The Sofa that Wasn't

As mentioned in several posts, I've been coveting this Lee Industries sofa and was all lined up to buy it. But I was a little concerned about the seat depth (24"). It's 2" deeper than my current sofa, which fits my 5'5" build perfectly. I don't mind curling up on a sofa, but for a living room sofa, this piece needs to accommodate various people who will want to sit "normally"(feet on the floor). Since no one in the Pacific northwest (or western Canada) seems to carry this sofa, I was unsure how to proceed. I finally contacted a shop who contacted their Lee representative for me. She confirmed my fears. She said this is a "perching" sofa or a "curling up" sofa (unless you are tall). To sit normally (feet on the ground), you need to put a pillow behind you. She got me this great side photo from the production floor:
Why can't Lee put side profile photos on their website?

The sofa is beautiful, without a doubt. But the seat is too deep. Someone my height or shorter cannot sit normally without a pillow behind them. The back also has a significant rake, making the piece very deep (41"). I cannot ascertain whether the pitch of the back would be comfortable or would it pitch you backwards? Our current sofa, though not gorgeous, is SO comfortable, so I'm comparing everything to it in terms of dimensions and angles. Yes, I am an engineer too! The Lee sofa has a significantly more sloped back than our current piece, which is a bit more upright and supportive for my miserable back. I sit A LOT on the sofa to read and listen to music in the evenings and weekends, so it must be comfortable and supportive.

The Lee rep said the sofa is "very elegant", but you "need a pillow behind you". I think that sounds annoying. I can handle a deep seat in a TV room, but not in a proper living room where guests want to sit normally.

So until we can test this sofa, it isn't coming home with us! Comfort is king in our house. I want elegant and stylish but it must be comfortable and normal for this much money.

So sadly the new furniture is on hold. I'm a little dejected as I spent so much time on this and already had my perfect linen chosen for the sofa and chair. But I want to get this furniture right so I'm glad I was persistent in getting more information.

So, I started looking for something else.

I found this little beauty at a local shop:

The manufacturer is not as reputable as Lee and the fabrics are awful, but I can always do custom for a zillion dollars more. The other problem with this piece is that it's small - a small sofa or large loveseat, at only 71" long. My current sofa is 86" long and the Lee sofa is 78" long (apartment size). Darnit. The universe is conspiring against me!

This little sofa sits very prettily in the room and has nice proportions. It is very comfortable and I love the nestling comfort of the back, although it does not have the good "reading arm" I've been wanting.

It actually would fit the scale of our small living room, but isn't as accommodating as a larger piece that can easily hold three.

I love the side and rear views:

I'm thinking of bringing this piece home on approval to test for scale in our room. I do think this size would feel very nice in our small living room, together with a similar chair and my existing two chairs.

So now I'm waiting again...for a new sofa crush.