Does 7th Avenue really offer "The World's Greatest Modular Sofa"?
As someone who has been working in the furniture industry for over 6 years now, I can confidently say that I know a LOT about couches. I was Director of Brand & E-Commerce at Apt2B prior to joining the Couch.com crew, and learning the ins and outs of the custom couch community has been an integral part of my job since the very beginning. When it was time to update our old Apt2B Sectional, the options initially seemed endless and overwhelming.
So we started our search by sitting down and identifying the "Non-Negotiables" for our new couch. (Is it just me... or is anyone else currently obsessed with Season Three of The Bear?) Well, in case you don't have Hulu (or if you've been living under a rock), "Non-Negotiables" are values that you are NOT willing to compromise on, and they should guide your entire sofa shopping journey. If a product or brand doesn't align with one of these "Non-Negotiables," it means it's time to move on to the next option.
First things first- I'm a busy mom with an almost 6 year old little boy, and our kiddo is about as rowdy as they come. Sticky fingers and non-stop crumbs come with the territory, so durability and cleanability were a top priority for our new sectional. (Oh, and we have a dog entering her elder years as well, so... yeah, there's that...)
We are also renters, so flexibility and adaptability were equally important to us, as we don't know exactly how long we will be living in our current home. We needed a large sectional, but we didn't want to be locked into an LAF ('left as facing') or RAF ('right as facing') configuration. It was imperative to us that our new couch could be easily rearranged down the line if our future residence wouldn't accommodate our current configuration.
Finally, it was super important to us that we got our new sofa from a company that prioritizes sustainability. As parents, we want to do our part to make sure our son inherits a safe and secure world that he can be proud of and truly thrive in for years to come.
After fully outlining our top priorities (AKA our "Non-Negotiables"), I started researching our options ad nauseam. But once I came across 7th Avenue, I knew they were the perfect choice for my active family, as they checked every box and then some. 7th Avenue certainly isn't the cheapest couch maker in town so it bears mentioning that it's not for everyone, but when we weighed the investment vs. reward ratio, we saw the value immediately.
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Our 7th Avenue Shopping Experience
Okay! Let's dive into our actual 7th Avenue shopping experience. 7th Avenue is primarily a DTC (or "Direct to Consumer") furniture brand, although they do have a handful of showrooms that customers can visit in major metropolitan areas including Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Houston, and NYC. After extensively browsing their super user-friendly website, obsessively reading their customer reviews, and ordering free fabric swatches (which came SO fast!), we made an appointment at their West Hollywood showroom to see these puppies in person.
Exterior of 7th Avenue's West Hollywood Showroom
Since they only book one appointment at a time, we had the whole showroom to ourselves! This may be intimidating for some more introverted shoppers but the team there is extremely inviting and low-pressure. We had an awesome experience thanks to Casiah Jones, the Design & Sales Consultant working that day. She showcased 7th Avenue's collection of premium water repellant and stain resistant fabrics by literally pouring a Diet Coke on the crazy durable fabric and then simply wiping it off (my kiddo was legit mesmerized)!
7th Avenue's Water Repellant & Stain Resistant Fabrics
We got to sit on (and jump on) a variety of different sectional configurations, as well as experience the plushness of their cushions and the lushness of their fabrics. Something that separates 7th Avenue from their many competitors is that you can even customize your back cushion firmness and your seat depth. We opted for 'Medium-Firm' as opposed to 'Medium-Soft' since we prefer more of an upright sit, but I love that you can always add or remove filling as needed if you ever change your mind (they even offer complimentary fill packets so you can customize your back cushion firmness exactly to your liking). It's worth noting that 'Medium-Firm' is fairly firm upon first use (we liked this) but should soften a bit over time. In terms of Seat Depth, we arrived at the showroom convinced we wanted the 'Classic Depth,' but after sitting on the sofas, we decided that 'Extra Deep' was for sure the way to go.
Testing out the Different Seat Depths & Fabrics at the Showroom
Oh, and did I mention that they even have these adorable little 3D printed magnetic models in the showroom that you can play with?! These allow you easily to explore all of the possible configurations for each model, which was insanely informative for my husband and I, as well as incredibly entertaining for our Lego-loving lad.
All in all, it was an exceptional experience, and we left feeling even more confident that 7th Avenue was the brand for us. We were officially ready to place our order, and we ultimately decided on the 5-Seat Modular Corner Lounger Sectional in Olive Green Premium Performance Velvet (with Extra Deep Seating Depth and Medium-Firm Back Cushions, as mentioned above). Before I even arrived home, Casiah had already emailed me the specifics for the model we chose so we could get the order placed immediately and seamlessly.
Don't worry if you don't live near one of their showrooms, as 7th Avenue also offers Virtual Video Appointments and Free Fabric Swatches so you can still experience their luxurious fabrics IRL and ask all of your questions to a real person in a real showroom in real time!
7th Avenue's Virtual Appointment Form
After placing our order, the 7th Avenue team had continual contact with me via email and text, so I was able to stay up to date on the status of our sofa while we anxiously awaited its arrival. To my delight, our sectional was ready to be delivered IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS (talk about fast lead times)! Delivery was an absolute breeze, as 7th Avenue's team arrived exactly when they said they would (what a novel concept!), and they put together our sofa quickly and then cleaned everything up before departing (we opted to have them set it up for us, but after watching the process, it's definitely doable on your own as well).
Real Life Text Message Exchange with 7th Avenue Team Member
I am still completely blown away by the efficiency of the entire process. We've been living with (and loving) our new sofa for almost three months now, so I finally feel ready to write this review and to really dig into our initial "Non-Negotiables" and how 7th Avenue has more than lived up to them. For those of you who might need a quick refresher, our top priorities for a new couch were:
- Durability & Cleanability
- Flexibility & Adaptability
- Sustainability
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Let's Talk About 7th Avenue's Durability & Cleanability
Durability-wise, our 5-Seat Modular Corner Lounger Sectional in Olive Green Premium Performance Velvet is built to last. 7th Avenue's sofas are constructed by using Indonesian solid hardwood (not composite wood or MDF, which has become commonplace in couch construction these days), steel reinforcements, and high-density foam. My son jumps on this couch on the daily, and it's clear this is a super solid piece of furniture.
Cleanability-wise, 7th Avenue's Premium Performance Velvet Fabrics are guaranteed to withstand and repel everyday household spills such as water, coffee, sodas, juices, soy sauce, energy drinks, pet urine, and even wine. Well, in our first 3 months, we've already had more than our fair share of spills, and these fabrics absolutely live up to their "water repellant and stain resistant" promise. I can now see why this company is a fan favorite of customers seeking pet-friendly and cat-friendly sofa options because it's incredibly cleanable!
Beyond that, all of their covers are completely removable, washable, and replaceable (literally all of them- even the base, arms, and backs)! We've already washed a couple covers, and they've come out of the machine looking brand new, which has been truly miraculous for this mama! Plus, here's a hot tip for ya: the velvet fabric is a BREEZE to vacuum, which we do almost daily to keep up with our dog's incessant shedding. It takes no time at all, and the results are well worth the 30 seconds of work.
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Let's Talk About 7th Avenue's Flexibility & Adaptability
When purchasing a new couch, you generally have to choose one shape and/or design to fit your specific space, and that's that. Then if you move, you have to find a way to make that couch work in your new space, which it rarely does. Well, this is NOT the case with 7th Avenue sofas! Their pieces are endlessly modular and allow for a plethora of configurations and set-ups.
Their modular collection features four core components - a Corner Left seat, a Corner Right seat, an Armless Seat, and an Ottoman - all of which can be arranged (and then rearranged again and again) into any configuration to perfectly fit your home and your ever-evolving lifestyle. We have a main configuration we currently utilize in our living room, but since the sectional is so easy to rearrange, we even change it into a sofa pit (which is basically a gigantic bed) for special family movie nights. Our little one absolutely loves it, and it is, without a doubt, the coziest way to cuddle up and watch a movie. One thing to note is that, being a couch expert myself and having been in the business for so long, I wouldn't bet on most people to change their configuration on a daily basis because these are big pieces of furniture... but they can be moved around with relative ease for sure.
Same couch... two configurations!
While the modular functionality of 7th Avenue's sectionals already offers a ton of flexibility, there's even MORE to discuss in this department! Okay... let's say in a few years we get tired of the Olive Green Velvet fabric we chose (which is unlikely, but go with me here...), we wouldn't need to buy another couch! With 7th Avenue's Cover Sets, you can literally swap out all of the covers on your sofa to a totally different color or fabric instead of buying an entirely new piece of furniture. So all we would need to do is get a new set of covers, and voila! We would have a shiny new couch, and our living room would have a shiny new look, which leads us to our final "Non-Negotiable" retrospective....
7th Avenue's Fully Removable Covers
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Let's Talk About 7th Avenue's Sustainability
We only have one planet, so we better take care of it, right? Old couches are flooding curbs and filling up landfills all over the country, so I truly appreciate the concept of being able to just refresh your sofa, rather than having to replace it. As previously mentioned, 7th Avenue sofas are built to last thanks to their solid craftsmanship and use of quality materials like solid hardwood, steel reinforcements, and high-density foam. According to 7th Avenue, their sofas are designed to last eight to ten years, and with the ability to easily swap out the covers, I can see this couch lasting us even longer.
It's clear that 7th Avenue prioritizes keeping their customers and the planet safe. Their products are non-toxic and totally free from PFAS, plus their fabrics are OEKO-TEX certified and are free from "forever chemicals," such as PFAS, PFOA, and PFOS. Additionally, they don't use any toxic flame-retardant chemicals or formaldehyde. On top of that, their cushions use premium Down Alternative which makes them hypoallergenic, vegan, and cruelty-free. Plus, unlike down feather sofas, their cushions actually maintain their shape well and don't need to be constantly fluffed after you sit down.
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But What About 7th Avenue's Comfortability & Aesthetics?
Well, as if all of these features weren't enough, our 5-Seat Modular Corner Lounger Sectional in Olive Green Premium Performance Velvet is just exceptionally beautiful and comfortable. It is the centerpiece of our living room with its modern, low-profile design and striking green color. It serves up clean lines and a minimalist design that make it a versatile piece that would easily blend in with a number of different décor styles. The fabric is so luxurious and soft to the touch that I find it hard to believe it's as durable as it is. We truly melt into this couch after a long hard day of work/school. In my expert opinion, it offers the level of quality of Restoration Hardware's Internet famous Cloud Couch, but at less than half of the price! It's still a bit of an investment, but this versatile and sustainable sectional is well worth the price.
Family Movie Night, 7th Avenue style...
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