!
there’s a few at the places listed here that are cute and about the same money as the karlstad AND we’re in socal… we’d have to pick up the ikea sofa so no difference in picking up a custom sofa… decisions! descisions! decisions!!!!!
thanx for another great post!
Claire says
Rose,
I think it is great you want to move to the US – I would love to skip the country and move to Australia (a big dream of mine)- maybe we should swap!
HollyLynne says
We have the Paramount sofa, loveseat and a bench made to match per our specs. We live in the LA area so we were able to pick out our fabrics in person and avoid major shipping costs as well. I recommend Custom Sofa Design to all of my friends. We had a FANTASTIC experience with them!
Virginia says
We have an IKEA sleeper sofa (ektorp) that we put in our guest room/office. (this way, we could use the room for both purposes) We don’t use it frequently, but it still looks like it did the day we bought it, and everyone who has slept on it has said it was comfortable.
We have some couches in our livingroom that are hand-me-downs, so they were free (yay!) but they are tropical themed and reupholstering would cost as much as new furniture.
Echoing a previous commenter, I am also curious about furniture dealers in highpoint!
Elizabeth says
I can not tell you how much money this post has probably just saved me! My husband is very tall (6ft 7) and we are in desperate need of new furniture and have been saving up for a custom sofa from Hickory Chair that was going to be to the tune of about $3500. I’ve been on Custom Sofa’s website all morning and it really looks like I can exactly what I want for about $1000. I am over the moon excited!!! Thank you so much for this post! I will definately let you know when I get my sofa!
kristy says
I think that if you’re resourceful, you’ll be able to find a higher end look without paying the higher end price, no matter where you live. We live in the rural northwest, and pretty much have to order everything online (which can be a little intimidating, especially when it comes to purchasing furniture!). Our closest “big city” shopping is 100 miles away, and sadly, there are no awesome outlets (PB, C&B, etc) anywhere within driving distance.
One great exception for us is a regional company called Model Home Furnishings (www.extrafurniture.com). It’s a company that purchases furnishings for model homes, but also passes savings along to consumers. We purchased a leather sectional for our media room and spent maybe a third of what we would have had we purchased through a company like PB. The sofa is three years old and still looks brand new, despite being in a house with two rowdy kiddos. I’m sure there are companies much like MHF elsewhere – nothing a quick google search can’t uncover!
Chika says
Cheryl asked about Norwalk and I can say this is a good furniture company. While not the highest end, their furniture is well made and durable. You have lots of custom choices for fabrics and I’ve had my sofa and chair for probably 10 years and they still look great with everyday use.
I wouldn’t hesitate to buy Norwalk again.
Hope this helps.
Elena says
I’m currently drooling over the Elena too (and not just because I have same name)! I love the look of it, though I would need lighter fabric. $549 ain’t bad!
alexis says
i was very excited about this company when looking at the website, however, when I requested fabric swatches (of grade 1 and 2 fabrics), they emailed me and told me that all of the ones I requested were out of stock. i was pretty disappointed and cant help but feel that this is a little bit of false advertising- when you advertise a base price but dont offer any of the base pricing options? seems a little sketchy to me…
Sally says
I have a Norwalk sofa that I paid almost $1,800 for. I love it and think it’s good quality but I sure wish I had known about this company. I’ll definitely tell my sister who lives in LA to check it out.
Sally says
I should have read through all of the posts first — sorry. I have two Rowe chairs and love them. I ordered them through a locally-owned furniture store in Austin, where I live. They are a great value and I should have considered a Rowe sofa as well. The fabric selection was not that great, but I was able to find something we liked.
Erin says
Shipping is pretty pricey. I just got a quote for $300, bringing the cost of a Parkland up to what Room and Board would charge me (also including shipping).
Sarah says
Hey lets hear it for LGN. I actually made some sort of yelping/gasp sound when I was looking through their styles! One of the commenters above mentioned excessive shipping but I haven’t researched it in detail yet but so far it appears to be one heck of a deal.
Congrats on Baby P, its a good thing John is hanging up his advertising shoes. My husband desperately wants to be a stay at home Dad.
Fran says
Not sure what’s going on with this company. Their website isn’t working at this time. Do any of you know if they are still in business?
YoungHouseLove says
That’s odd! Does anyone have any info for Fran?
xo,
s
Elizabeth says
Hey guys! After seeing this post, I ordered my sofa from them. And I LOVE IT!!! It is super comfy, and so far seems to be really sturdy and quality construction. I could not be happier with it! I was quoted around $300 for shipping to Houston, TX, but they told me I could save $150 if my husband and I brought it from the curb inside the house ourselves- of course we did! (and that’s just the policy of their shipping company, not them) They are still in business, but they were going through a move, so give them a try again. I could not be happier with my gorgeous new Kentwood sofa- thank you SO much for this post!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much for the update! So glad you’re loving your sofa!
xo,
s
Nicole says
@Elizabeth. How much customization were you able to do long distance with them? Did they send you fabric swatches? What email address do you have for them (I just emailed them and got a weird response)? Also, do you mind if I ask how much the total was with your fabric choice and shipping?
Elizabeth says
Hi Nicole. Yes, they sent me lots of fabric swatches. They were out of a few that I wanted to see, but they sent me plenty of other ones. They will do anything you want them to-I upgraded fabric, added length to the sofa, and upgraded the pillows (I went for down wrapped foam), all that and shipping brought my grand total to $1200. And they were great about giving me quotes so I knew what was costing what. After looking around in local stores, I feel really good about the quality of this couch-the frame is guaranteed for life. (the springs broke in our couch from Ashley’s after just 6 months!) I have two email addresses- Taylor Shaw helped me with fabrics- [email protected] and [email protected]
Alli Svobodny says
Has anyone ordered one of these sofas since these posts? Also, I tried to go to the website and it says it’s “under construction”- is the business still open? Very curious about these sofas. I’m also looking into “sofacraft” as mentioned above- has anyone ordered from out-of-state and if so, how was that experience and are you happy with the product? Thank you!
YoungHouseLove says
I would scroll back through the comments to see if anyone has (I wish I remembered – I thought we heard from one or two people who had). Good luck!
xo
s