Part I : Ikea Ektorp vs. Pottery Barn Basic Sofas and Chairs

Of course a disclaimer first: I am not an employee of Ikea nor Pottery Barn. I am not being compensated for this review. I was an employee of Pottery Barn for a few years but have not been for over three years now.

Waaaaaaay back in  December of 2000 I purchased a Pottery Barn Basic Sofa. It was frustrating. It took over three months to be delivered and did not come with a slipcover. I ordered a "quick-ship" sofa and cover that should have arrived within two weeks. It did not. I was not compensated and was disappointed with the "Oh well!" attitude I received on the phone. The slipcover came separately in the mail. That was fine. I purchased the cranberry twill cover and I loved it! I was young and it was fun and looked great for the holidays. Several years later, I purchased the Basic Chair. I still have it and am very pleased. No complaints.

When I washed the cranberry cover for the first time, it streaked and faded noticeably. I contacted PB immediately and was told that dry cleaning was recommended even though care instructions on the cover read that it was machine washable. I stated my case and they immediately sent me a new cover. I was pleased about that.

It looked just like this. Pic via Pottery Barn.

This sofa lasted about ten years. It was well constructed. I was very pleased with the comfort and quality. After nine years, its old bones began to squeak and creak and sag. The back and seat cushions held on and never disappointed me. Rhyan complained that the basic was too small for a grown man to be comfortable on it. It was perfect for me and the kiddos. It was our only sofa and I am sentimental. I wanted to fix it. I called an upholsterer about repairing the PB bones and he recommended I buy another sofa. So, I sold it on craigslist (regretfully) for $200. I paid $1300 for it back then, so I got my money out of it.

We replaced it with a Pottery Barn Charleston Sofa in September 2009. My heart melted when that sofa arrived. Oh, how I loved thee! Again, it took over three months (what??) to be delivered but I didn't care! It came with a fantabulous white denim slipcover and those back pillows! I love that sofa. That is why she is still with me today. I wrote in a previous post how I recently ordered a white twill cover for her. It was pricey, so I waited for a 20% off email and a tax return. The white denim cover needed replacing only two years after we purchased it. It frayed and ripped. We wore that fabric out. I washed it constantly and the kids had a blast with the pillows and cushions making forts and having pillow fights. It was our only sofa and we five Lindleys could all fit on it for movie night. Not anymore, of course. The kids are growing!

Image via Pottery Barn

I also purchased the Charleston Ottoman at the same time. It is great and I think they are a must have together. The dogs like to lay on it and my feet still fit too!

My Ikea Ektorp Sofa and PB Charleston Ottoman

Then, in November 2011, we made the all-day-long trek to Chicago and purchased our Ikea Ektorp Sofa and Chair. To say I was a bit shocked at what I saw when I opened the boxes, is well, an understatement. Then I remembered what I paid for them. Remember : One always gets what one pays for. I was okay with that because it was going into the sunroom where the children watch TV and eat snacks. A new white cover would be only $49 for the sofa and $29 for the chair. A mom on a budget can't beat that. I was okay with the kids making it work to earn space in this frequented room. The Ektorp and the Basic look very similar but the similarities stop right there. Because of this Ikea purchase, the regal Charleston was moved to the media room where its over-sized presence and fluffy loose pillows will be appreciated and gently cuddled. It is in a much safer place now.

Part II of the review will be up tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Emily