Thursday, July 12, 2007

Obese Furniture

I must mentally purge. I cannot stand obese furniture. Disgustingly overstuffed sofas and armchairs wedged into rooms so small that none can walk all for the sake of "comfort". C'mon - I know we're the fattest nation in the global economy, but my Lord - between the mcMansions filled with wasted space and pudgy armchairs clogging our homes - doesn't something feel off? And I own these rotund items in my own living room. I am blessed to HAVE furniture, but my question is, why are manufacturers determined to spew this stuff out. Yes, the American public will buy whatever that can eat chips and lay down on, but I KNOW there are other options out there.

13 comments:

Elizabeth F. said...

I don't mind big furniture as long as it's in a BIG room! I hate, absolutely hate to go into a room that has HUGE furniture crammed into it. There's no where to walk and it looks silly. Measure twice, buy once people. :-)

Jenny W said...

my brain says go shaker or amish folks...it's practical, pretty, supports a better way of life than value city does. it's my ass that says "ahhh...cheap cushy furniture to watch chick flicks and drink wine coolers from" come on folks, admit to it, i'm not the only one:)

joan.ekimball said...

we feel creaky beth. that's why we need that cushy stuff. its us big fatty boomers needing a place to rest our creaky bones.

Mrs. Sara said...

Please, Bethany. Let's be a little more sensitive. It's "meaty" furniture. Or better yet, "pleasantly plump."

Matthew said...

I've got your back on this one. With the materials used to create one monster lazyboy you could easily create two chairs. For all our aging friends, what ever happened to the lumbar pillow? the throw pillow? the body pillow? Simply wedge one of the aforementioned into any neccessary crevice. All this extra padding doesn't need to be permanantly attached anywhere. It's not a bed, it's a couch.

wyofaith said...

I have to say I LOVE our Lazyboy. It was a leave behind piece from the old tenants probably because of it's nasty flesh color. But it is the e-pi-to-MEE of comfort.
I wish Lazy Boy made beds.

mummers said...

As someone who has 175" (not a typo) of "sectional" sitting in her living room (with another 75" of it parked in the entryway) I do feel like I can comment on Large Furniture. Now, granted, I did not purchase it, but I am living with it. Occasionally, such as when our 6'4" friend arrived and her bedroom had not yet been vacated by the outgoing intern, it can be helpful. It IS a couch but I was very happy it could double as a bed. However, Bethieboo, I do believe your complaint is not so much with length as with ... girth?Is it the sofas that look like a regiment of Barcaloungers lined up that insult your sensitivities? I must admit there is not a lot to choose from, especially in the lower end market. Wait..wait! Maybe the answer ties in with your previous posting - you cannot balance excellence in furniture design with excellence in child rearing! Do we want great furniture or great kids???

patty said...

Hey Beth, the fat furniture is for my fat ass. Okay??? I know I need to lose weight, I'm about to embark on that journey ONCE AGAIN. however, I cringe when I go into a little teensy weensy furniture spectacle with the little teensy weensy legs and the teensy weensy little wooden seat about 8 inches around............okay, where do I park the OTHER cheek??? Heehee. My second favorite piece of furniture...my rubbermaid 2 step stepstool. Yep, no back, my butt has 4 sides in which to droop over. And it's low to the ground for my short legs. When I become a size 12 I'll let you know then what I think of the Cruella DeVille look. Long skinny legs and teeny tiny seats. haha.

Larky Park said...

Mom - I do believe that your furniture is parked everywhere BUT the living room these days ;) That drum kit is BIG! But you are right - girth - overspilling arms- bulk for bulks sake etc... I LOVE a cushy seat, but Matthew knows that chunky furniture is WRONG PLACEMENT in a small room. Skinny arms, cushy seat - ain't nuthin' wrong with that! I want my great kids to design excellent furniture...

Anonymous said...

Not sure where I fall on this. Yes, one should be able to navigate the room without crawling over the mountains of moosh. Yet, each night I spend at least some time in our "chair-and-a-half" WITH the lumbar pillow, Matthew, thankyouverymuch.
When the giant sectional lived here, I DID think we'd gone 'round the bend, though. Unnaturally large does affect the psyche, I think. Maybe for some it's just more womb-like. Though I would think that nine months would be enough.

Unknown said...

As a person who just received a large sofa and love seat...I must say that I enjoy the largeness of it...John and I can curl up together comfortably...and it is nice...and in this room it fits nicely.

mummers said...

Bethie- not talking Valpo living room furniture - no one could ever consider a drum stool ...cushy. Talking Mex - get out a tape measurer and chalk off 175" - it's half way around the world. (Hint: you might want to get the kids rolling with some crayons and LOTS of paper - the launching of creative genius)

mummers said...

By the way ... joan.ekimball....where the heck are you Girl? Burn up the Net with a line or two, sweets!