Does anyone have one of these Barker & Stonehouse sofas?

[SunnyAgain]

I’m going round in circles looks at sofas... either I like the style but not the fabrics or vice versa! My shortlist of three is:
Orla Kiely Linden www.barkerandstonehouse.co.uk/living-room/Sofas/Orla-Kiely-Linden-Large-Sofa/2-6433-95203/
Myers www.barkerandstonehouse.co.uk/living-room/Sofas/Myers-Extra-Large-Sofa/2-3838-73877/
Plus DFS/French Connection Zinc www.dfs.co.uk/zinc/zcc24aznc

I have found quite a lot of mentions of the DFS one online, with people generally very happy with it. I love the teal colour, but do prefer the designs of the B&S sofas. The Orla Kiely one doesn’t come in a similar colour, but I think the Myers did - they had a greater range of fabrics in the shop than online when I went to have a look, but I have looked at so many I am getting unsure of what I have seen, as the fabric also needs to be cat-safe (I don’t want thread being pulled at by claws) so ruled some out for that reason! Just a bit wary as I can’t find any reviews, so would love to hear of people’s experiences of these sofas if possible.

Any views on Barker & Stonehouse in general also very welcome!

No idea about Barker and Stonehouse, but I have read some reviews about the 'branded' DFS sofas, which have been good. I don't like the colour of the B&S.

If you want a retro feel, have you had a look at Ercol. They have a couple of designs which you may like. I can vouch that they are really good quality as I own one, and you can pick up discounts online, or look at their factory webpage www.ercol.com/en-gb/other-ercol/ercol-factory-outlet/

Thank you, I’ll definitely take a look at the Ercol sofas. Good tip!

My parents have a barker and stone house sofa. It’s beautiful. And has lasted aaaaaages

Good to hear, thank you KTD27!

@SunnyAgain I'm thinking of buying one of the other Orla Likely sofas; I read an article that implied they were manufactured by Barker and Stonehouse, but they are available elsewhere and in a larger range of fabrics. Here is a link to a shop that has the Linden available in many more colours including teal:

www.arighibianchi.co.uk/c/orla-kiely-linden-large-sofa/p-35029

I've not seen them in person and it's hard to be sure of the texture of the teal fabrics online (and if they are cat proof!). The DFS Zinc is also on my shortlist. Don't we both have good taste?!

*Kiely ffs!

Haha @flourella yes, excellent taste!

I had also seen that the Orla Kiely ones are available elsewhere and noticed the website you linked to, That wider range of fabrics if you order in store from Barker and Stonehouse. I just wish there was a grey/blue offered, as that’s ideally what I’d like. The teal seems to lean more towards a green shade. I think I need to go back and take another look at the fabric swatches in the shop and also see if I can ask for more samples. By the way I thought the Orla Kiely sofas were all very comfy when I sat on them!

Velvet is supposed to be good for cat owners as the open cut pile means there’s nothing for claws to get a grip on.

I did wonder whether that would be the case @Seeingadistance. Do you think fur would cling to the velvet though? Our cats are black and white so fur will show up on dark and light backgrounds unfortunately. Our current sofa is leather so fine as far as fur goes, but it has been scratched badly at one end. I’ve always found it a cold surface to sit on too, so would like fabric this time. I was thinking velvet might be a good option, but when I was looking in the showroom, saw a couple of stains on velvet sofas which put me off! I’m now pondering whether a non-velvet sofa with a couple of velvet scatter cushions might be a good compromise. I wish I could borrow a sofa to try it out!

I bought a velvet cushion cover the other day. I’ll put cats on it this evening and report back.

Fab, thank you!

Cats reluctant to spend much time on velvet cushion. My mistake was encouraging them to sit on it. Should’ve told them they were banned and they’d have been all over it!

Anyway, initial results suggest that they don’t shed any more hairs on velvet than they do normally, and such hairs are easily removed by wiping hand in direction of nap of the velvet.

I have a velvet sofa, it doesn’t show show hair, but the dog scratched it and it’s ver obvious.

@Seeingadistance sounds like typical uncooperative cat behaviour! Thank you for having a try anyway, and good to hear that the velvet wasn’t left fur-encrusted.

Oh dear @Irisloulou I do worry about something like that happening! Sofas are so expensive, I’d be gutted if it got damaged while still quite new.

Incidentally I tried phoning DFS to request some fabric swatches but was on hold for so long I gave up.

I've just ordered the Fontella from B&S. Key driver was the size of the chaise about also the fabric I chose was very dog friendly.

I’m looking forward to making a decision eventually, and getting a sofa ordered @FFSFFSFFS! Hope you and your dog enjoy yours.

It took me mooooooooooooonths to decide!

Also took me months to decide and that was despite living in an empty house and being desparate for furniture.

In the end I went with Sofa.com and can't recommend highly enough.

They gave me a 20% discount and free Insurance, both of which helped to swing the decision. Lots of fabric choice, great staff, prompt delivery and a very comfy sofa. Also lots of positive feedback from MN

So if your original choices don’t work, give them a look.

@FFSFFSFFS that does make me feel better! I think so have spent longer trying to decide on a sofa that trying to decide on a house!

Thank you @Flyingsouthwiththeswallows I had looked at sofa.com but for some reason they hadn’t made an impression. I have now requested fabric samples and added sone of their designs to my list. At this rate I will enough swatches to fully re-upholster our current sofa, patchwork fashion! Out of curiosity did you negotiate the discount/insurance, or were they just on offer at the time?

I’m having the same dilemma as you. I’m looking for a Scandi style 3 seater sofa in a nice colour. Cat friendly as I too have two black and white cats. Also the seat height needs to be as near to 50cm or more. My Furniture Village sofas have lasted very well and have a tough weave fabric but after 12 years I need a change. I was put off by the velvet especially in the summer and whether it would go shiney where people sat. Also after doing my homework on build quality not all are up to scratch. I’ve seen bad reviews on the Zinc sofa from DFS and a friend bought a different sofa from there and the quality wasn’t great. What decision did you eventually make in the end please? Desperate of Dover 🤣🤣🤣🤣