I'm wary of getting a used couch, only because Cincinnati has a bedbug problem of EPIC proportions. And even if someone doesn't *think* their used couch has bedbugs -- i.e., they aren't being malicious and deliberately foisting a buggy couch on someone -- it might still have them without the person knowing it.

I realize that furniture stores could have a problem, too, but it's a lot less likely.

My mom has a microsuede loveseat from Jennifer that we like so much that my Aunt bought two just like it. No dogs and only one occasional cat around them, so I don't know how it holds up.

I, too, have a Suburu Forester 2005, which could be quieter -- javachik, very interested in how the quietening works out....

Happy Birthday Jess!

Happy Birthday, Jessica!

Teppy, is leather out of the question? I have no idea what cats would do to it, but dog hair and dog slobber are easily cleaned from it.

I, of course, was not smart enough to take my own advice here, and have an expensive couch, which I love, love, love, but which is all wrong, wrong, wrong when someone in the house is in diapers.

Happy Birthday Jessica!

Thanks guys!

Did anyone see Where the Wild Things Are? Good? Bad? Indifferent?

LOVED IT. Cried for the entire last half hour.*

*Though I should note that I am pregnant and hormonal and pretty much prone to crying at the drop of a hat about anything that involves kids having any kind of emotions at all.

We bought an expensive leather couch with some money DH inherited from his grandmother, and it's held up for about 8 years through two moves. We decided to go whole hog and shell out for Real Furniture after two semi-cheap IKEA couches collapsed on us mere months after bringing them home.

Happy birthday, Jess!

Did anyone see Where the Wild Things Are? Good? Bad? Indifferent?

Loved it also. It's a very close picture of the rough times in our house, so that made it really personal. Mac and I are still talking about it 3-4 weeks after seeing it, he is such in the headspace of Max on the island.

Steph - if you do go slip covers, I find the canvas ones vacuum off cat hair pretty easily, and I scotch guarded fro mac spills which may help with the dog noses. My couch, bought 2 years ago is Ikea with slip cover and aside from an arm that was loose at delivery, it has worn well, but I think we are pretty easy on furniture. I bought it with a matching recliner which I love love love.

Happy Birthday, Jessica!

Teppy, is leather out of the question? I have no idea what cats would do to it, but dog hair and dog slobber are easily cleaned from it.

I would do leather, but my vegetarian boyfriend is opposed to the idea, unfortunately.

Steph - if you do go slip covers, I find the canvas ones vacuum off cat hair pretty easily, and I scotch guarded fro mac spills which may help with the dog noses.

Yeah, I think that no matter what couch we pick, slipcovers are going to be the best choice for dealing with fur. I'm also going to get 5 or 6 lengths of fleece from the fabric store, to put in the spots where the cats like to sleep, b/c they'll grab the loose fur, and then I can toss them in the laundry.