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WHICH ARE THE MOST HARD WEARING THREE PIECE SUITES?

(34 Posts)
Mamie Fri 03-Jun-11 17:55:39

Our Wesley Barrell suite is still great after 25 years. We have had various loose covers over the years, but the cost of re-covering by WB would have been more than it cost in the first place. Expensive, but wonderful quality.

shysal Fri 03-Jun-11 17:41:13

My G plan leather sofa is as good as new after 5 or 6 years. They are normally expensive, but I found a good reduction in the sales. The only downside with leather is that it feels cold in the winter, not exactly cosy.

Magsie Fri 03-Jun-11 09:48:54

We have just got rid of our leather suite which we had for 20 years. It wasn't particularly worn but we used to have a cat that scratched it. It didn't seem worth replacing it while we still had the cat! We bought the suite from the Co-op and it was made in Wales (rather than China).
I suspect the new leather suite we've bought won''t last half as long as they don't seem as well made now. We went to Barker & Stonehouse & the salesman was helpful in recommending a leather which was hardwearing rather than "luxury soft". We also took out their leather insurance so they will replace the item if we do have an accident.

Divawithattitude Thu 02-Jun-11 22:58:58

Had a Multiyork suite once and it lasted years, in fact I got bored with it well before it wore out, since then we have had leather sofas which are very hardwearing

harrigran Thu 02-Jun-11 22:56:21

I have a Marks and Spencer suite and it is not of the quality I expected. The framework is poor, the springs in one chair went after a month or two. I bought an M&S suite 17 years ago, to use in the lounge of our second home, and the workmanship was good even to the extent that the fabric continued under the cushions. I bought the second suite expecting it to be the same and found that cheap looking white material had been used to finish off where they thought it would not show. If you were thinking of looking at M&S lift the cushions.

Melanie Thu 02-Jun-11 22:37:37

Thank you HildaW and glassortwo. Certainly some ideas there. Any others would be welcome. smile

glassortwo Wed 01-Jun-11 21:22:53

I am living in with my daughter for the time being but, I had a Tetrad suite with loose covers( which went into the washing machine as they are cream) for 12 years, it was feather filled, it held its shape, there was no movement in the frame, I would buy another suite from this same manufaurer. I hope it is still in one piece when it comes out of storage.

Also have a good leather suite (cant remember make), which I have had for about 6yrs, and was also very pleased with that too.

But out of the two I would go with the Tetrad. smile

HildaW Wed 01-Jun-11 21:20:03

I dont think the manufacturers want them to last....they seem to make the styles so fashionable and hint on their adverts that we should be changing them every five mins. All I can say is that we are not so hung up on it all matching. So that if one piece gets more wear then that can be replaced. Our stuff sort of blends together rather than matching. And I think that re-upholstering only really works for the stuff thats really well made....i.e. craftsman quality...a rare thing nowadays.

Melanie Wed 01-Jun-11 16:48:34

About ten years ago we bought a three seater couch, a two seater couch and three arm chairs all matching. They were big and expensive and we thought they would "see us out". Not so, in fact they are wearing badly, particularly the three seater which gets the most used. We have had covers made for the arms. Now the seats are wearing. We are considering our options. Re-upholstery? Make do and mend? Entirely new suite? Which are the most hard wearing suites. Leather? Anybody got a couch that has had loads of use over 10 years and is still going strong?

Any ideas would be welcome.