Special offer

a fresh vantage point, and a recycled chair.

By
Real Estate Agent with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty

I have been sitting in a leather club chair, parked in my den, for at least the past 10 years or so.  We bought the chair from a company who shall go un-named, but whose initials are "Crate & Barrel".  It was an expensive chair, plus a half-sized ottoman.

Disappointingly, it was never a comfortable chair.  The seat was too soft & low, the ottoman was too low, so as to be lousy support for my legs... (I often found myself stealing the ottoman from my wife's upholstered mustard-coloured chair.... hey, she doesn't use it)... but it just didn't look right.

From day one, the colour of the chair began to fade, especially where it came into contact with ME... you could see where my head touched the back, and where my hands sat on the arms... and not in a good "old worn-leather-chair" way... but rather in a "what the heck happened to that chair?" way.  (No, the photo to the left is NOT my chair, but is a good representation of how lousy my chair looked).

Recently, the springs in the chair gave way... (I'm a big guy)... and I'd finally had it.  We switched chairs, and I started sitting in my wife's chair (she sits on the sofa)... it just wasn't a good time to go out and spend thousands on a chair.

I'd been to the Lay-z-boy store nearby... they had a good replacement.... with a built-in recliner... very nice looking... soft leather... no ottoman required....  as high as $2,800.00 !!!  I'm just not in the market to spend $2,800.00 right now.  The upholstered chair will do.

Suddenly, in this weeks' Tribune, Macy's (the usurper to the Marshall Field's crown), ran an ad for two different leather club chairs, with built-in-recliners... for about 20% of the cost of the Lay-z-boy chair.  No that's not a misprint.. about 20% of the price.

So I bought myself a Father's day gift, and it was delivered this morning.  Ahhhh.  The seat is firmer, the back is a little lower, but it reclines in two positions... smoothly... the leather is supple, and warm... the color is rich... and the chair has a slightly smaller profile, taking up less room in our den, and no ottoman to have to maneuver around.  This is NOT a photo of my new chair (on the right) but it looks pretty much like this one.  The chair is made by Bernhardt (a well known furniture manufacturer), so I can hope for many years of quality life in this chair.

Meanwhile, don't feel bad for the old chair.  We're going to have the springs fixed, and it's going to migrate up to our bedroom, and replace the shabby "cane" chair that's been functioning as my "clothes hanger", and dressing chair.

Life is Good!

ALAN MAY, Realtor®
Specializing in Evanston Real Estate and North Shore Real Estate
-------------------------------
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, 2929 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
847.425.3779      Cell: 847.924.3313      Email: Almay@aol.com

Posted by

 ALAN MAY, Realtor®   
Specializing in Evanston Real Estate and North Shore Real Estate

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty, 2934 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
Office: 847.869.7300      Cell: 847.924.3313      Email: Almay@aol.com

Evanston Real Estate & North Shore Real Estate
Licensed in Illinois

   

Comments (16)

Colleen Fischesser Northwest Property Shop
NextHome Experience - Chelan, WA
A Tradition of Trust in the Pacific NW since 1990!

My dad had "his chair" which we all immediately had to vacate when he entered the room. It was the most comfortable one of course because he was king of the castle :-) My husband and I have a leather chair much the same as your uncomfortable one...mayhaps I need to be shopping for a recliner if the deals are that good. Hmmmmm????

Jun 18, 2009 03:52 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Alan you always make me laugh.  The initials in the first paragraph did me in!  I have a black leather recliner that I paid a ridiculous amount of money on, back when I used to make a ridiculous amount of money regularly.  It's probably at least 6 or 7 years old now, it looks like a wing back chair but it reclines and I spend every morning in it, having a cup of tea and reading.  I love that chair, especially because I bought it for myself!  Now, I am going to go light a candle so that we will all start making ridiculous amounts of money once again!  xxoo

Jun 18, 2009 05:46 AM
Stephen Kappre
KW Hometown - Mantua, NJ
Helping You Home

That old chair is really cool looking - I'd buy that thing in a second if nothing else for decoration. And by the sound of it, it really would be only decoration :) Better luck on the new one!

Jun 18, 2009 05:47 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Colleen - my chair is the same way.  It's my landing pad, and everyone knows it.

Susan - I'm glad you liked the intials... you weren't able to decipher who they are, were you... heavens I wouldn't want to embarass them.

Steve - my old chair doesn't look as cool as that photo (I'll get a photo of mine, and replace it when I do)... you'll see what I mean.

 

Jun 18, 2009 06:27 AM
Craig Rutman
Helping people in transition - Cary, NC
Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Well Happy Father's Day to you my friend!

Sometimes the best gifts we receive are the ones we buy ourselves!!!!!

Did you at least try to act surprised when it arrived?!!!

Jun 18, 2009 06:56 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

well, Craig... I was surprised when it arrived on time!!

Jun 18, 2009 07:09 AM
Deb Brooks
Brooks Prime Properties Wichita Falls Texas - Wichita Falls, TX

Congratulations Alan! You deserved it my friend. Hey, I've begun to notice that you are looking more and more like Elvis daily! Have a great father's day and enjoy putting your feet up~

Deb

Jun 18, 2009 07:32 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Thanks Deb.  I'll do just that.

Jun 18, 2009 07:50 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

lol @ Alan.  Heaven forbid we should embarrass anyone besides ourselves here in the rain!  xxoo

Jun 18, 2009 08:21 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Susan... embarrassed... moi?

Jun 18, 2009 02:11 PM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

"That is NOT a photo...." "This is NOT a photo...." To me it sounds like either someone needs a camera or needs help putting photos in a blog post. Since I see photos in the blog post, I'm pretty sure it's not that one, so take that 20% savings and buy a camera! (Hope I wasn't too rough on you here, and that you'll continue letting me camp out here this morning.)

Jun 18, 2009 08:58 PM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

perchance you took me a bit literally... this IS a photo...merely not the photo of the actual chair. d'oh!

Jun 19, 2009 12:42 AM
Caren Wallace
Premier Property Group LLC - Tualatin, OR
Portland Caren Real Estate

Alan, first of all Happy Father's Day!!!! There is nothing quite like having the perfect chair for your toushy at the end of a long trying day of work! I am so happy for you that you were able to get a good deal on a chair for your relaxation! A true reward for a bargain hunter! One of my favorite passtimes!

Jun 19, 2009 01:20 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Thank you Caren.  touché!

Jun 19, 2009 01:49 AM
Jim & Maria Hart
Brand Name Real Estate - Charleston, SC
Charleston, SC Real Estate

Hey, Alan. Sometimes it is the small things in life that make us happy. Thanks for sharing, Jim

Jun 19, 2009 03:22 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

simple pleasures, Jim & Maria, are the best...

Jun 19, 2009 04:19 AM