This is probably around a quarter of the cherries we’ve pulled off the tree in the last few days and there’s still more to come. We’re eating till we’re fit to burst, giving them away and made an immense clafoutis at the weekend (which I didn’t get a chance to take pictures of before it was gobbled up). We’ll also be making jam before long.
But, I think we’re still in need of cherry recipes. Any good ones?
So we’ve made a decision.
We’re going with the Deep sofa below from Couch Seattle, though we’re going to switch out the wooden plinth underneath for mid-century style cone feet and the whole thing will be in buttery soft ivory leather. The leather was a bit of an indulgence, and in all honesty I’m not really a leather sofa person at all, but it did seem the most supremely practical option with a Minx in the house – our existing white slip-covered sofa really does look horrific nowadays.
We partly made this decision because this is one of the few sofas we were able to sit on and test – and goodness me is it comfortable – but also on the basis of a long email discussion with Ameer at Couch. That man knows his couches.
I’m reproducing one of his emails here as I believe the advice he gives might be useful to anyone else currently buying a sofa, but also because this sort of exemplary and helpful customer service really needs to be celebrated.
Over to Ameer (the below is his email in response to my previous sofa post). I’ve included mini-pics of the sofas he is referring to, so we can follow the argument.
‘It seems you want a modern or mid-century sofa that sits like a big lounger – which is a bit of a challenge.
Mid-century styles like the Petrie 
and Jasper 
are a bit more upright. Not familiar with how the Jasper sits but it mimics the depth and geometry of the Petrie so I assume they sit the same-which is to say well, but hardly plush, which is what you liked about my Deep model. 
For reference the Deep is 40″ while the Jasper and Petrie are both 36″- and the Deep features down blend in the back and seat while neither the Petrie or Jasper do. Styles like that are both all about the straightness of the line, which down would compromise.
As for the 51 
, the other style you scanned, I dig it but simply don’t dig it as much as the Deep. Seeing both in person in California the Deep was a fair bit more modern and eye-catching. I don’t think it’s necessarily rounder by any means than the Deep.
The Rae ![CropperCapture[3]](/images/old/6a00d8341c7dce53ef011570486b72970c-pi.jpg)
and Nina are both nice looking but the Nina ![CropperCapture[6]](/images/old/6a00d8341c7dce53ef0115713d8f80970b-pi.jpg)
is only 75″ wide, while the Ray looks from here like it sits stiff (and being only 32″ will sit quite shallow).
The Danner ![CropperCapture[7]](/images/old/6a00d8341c7dce53ef011570486b7b970c-pi.jpg)
is pretty (but again shallow) and undoubtedly well made but you’re paying maybe $1,500 to get the Adler label. I could do the Nina and probably the Danner as well. But since you’ve mentioned you want loungy comfort I might encourage you to look at options that include back pillows.
Byward ![CropperCapture[4]](/images/old/6a00d8341c7dce53ef0115713d8f88970b-pi.jpg)
is an awkward knock-off of a B&B Charles. ![CropperCapture[8]](/images/old/6a00d8341c7dce53ef011570486b81970c-pi.jpg)
It looks awkward because the seat cushion is too fat by about an inch – and the back cushions need a touch of space between them so you can see the frame. The Charles needs to be knocked off perfectly to look good. An inch off here and an inch off there and it’s not so very pretty at all
Movie sofa
is good but CB2 quality isn’t quite the same as that of the CB main line – and the problem with a sofa like that is that you NEED lots of cushions to put behind you and while lots of throw pillows are nice to look at, they can drive one crazy trying to find the right arrangement on dvd night. Sleek yet plush is really kind of a difficult thing to do.
The Frigerio line at Limn is amazing yet Italian made with prices to match. Restoration Hardware has some great designs, but perhaps a little too traditional for your taste and they’re overpriced and Chinese built. Kasala and Alchemy are always options for some contemporary styling, but you undoubtedly visited since they’re both on the same street I am. Hmmm. Given your parameters I dunno where’d I’d get a sofa if I didn’t get it from me.
If I didn’t have 10k for Frigerio (which I don’t) I’d probably go for a Steele ![CropperCapture[9]](/images/old/6a00d8341c7dce53ef011570486b8d970c-pi.jpg)
from CB (whic h would fit with your room aesthetic). It’s got a nice sleek look and in my opinion sits better than the Petrie.
I’m also of the mind that the aggressively mid century style of the Petrie won’t age as well as a more updated style like the Steele. You could also get the Steele in time for your parents in a suitable fabric since it’s stocked in a nubby polyester. The Petrie is stocked in a cotton which just isn’t the right call for you given the Minx. To change out the cotton to the leather on the Petrie you’re going to be waiting till well after your parents have come and gone.
I’m going through my databanks here for a good source for a deep, stylish, plush, sofa and coming up blank.
Best I can do is the CB Lounge ![CropperCapture[10]](/images/old/6a00d8341c7dce53ef0115713d8f98970b-pi.jpg)
which is stocked in a stain resistant poly velvet. Yup, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it – though that one is 46″ deep so will have a large footprint in a not so very wide room. I really did try!
To answer your question I’ve got the exact spec for both the Petrie, Jasper, and Movie but I’m not in love with any of them. I’ll take another look at my resources and see if I can’t suggest a couple others. For a really progressive piece that looks fantastic and sits well, I really am a big fan of the Deep. I think it would look right at home in one of my neighboring boutiques at 3x the price.
ameer
The inlaws have booked their flights out to visit us this August and we are now panicking because our crummy thirteen-year-old sofa is in a state of severe delapidation and is hugely uncomfortable. I suspect rather too much of this is to blame.
So, a new sofa must be procured.
This Saturday we went along to Couch in Seattle, whose owner Ameer was really helpful and incredibly passionate about sofas (see also this write-up on Apartment Therapy ). He has a range of sofas which are eco-friendly, completely customisable and competitively priced, plus he can get sofas made ‘inspired’ by those at the big box stores, but again customised to your own requirements.
So here are some sofas I like. I find that I’m drawn to a sort of mid-century vibe (definitely want feet) but it needs to be incredibly comfortable and relaxing and not the sort of sofa that makes you sit bolt upright. Any other ideas? Are there any other aspects I should be taking into consideration? Anyone got any experience sitting on any of the below? I’m thinking of shapes at the moment rather than upholstery colours/fabrics/prices, though if anyone knows of any mid-century styled slipcover sofas I’d be all ears.
![CropperCapture[1]](/images/old/6a00d8341c7dce53ef01157112ccbf970b-pi.jpg)
Jasper at Room & Board, $1,299
![CropperCapture[2]](/images/old/6a00d8341c7dce53ef01157112cccd970b-pi.jpg)
Movie Sofa at CB2, $999
![CropperCapture[4]](/images/old/6a00d8341c7dce53ef01157112ccdb970b-pi.jpg)
Byward at Velocity, $1,800
![CropperCapture[5]](/images/old/6a00d8341c7dce53ef0115701da813970c-pi.jpg)
Petrie at Crate & Barrel, $1.499
![CropperCapture[3]](/images/old/6a00d8341c7dce53ef01157112cce6970b-pi.jpg)
Rae at Chiasso $1,598
![CropperCapture[6]](/images/old/6a00d8341c7dce53ef0115701da82b970c-pi.jpg)
Nina at Maine Cottage, $1,700 – $2,590
![CropperCapture[7]](/images/old/6a00d8341c7dce53ef0115701da833970c-pi.jpg)
Danner, at Jonathan Adler, $3,800
Finally, here are a couple of ideas they had a Couch, both of which can be made up in a gorgeous buttery soft ivory leather, which I’m very drawn too due to the practicality aspect. (Excuse the quality of these, they’re scans of scans). I’d get the feet changed on both of these though.
Oh and here’s reminder of the room it’s going in. An no, we still haven’t painted the walls.
When the landscapers were doing the hardscaping for our back garden we asked them to build a fence in order to corral the Minx.
They left us with an large orange structure which we naively believed would soon fade to an attractive weathered grey.
I don’t know what the wood was treated with, but we waited and waited. And the other new wood such as the trellis faded. But still the fence glowed orangely in the corner. (And as you can see it didn’t even do a very good job of corraling the Minx).
So about a month ago we bit the bullet, dodged the Spring rain showers and attacked it with the dark brown stain we’d used on the deck. It took forever – it needed two coats and it was a pain in the behind getting under the chicken wire. But in the end it looked like this. I can’t tell you what a difference it makes to the whole garden.
Here is a somewhat random picture of a raccoon in the garden at the weekend admiring the fence. (You should have seen us all marvelling when we saw two raccoons – we are SO British).
I’ve recently come to know Jessie Oleson of Cakespy. She is a Seattle-based artist and illustrator who does cute watercolours showing the adventures of Cuppie, an anthropomorphic cupcake, and also writes the blog Cakespy, where Jessie hunts down various cakes and desserts. At which point I fully understand if you’ve all fled there en masse and are no longer reading this post.
As part of this month’s Wallingford Art Walk Jessie was exhibiting at Trophy Cupcakes showing pictures of Cuppie in various Seattle locations. Given my borderline obsession with Trophy anyway, wild horses couldn’t keep the Minx and I from attending.
I did buy a couple of little watercolours which Jessie will be sending to me. In the meantime the above is the promotional postcard for the event, which the Minx absolutely adores and which I will probably also frame for her. She particularly likes the ‘Mummy and Minx buying a box of cupcakes’ (yes she is fairly familiar with the appearance of a Trophy box) to the left.
If you’re in Seattle, Jessie’s work will be on display at Trophy through to June 1st. She’s also exhibiting at Schmancy in downtown Seattle on Friday evening. For all non-Seattleites, her work is available online here.
I’m back!
Thank you so much for all your good wishes. I was quite taken aback by how badly affected I was by the shock of it all. The first couple of days I was all over the place and after that I was very, very tired – presumably as the adrenaline left my body. Fortunately the only major physical injury was to my tongue, which I managed to bite, and to my jaw, which I think was bruised by the seatbelt and which seemed slightly misaligned and made eating hugely difficult. I’ve had some bodywork though, and if you are in the Seattle area I can’t recommend my chiropractor Dr Ted, who straightened my back out, or the magic fingers of Anne the rolfer – who managed to straighten my jaw out – highly enough.
The car was a complete write-off though, so we’re currently in the market for a little practical runaround. My head tells me that I should be getting a little fuel-efficient and practical hatchback, though such things are as rare as hens’ teeth in the land of the Hummer, but my heart is telling me to get a VW Beetle. If anyone’s got any experiences, good or bad, to share then I’m all ears.
This might have to be a light week of posting, as I’ve got a lot to catch up on with mirrormirror, but here are some photos from the annual tulip festival in Skagit County that we went to the weekend before last. I’m also writing some posts over on Shelterrific if you can’t get enough of me.
The setting isn’t remotely as naturally stunning as Seattle’s and we spent much of the weekend dodging rain and hail showers, but I came back with serious case of Portland envy.
The architecture is older and therefore more charming to my European eyes, the streets are narrower and more pedestrian-friendly and it just has a cooler and funkier urban vibe, despite being much the smaller city. Just from the clothes people wear you can tell that Portland is a city of artsy types whereas Seattle is the ultimate city of geeks.
Thanks so much for the recommendations, here and on Facebook. Things we really enjoyed – apart from the hotel – include Habibi for great Lebanese food (we used to live near some great Lebanese restaurants in London and its something I really miss); Hot Lips Pizza in the Pearl District for seriously great tasting pizza; Cool Moon Icecream near Jamison Square (the perfect shelter in a hailstorm); Sushiland, also in the Pearl District, for good cheap conveyor belt sushi; Cargo for funky ethnic stuff; Knit Purl for YARN and of course Powell’s for books. The Japanese Garden in Washington Park is stunning and the rose garden must be amazing when the roses are actually out. Lots of amazing rhododendrons when we were there though. I also found the Holocaust Memorial, which we wandered into on the off-chance, very moving.
Mostly though we spent out time wandering the streets, admiring the street art, riding the trolley buses and hoping that Seattle’s urban planners will someday turn South Lake Union or Georgetown into the Pearl District with better views. Keep your fingers crossed.
This weekend the weather was utterly fabulous, so of course we spent it going to Ikea and doing loads of chores around the house and garden. We are in that in-between stage with lots of half-completed jobs and Ikea flatpack boxes lying round the house, but progress of sorts has been made.
We did take a short break on Sunday to go for lunch at the Volunteer Park Cafe and then for a stroll around Volunteer Park, stopping at the conservatory along the way.
I just happened to have my macro lens on my camera, so it was a good opportunity to get up close and personal on some of the flowers.
Talking of pretty patterns, I know I’m supposed to be doing Weightwatchers, but a couple of these chocolate bars from Seattle Chocolates just happened to fall accidentally into our shopping trolley at the weekend.
Of course I only had one or two squares (who are you kidding? – Ed) but I’m pleased to report that they taste just as gorgeous as they look.
Oh and the below would make an extremely acceptable Easter egg substitute.
Yesterday we went for a walk in Seattle’s rather splendid arboretum (say what you like about this city, but it is incredibly good at trees).
It’s been a long snowy winter in Seattle terms, so the spring flowers are only just unfurling, but it was a lovely day for a walk with my newly cleaned 60mm lens, which I am very happy to have back in my arms.
I’ve been using some of these images as desktop backgrounds and if you’d like to do the same, please feel free to nab them (got to my Flickr, select the image, choose ‘All Sizes’, open the ‘Large’ size, right click on the image and select ‘set as desktop background’). Please remember that all images are my copyright.
Speaking of desktop backgrounds, check out the Kindred collaboration between Holly Becker and Heather ‘Ez’ Pudewa, who have collaborated with a number of artists to produce free artist desktop backgrounds (also downloadable notecards and gratitude notes).
