Sunday, February 19, 2012

Creature of Comfort or Style?







My last post
was about making 
a decision I've regretted
when purchasing a sofa
a few years back.

You all had so many great 
comments and stories that
you shared and they inspired
me to write this post.









Decisions regarding
comfort vs. style.

Let's play a little game,
shall we?

Would you prefer a sisal
or a shag rug for your family room?
One is soft and cushy and feels great
when you lay or walk on it, and one does not ---
but looks oh, so lovely.



Link


image
Charles Faudree


Do you adore the old timeless look
of a classic wooden dining chair?












Or do you prefer an upholstered 
 dining chair that encourages
your dining guests to linger longer?




Albert Hadley


interiors thumb Wallpapered Dining Room
Alessandra Branca




When selecting bedding,
do you go for white, crisp 
easy-to-launder cotton linens,
or
would you rather have 
heavy woven bedding with lots of layers
and fabrics that have to be dry-cleaned
but add color and texture to your room?




HB


 

Ralph Lauren
Horchow.com



Would you rather have an
upholstered soft headboard behind your
head at night,
or do you prefer a wooden framed bed?



simplething.blogspot.com


Sleigh Bed in Antique Terra Finish
 www.parabotfurniture.com



And since we are talking about
comfort versus style, that makes me
think about Ugg boots.


Personally, I think they are Ugg-lee, 
but yes, I admit they are
 very warm and comfortable!
I do not own a pair,
but probably should just
to wear around the house instead of slippers.


Ugg.com


But when it comes to your home's furnishings,
do you pick style over comfort?

 
Or are you
somewhere in the middle, 
like me? 
(Kind of depends on what it is?!)


twotone1
ralphlauren.com
 

32 comments:

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

It does have to look good and be somewhat comfortable, too. I guess I am in the middle, too.

The enchanted home said...

Definitely depends, I do in general place a lot of emphasis on style, but for certain things like a family room couch, chairs, my bed, bedding,etc..it HAS to be both. Somtimes it means taking longer to find the right thing, but oh its so worth it! I would never put shag, no matter how comfortable. Like wood framed AND upholstered dining chairs, like beautiful crisp high quality light feeling linens for the bed and never could bring myself to buy or wear a pair of Uggs. In that case, doesnt' matter HOW comfortable they are...just not in the cards for me. A friend however did give me a pair of Ugg slippers for my bday and I must admit they are so comfortable and toasty in the winter.
Good post that has me thinking!

Kelly said...

I like comfortable yet stylish rooms the best. I would think that most people feel that way. You have quite alot of beautiful pics to look at. I prefer the sial rug over the shag. I'm not fond of shag because it reminds me of the carpet I grew up with in the 70's. Ha! I would love to have an upholstered headboard. I think they are so soft and romantic looking. I like upholstered chairs as long as they're not stuffy and formal looking at the dining table. I don't own a pair of Uggs either. Did I cover everything? Fun post!

Blondie's Journal said...

Boy, this has my brain working!! Weird, but I love the feel of a sisal rug underfoot, it feels clean. Some things ring comfortable to me because I don't want the hassle of dry cleaning, etc, like the chairs and bedding. I guess that is just the practical side of me. Give me a maid and I'd have upholstered ceilings!!

I LOVE my Ugg boots. I know they are a bit sloppy looking but they are warm and comfortable. I have a lot of fashionable boots and shoes with heels and I find I wear them less and less, preferring comfort.

Well, I've rambled here. I guess comfort wins!

XO,
Jane

Bliss said...

Sisal
Upholstered
Easy to laundry
Wood headboard

Verdict out on the boots.

~Bliss~

Kim said...

Great post girl. I'd have to say that I'm somewhere in the middle too although strongly leaning towards comfort. Your home is one of my all time faves, so that should tell you something right there. Classic!

Rebecca said...

Comfort AND style. Absolutely.
And I'd really rather not compromise either one!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

I am definitely in the middle. I love for it to look good, be easy to maintain and definitely comfortable. They have a fabulous faux sisal that is very pretty and so soft, so I would go for that. I do have Ugg slippers, but not the boots. I actually love my riding boots and my rubber boots. They are a really cute black and white houndstooth. I am pretty classic with most everything. Hugs, Marty

Pamela Gordon said...

Hi Alison. I mostly am in the middle but also go by what I can afford. :) I'd go for sisal carpet because of durability and easy clean; wood dining chairs because we have comfortable living room furniture to 'retire' to after dinner; poly/cotton bed lines for ease of care and affordability; wood headboard because that's what I have had for all my life. :) As for boots they definitly have to be comfortable and water/snow/salt proof. Uggs aren't made for most Canadian winters. Great post. Blessings, Pamela

AntiqueChase said...

Well.... all I can say is that when you come to visit me in CA, you can expect to see me in my Ugg boots 24/7... we love them out here!!

Jan@southernjunkin' said...

Middle here!! Comfort and good looking too!!

Kathy said...

Catching up after being gone for a bit and I so miss seeing your beautiful posts Teri, just love your style...ok I have 2 pairs of ugg boots and ugg slippers so you probably know what kinda gal I am...however I made a huge mistake when I ordered (no taking back) a custom sectional...love the fabric soft micro-fiber in light green and with 2 dogs and grandkids and a somewhat messy Hubs that fabric has been a god send...but the size of it and comfort is not good at all, the chaise part is too small and I really don't have a spot to sit or lay that isn't awkward...it's too deep so I have a million pillows on it, anyway this story can go on and on and I can't wait for the day when I get another one...it's been 5 years, how long do I have to keep it to justify the expense, (the hubs says forever) it is such a huge part of the design scheme in this large living room? I would never buy another couch for design ONLY comfort....... Oh btw I could die for that Charles Faudree picture, that is the couch I want...be still my beating heart :)

Debbiedoos said...

Comfort with style for sure! I like the look of sisal, but it is NOT comfy on the feet..but shag is out too LOL.

Linda said...

Comfort and style. I own two pairs of UGG BOOTS. They are comfy.

laxsupermom said...

We tend to pick comfort over style, but looking at your list of options, it's a mixed bag. For a family room, I couldn't do sisal or shag. We need something soft enough to sit or lay on, play Kinect on barefoot, but not so plush as to become a maintenance trap for errant crumbs and legos.

I love my wood dining chairs, and while fully upholstered chairs might be more comfortable, the wood wins out.

As much as I love the look of an ornately carved wooden headboard, I love being able to sit up in bed against my upholstered headboard.

I love crisp white linens. The sumptuous images of thick woven bed coverings look so cozy, but if I can't throw it in the washer with some bleach, it won't find a home on my bed.

And finally - the question of Uggs. I agree that they're Ugg-ly. This is wear comfort is thrown out the window in favor of style. Give me knee-high riding boots any day of the week. And my boots tend to have a 4 inch heel on them. ;)

Great post! It's fun seeing everyone else's thoughts on comfort vs style.

Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads said...

Well, I have some Ugg slippers, but I'd never wear the boots! So I guess that puts me in the middle. I like comfortable things, but they must fit into my style.

The French Hutch said...

Got to have a both, I want it to look nice and feel comfortable. Got to be kid friendly too! Your home is the perfect example of classic style and comfort. Fun post…….

~Emily
The French Hutch

Sarah said...

Well, it has to look good, but it also needs to be comfortable. We don't have any loungers in our house if that's a clue. LOL Don't own any Uggs either.
I'll take those gorgeous RL boots over Uggs any day.
At our home ~ classic wood dining chairs, wood floors w/ oriental carpets, all white bedding, wood/metal headboard, Great post, Alison! ~ Sarah

debra @ 5th and state said...

great post alison as you can see from the length of the comments.
as i advance in age, i am choosing comfort but will not compromise on style and i think you can achieve both.

so with you on the ugg's.....uglee indeed!
prefer my wellies any day
best
debra

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

I just bought a sisal rug so I will have to say "style" on that one. For upholstered pieces I look for comfort and classic pieces that will not be out of style in a few years. xo, Sherry

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

UGG, to the Ugg boots, I agree they are UGG LEE:):) I guess I am somewhat in the middle: I want comfort AND style in the public rooms. I have had upholstered dining room chairs and loved the look but they were too LOW for me. I felt like I was slurping my meals:):) Switched to wooden ones with upholstered seats that I love too. As far as sofas, I SEARCH for them since I am short and can not stand to have a deep sofs where I can't reach the floor while sitting. My bed has warm layeres of bedding in the winter and a softer pastel pallette in the summer. Both have to be dry cleaned though. I am a COLOR person, no whites here!!! XO, Pinky

Deserae said...

It all really depends on what rooms it is but I would say I am somewhere in the middle! Well except for rugs....I prefer soft wool rugs over the seagrass but only have seagrass in my home because my dogs are senior citizens now and the seagrass is pretty much indestrutable! LOL
Interesting post :o)
~Des

Karen said...

I'm a fence rider, I always strive for comfort but I do have sisal rug in our dining room and I love the look, even if its not soft underfoot. I usually try for upholstered pieces that are classic and comfortable but I have splat back Windsor chairs in our dining room...I know my hubby would like wing back chairs for the ends of the dining room (for comfort).
Karen

Jalon Burton said...

Comfort definitely comes first when it comes to decor (and clothes). It's a place we have to 'live in' it's not a magazine. I guess quality would be second on my list. There are so many choices out there that you could find anything with those to requirements if you look hard enough! Great post to get me thinking and weighing some options! Thanks so much for sharing.

Shirley@Housepitality Designs said...

Rugs..well I prefer carpet/area rugs...do not like sisal when you may tend to sit on the floor from time to time..like for the grandchild...So in essence, it is all about the what fits best for the room..

Definitely crisp white linens!!...I do not have a fabric headboard, but if I needed to change mine out...would definitely get one!!...

Uggs..well I have one pair of Uggs, but they have a wedge heel and the boot comes just below my knee and can be turned down and the shearling show..I do not have the flat sole ones...

Dining chairs...I like both wood and upholstered so i now have a combination of the two....

So, I guess when it actually comes down to it, I prefer style with comfort..I think these days, it is easier to find the more casual elegant styles than in the past...

Love your questions!!

La Maison des Plaines said...

Hmmmm! Comfort vs Style. I would have to say I am pretty much in the middle. Love antiques and some pieces are not too comfy. However the beauty and character makes up for the lack of comfort. No sisal or shag....just in between.

Slol about the ugg boots ;o)

Have a fabulous week!
Marlene

designchic said...

Love style, but for the areas that are used all the time, it must be comfortable too. I'm a sisal girl all the way and ironically, I love the feel!!

Barbara Bussey {The Treasured Home} said...

Style rules! Except if...
Actually, I think it's possible to have both. I'd go with sisal over shag...any kind of dining chair as long as it has a comfy seat. I have many dinner parties in our kitchen at our farm table. It's probably not the most comfortable without a proper back to lean against, but somehow, it works. I like bedding that's washable. Love white bedding with accent colors. We have a wooden head oars in our bed, but the guest rooms have upholstered headboards, so I like them both! No...you won't find me wearing Ug's in public. I have pair I'll wear at home...rarely. Still, I wear flats most of the time. What about you?

Cindy @ Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home said...

All about some comfort, but classic has to come into the mix! Charles Faudree & those Ralph Lauren boots...love, love, love!!!

Tracy F. said...

> sisal
> upholstered dining chairs
> easy-to-launder bedding
> upholstered headboard

Ricki Treleaven said...

NO rugs....too filthy.
Comfy Chairs
Crisp Cotton Linens

Comfort always wins in our home! :D

Fun post!

xo,
RJ

mickey said...

Give me Ralph Lauren every time. It is a timeless, classic design. I don't do what is "in" at the time, I want something that will last and still look great. I love paisley and plaid and wool and don't do burlap and stainless steel.