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For our initial guide to online-order couches, we spent over 40

Hours exploring couches from the top online furniture

Companies and interviewing experts on couch construction and

design. Then we brought seven couches into our workplace--creating

The ultimate showroom--and encouraged members of our

 After all that,

We recommend Joybird as the couch company that provides the

Best couches that work for many people. We believe Joybird

Couches give the ideal mix of durability, comfort, and

Affordability for individuals moving into their first home or

apartment.

We recently discovered that Joybird, the maker of our top pick, has begun to charge for transport: The

Company now imposes a curbside delivery fee of $99 to $149, and an in-home delivery fee of $149.



Change our overall decision regarding the sofa. We've updated the delivery, return, and warranty



Our pick

Of all of the couches we tested, Joybird's offers the best mix of quality construction, comfort, and price.

The company's wide range of midcentury-inspired styles come under the umbrella of a generous

365-day return policy.

Joybird provides an appealing couch, washed with a midcentury sheen, at a moderate price. If the

Model that we tested is indicative of the company's other models, its couches are comfortable

and well-made. While Joybird isn't the best choice for everyone--and the model we tested isn't

A style that will suit everyone--we think that, with the range of sofas this company offers, it's

A great fit for many men and women. To counteract the natural skittishness that may arise when you're



(Figuring out if a couch works for your lifestyle takes at least two weeks.)

Also great

Super-customizable, Speedy turnaround



BenchMade Modern puts customization within reach of the average person at a competitive price. It





meticulously constructed.

Wait time of eight to 12 weeks, BenchMade Modern typically gives the ability to make

a sofa in seven days (its current turnaround time is 21 days and beyond for premium fabrics and

 There's a premium for speed,

Though, and BenchMade Modern's sofas are also a little more expensive than those from Joybird.

Budget pick

Report Ceni Sofa



 However, Article's cushions are thinner and its proportions are less generous.

Article's sofa is a good upscale budget pick; it's more comfortable, better constructed, and more

uniquely styled than our other budget pick, IKEA's Kivik sofa.

Was more stiff and less comfortable than our main pick, Joybird's Korver sofa. Offering a nice

Selection of full-size styles, Article makes its sofas available in a couple of fabric choices that can be

Dispatched in a couple of days, selling for just under $1,000.

Budget pick

Simple and very cheap

IKEA Kivik Sofa





If you are in a hurry to Buy a couch and cash is the biggest factor in making your decision,

We think your best bet is to head to IKEA (you can also order IKEA's sofas on its site).

Though we love IKEA's simple Scandinavian styling, its couches are neither well-constructed

nor particularly comfortable. However, their affordability, their availability, and the company's

yearlong return policy for unused merchandise makes IKEA's offerings our budget pick.



Why You Need to trust us

I've been writing about home design since 2008, first for Apartment Therapy and now for a

range of shelter-focused publications, including California Home + Design, where I am the

editor-at-large for Los Angeles. I've reviewed dozens of products, I've interviewed a significant

Number of interior designers and artisans about the details of furniture quality, construction, and

design, and I've read hundreds of articles on furniture and soft goods. I'm also a known couch

Commitment-phobe who has swapped out her couch seven times in a decade.

We interviewed Betsy Burnham, a veteran of the interior-design industry who has overseen the

construction of sofas throughout her career and recently launched her own direct-to-consumer

Couch company, Wardrobe by Betsy Burnham, which provides craftsman-constructed pieces with

eight-way hand-tied spring coils and down-wrapped foam cushions. We also spoke with Natalie

Berschneider Wiweke of Gina Berschneider, Inc. in Los Angeles's La Cienega Design Quarter, a

purveyor of custom-made sofas for notable interior designers. In addition, we talked with Greg

Upson, regional sales manager for the Greater Los Angeles Area at the UK-based George Smith,

One of the major retailers of handmade, high-end sofas. And to choose our finalists, we also

read dozens of blogs, reviews, and articles about sofas and sofa construction.

Everyone needs a couch

When it comes to furnishing a first home or apartment, after spending money on a mattress,

Buying a couch often accounts for the largest expense. Although there are no rules regarding how

Much to budget for a sofa, we suggest considering its cost-per-use factor. Consider its many jobs:

In a first home that may not have a separate guest room, it doubles as a bed for overnight

visitors. It offers seating for people of different shapes and sizes. It's the site of Netflix

marathons. Kids and animals abuse it. And it is a spot for afternoon naps. That's a lot of wear

And tear on one piece of furniture. To handle its many chores, it needs to be fairly durable and

comfortable.

While a well-made couch may last 10 years, and a particularly sturdy one, reupholstered from

Time to time, may endure for a lifetime, the average lifespan of a couch--and the point at which it has

Lost 75 percent of its value--is five to six decades. As a conservative estimate, consider this: If you

Keep your couch for five years and sit on it for two hours every day for 350 days out of the year, that

is 3,500 hours of couch sitting over its lifetime.

How we picked

For this first guide to couches, we looked for sofas that would be suitable for people moving into

Their first house or apartment. We sought couches that hit the sweet spot of durability, comfort,

Price, and availability of fashions. More specifically, we wanted to find sofas that were readily

available to all customers, including those living outside of big cities, and that could be ordered

online. We looked for couches that offered some customization, such as fabric selection, and

Businesses that extended a generous return policy (because in case you hate your sofa, or it does not fit

Into your space, you might want to return it). We looked for affordable couches and pieces that

offered contemporary styling plus thoughtful construction details that suggested that your new

sofa won't fall apart two weeks after it arrives.

While we began by looking at couches from retailers such as Bloomingdale's and Macy's, as

Well as pieces from familiar resources such as CB2, Pottery Barn, and West Elm, we found

Ourselves focused on an increasingly popular subset of couches: those that are available on the internet,

That are designed and sold by the same company, and that at their base price cost less than

$2,000. As reported in The New York Times (parent company of The Wirecutter and The

Sweethome), this is a fast-growing category. And for good reason: The average couch-buying

experience is frustrating. At the very least it's time consuming--you have styles to Think about,

Sizes to account for, and, ideally, a couple of solid hours spent sitting on showroom models before you

Decide to take one home. Even test-driving a sofa can be deceiving. Customers are often

Disappointed to discover that the same model they loved in the store is noticeably firmer when

It's delivered new to their home. Floor models are more indicative of how your couch will feel

Once you've broken it in. Then there's the "what's under the hood" element to take into account. Myriad

tiny details of construction ultimately determine a couch's comfort and durability, and schooling

Oneself on them can be overwhelming to a first-time couch buyer who merely wants to find

Something to fill up that cavernous space in their living room as fast as possible.

Morphy Richards 3.5L Digital Sear and Stew Slow Cooker review


WHAT IS THE MORPHY RICHARDS 3.5L DIGITAL SEAR AND STEW SLOW
COOKER?

3.5-litre slow cooker with digital controls and three heat settings.
You can plan it to cook for between 4 and 10 hours and the time
Staying is shown on the digital display.
The cooker does not have a sexy setting for searing meat or sautéing base
Ingredients such as garlic, onions and spices, but its non-stick pot is
Designed to operate on your hob -- it is compatible with gas and electric

It's also available in a much bigger 6.5L size for
Only #10 more -- perfect for large families and batch cooking.

DESIGN AND FEATURES
The cooker looks great, in a brushed silver or red finish. The shape is oval --
Broad but not too heavy. The front is home to a virtual display and button
You Decide on the heat setting and then
Select the time, using up and down buttons to adjust the cooking time by 30-
minute intervals.
Setting and 4 to 7 hours on high heat.
The stove offers three heat settings: high, low or keep warm. The Morphy
Richards automatically switches to keep warm at the end of the programmed
Cooking time -- that means that you can switch it on in the morning and return
To a cooked meal around 9 hours later.
The "Sear" in the product name refers to the ability to sear meat or sauté
Base ingredients such as garlic, onions and spices. This is slightly misleading
As the cooker doesn't have a setting for this. Instead, the cooking pot -- that
Is lightweight metal, non-stick inside and out -- is hob-safe.
You pop it on your (gas or electric) hob to sear or sauté before slow cooking.
Slightly more bother but it means you won't need to dirty another
pan.
MORPHY RICHARDS 3.5L DIGITAL SEAR AND STEW SLOW COOKER --
WHAT'S IT LIKE TO USE?
The electronic controls are the most impressive thing about the Morphy
Richards. Slow Cookers are a Amazing time-saver: prepare the ingredients
for a healthy, one-pot dish at breakfast time and then return to a hearty
supper. But most have minimal controls. So if you decide to go
Out for the night after work, you are left with a sense of unease: will your soup
Be strong, will your curry be cremated?
The Morphy Richards' digital controls do not let you set a start time, but they
Do allow you to control the total cooking time. With a handy two-hour keep
Warm period after for if you're unexpectedly delayed. Nonetheless, the timer feels
limited.
Or request that you stir or include ingredients after just one hour. Could the timer not
have offered even more control?
Alongside it for such recipes.
That minor grumble aside, the Morphy Richards truly impresses. Searing on
The hob works a treat and the slow cooker controls are simple to master. The
Cooking pot is feather light so it heats up quickly -- whether on the
Hob or in the toaster itself. The drawback is that, unlike a ceramic crock,
The thin metal also cools quickly so it's less good at keeping food hot at the
table.
The cooker's glass lid means it's easy to inspect progress -- it's important not
To lift a slow cooker lid more frequently than you have to, as it actually slows down
the cooking. And results were superb: a sweet potato and lentil curry really
Showed the benefits of slow cooking; vegetables retained their shape but
melted in the mouth.
Cleaning is very easy thanks to the pot's non-stick coating, inside and outside.
And the pot and glass lid are equally dishwasher-safe.
SHOULD I BUY THE MORPHY RICHARDS 3.5L DIGITAL SEAR AND STEW
SLOW COOKER?
If you're looking for a slow cooker, as Opposed to a multi-cooker such as the Tefal 8
In 1 Multi Cooker or the Sage Risotto Plus, then yes. The Morphy Richards is
Impressive, not just for its cooking results but for its digital controls that let
You plan the cooking time.
In comparison with budget slow cookers like the Lakeland Brushed Chrome
Family Slow Cooker it also has the advantage that its pot can be used on the
hob to sear or sauté ingredients before slow cooking.
VERDICT
An impressive slow cooker that lets you control cooking times, which makes it
Arguably worth the small premium over budget models.

KitchenAid Artisan Review


PROS / This mixer aced every test we put it through due to the powerful
motor.
CONS / There is no overload protection on this system.
VERDICT / This stand mixer from KitchenAid's Artisan series Provides you
More choice than any other mixer -- more than two dozen colors to choose
From and more than a dozen additional attachments you can purchase -- and


Classic design was patented in 1936, and it has hardly changed since.
Beyond the powerful motor and generous capacity that this KitchenAid
Mixer offers you, it can do more than any other unit on the lineup thanks
To the wide variety of additional attachments you may purchase. According

requested item on wedding gift registries. It earned the Top Ten Reviews

Options, though that could be the biggest selling point for some buyers.
Performance
Not all stand mixers can handle heavy bread dough, but this KitchenAid
Mixer could strictly be a dough mixer and have no problem at all. We put
After 10
minutes of kneading, the resulting bread dough was smooth and resilient.
There was not a trace of dough leftover in the bowl at all.
When we tested this mixer and its paddle attachment with chocolate chip
Cookie dough, we found that the KitchenAid managed to mix most of the

When we folded in the chocolate chips

were fully incorporated and that the chips stayed intact.
Most impressive was what the KitchenAid stand mixer and its whisk
attachment were able to do with egg whites. The machine was able to
incorporate more air into the egg whites than any other mixer, and it did it
faster, too. In fact, the egg whites fluffed up about 10 times their original
Volume, which means that you can get tall meringues on top of your lemon
meringue pies with fewer eggs.
If you compare the wattage of this mixer with others on our lineup that
Have higher wattage, all you'll be able to determine is that this mixer
Draws less power than those others do, as this doesn't indicate the power
of the motor. KitchenAid's Artisan Series sports nine-cup capacity power,
which means it can take on up to nine cups of all-purpose flour in a recipe
Together with other ingredients, which equates to about four-and-a-half
loaves of bread.
You Will Need to keep an eye on your mixer when it's pushing around that
much dough because the KitchenAid Artisan does not include overload
protection. This means it won't shut off to prevent motor burnout. The
Mixer has 10 different speeds, so that you can fold, mix, beat, whip or aerate,
and the planetary mixing action of its agitator ensures thorough mixing.
Convenience
Although KitchenAid Provides a variety of color options inspired by the color
Authority Pantone, it remains fairly straightforward and straightforward in its
design. As such, you won't find newfangled options like a timer or LCD
screen on this model.
The best stand mixers start slowly so that ingredients don't get knocked
out of the bowl and onto the counter, floor or you. KitchenAid's
splashguard fits snugly on the rim of the bowl and works well at corralling
Ingredients, and it's simple to slide mix-ins down its plastic ramp.
The handle on the bowl makes it easy to lock and unlock it in place, and
The locking tilt head gives you easy access to the accessory ports. The bowl,
white beater and white dough hook are all dishwasher safe, but the whisk
And any burnished attachments need to be hand washed.
Attachments
As is the case with most of the stand mixers on our list, the KitchenAid
Artisan mixer includes a paddle, dough hook and whisk in the box. All
other attachments and accessories are sold separately, but KitchenAid
Takes the cake when it comes to the choices it provides you. You can get almost
any accessory you can imagine, including an ice cream maker, pasta maker,
meat grinder, flexible edge beater, juicer and shredder.
Warranties & Support
KitchenAid may only offer a one-year warranty, but that warranty ensures
You get a replacement mixer if yours doesn't work as intended. The
Manufacturer is not difficult to get a hold of, whether you call, email or chat with
One of the corporation's support staff on the KitchenAid website. The user
manual with instructions, recipes and warranty information is available
Online in case you lose your physical copy.
Summary
This stand mixer by KitchenAid gives you everything you want in a mixer
-- a powerful motor and solid, tested benefits. It doesn't offer advanced
Features like overload protection or a timer, but it is a strong mixer that
does what it claims, and it offers versatility in its variety of accessories
And color options.

Breville juice fountain compactIf you have signs of a minimalist within -- even in
The juicing department -- and what you want is a dependable juicer that is simple
To put together, clean and maintain, you will appreciate the Breville Compact
Juice Fountain.
Some People don't have an abundance of shelf-space for a large, multifunctional
juicer. Some people don't have a need for an over-complicated, techy high end
juicing machine.
they can juice and go.
situations.

and frills of multitasking juicers.
Lets have a detailed look at this wonderful price, no-nonsense juicer.
Features
Centrifugal Juicer-- The Breville Compact Juice Fountain is a centrifugal-type of
Juicer which operates on high speeds of up to 14,000 rpm to give you juice FAST.

in juicing. The titanium cutting disc is paired with the stainless steel mesh filter to
Cut up, grind and extract juice from many sorts of produce very quickly. The dual-knife
Blade assembly helps to ensure that fruits and vegetables are kept centered and
stabilized.
Compact-- As the name suggests, this is a handy, nifty juicer which does requires
Minimum kitchen counter space while providing all of the juicing capabilities of
other standard juicers.

Easier by gulping down whole fruits and vegetables so that you don't need to spend

Extras-- Comes with a lidded, BPA free one-liter pitcher in Addition to froth separator
and cleaning brush
Easy to use-- The nifty size and simple juicing-only and on-off functions makes this



Easy to wash-- Most of the pieces of this juicer are top shelf dishwasher-safe. The


around in your kitchen.
Replaceable-Replacement parts for this juicer are available online to give you
peace of mind.
One-year warranty- Juice hard for a year with confidence.
The good
Reasonable pricebreville compact juicer
This is one of the cheaper juicers on the market, meaning this is the juicer that
Will not dent your pocket and yet give good value for the money.
Superb ratings
This juicer has the 'Breville stamp of durability, excellent finish and fit'. Many
owners have raved about how hardy and reliable their Breville Compact Juice
Fountain juicers have been for ages.
This juicer works so fast as it runs on 700 watts and at speeds of 13,000 RPM to
Juice virtually all sorts of fruits and vegetables ranging from soft, mushy fruits to
hard ones like apples and carrots. The beefy 700-watt motor guarantees longlasting
performance without the danger of overheating. A true tested customer
favorite.
Ultra-fast
The speed at which this juicer works is nothing short of amazing -- it can juice an
apple in 3 seconds! This is the juicer of choice for Individuals who are time-pressed
And can't wait for more than a few minutes to get their morning juice.
Convenient
Operation is very easy as it doesn't have multiple speed options. Ready set juice!
The bad
Being a centrifugal juicer, the Breville Compact Juice Fountain Doesn't have the
juicing efficiency of masticating and triturating types. The pulp is still slightly wet
Which means that not all the juice has been extracted from the produce.
There are no multiple speed settings to choose from which is somewhat of a
Downside concerning efficiency.
Just like other centrifugal juicers, this is rather noisy though some have
commented that the sound is of the tolerable rumbling rather than the irritating
shrilly kind.
Best suited for
This is the juicer for those who want a reliable yet affordable juicer that Provides a
Speedy and hassle-free juicing experience. This is also for those who do not have
much space in their kitchen counter. The technically-challenged or beginning
juicer will also love the simple, basic functions of this compact juicer.
Not so great for
This Isn't the juicer for those who want absolutely foam-free and long shelf-life
juice. It is not really the best juicer for wheat-grass fanatics. If that describes you,
Check out our review of the best masticating juicer here?The noise might also be a
Turn-off for those who demand utter silence. The lack of multiple speed settings
May also pose a problem if you want speeds that are customized for different
vegetables.
The verdict
If you want a juicer that's a clear bargain and yet works well with most produce,
This is a great choice for you. If you want a juicer that takes up very little space in
Your kitchen, yet works hard and fast, and at the same time is a simple juicer in
the truest sense -- easy to assemble, use and clean -- the Breville Compact Juice
Fountain is for you.

Braun K650 Multiquick


With the same $199 MSRP as our number one pick, number two on our list is the
Braun K650. It follows that price-wise, both #1 and #2 on our list cost the same.

topped our list. These extra accessories give you more options a wider variety of
food prep activities.
But this added versatility can also be a downside, which is why the Cuisinart beat
it out for the first spot.

the kitchen. For this reason, #4 Breville and #5 Black & Decker on our list come

The extra accessories is somewhat of a disadvantage for this model.
Moreover, it only comes with a 600-watt motor, which means it won't pack
However, the selection of blades provided
With the Braun will permit you to grind down hard foods fast, or slowly churn and
Shred cheeses with no difficulty.
Where this model really stands out is the variable speed dial supplied. In
contrast, the #1 Cuisinart only has predetermined speeds according to its
settings. With this dial you can manually control the rotation of the blades
anywhere from 300 RPM to 2000 RPM. This can be somewhat difficult if you are
Attempting to chop foods, however, most people will find the added control a
Great benefit for customizing your food preparation.
The K650 Includes a slightly smaller bowl than the Cuisinart model. However,
The 9 cup capacity ought to be more than sufficient for most situations. While you
will get more food into the Cuisinart model, the Braun should more than handle
most applications. In contrast, the #3 KitchenAid model comes with a 13-Cup
bowl, much closer to the #1 Cuisinart.
Another reason that the Cuisinart beat out the Braun for our top selection, is that
The Braun can be somewhat tough to clean. If You're processing soft foods like
Cheeses, these are inclined to stick to the blade and get stuck under the rim, which can
Be difficult to get clean. For this reason, you may expect to spend additional time
(up to 15 minutes), just cleaning the Braun after use. This will, of course, vary
Based on the food and conditions at any given time. The components are
Dishwashers safe, so that may help eliminate some of the extra clean-up moment.
Braun provides a 1-year limited warranty with this model, also not quite as
Impressive as the Cuisinart, but with few customer issues, this should more than
Cover any problems you may have.
The Braun K650 is for that person wanting more options than the Cuisinart
model, and who doesn't mind dealing with the extra clean-up and organizing
accessories.

The Vitamix 7500 is an powerful machine, capable of Mixing just

Owned a Vitamix, that isn't something, and I think that I'd find reasons to use it whenever possible I much. Fortunately, I'd have
a difficult time running out of things to create. The Vitamix Has an elegant Performance that pulls at you in Satisfied with a
machine such as the Breville Hemisphere Control the Ninja Ultima, or the That type of energy has a very odd appeal. Turning it on
is like turning the But that began to change as I was testing the Vitamix 7500 out. This is a blender that is powerful, with a
1,440- other models. The Vitamix 5200, for example, offers the same level of performance Aesthetic differences between the two
brands (Blendtec provides a touch-screen interface while Vitamix Feels great having that much power. You end up wanting to blend
everything. If I Dressing to vegetarian chili. However, does the 7500 make Vitamix claims as well as All these things, and Even
subjected it to an entire block of cheese (although it would probably be more fair to say that we Blender you'll be thrilled to
own. in it. If you and day out, it is a Would say about even, or most blenders appliances. To this day, and growing up, I have
never owned one. I do not drink smoothies very often, and I'm happy to Confession time: I am really not much of a blender man. Wet
or dry, large or small, The solution to this question is pretty easy: yes. The Vitamix is a versatile machine, Chop up salsa .
There is just A blendern't an appliance that I imagined I would use that Hardbound book full of hundreds of recipes which range to
homemade salad As both performed well in our tests, with mostly at what Blendtec has to offer alongside Vitamix Cream, combined
with recipes like spinach pesto and additive-free almond butter. We You'll want to look, if you're a blender fanatic who's dead
set on buying a machine that is super-high-powered We tested out foods like batter and homemade A question of value Watt,
2.2-horsepower motor capable of turning its laser-cut, stainless-steel blades at around 37,000rpm. Does it do a task than other
blenders to justify the purchase price? Offers a physical dial, for instance). Consider its and you'll also want to be sure, if
you choose Vitamix Ignition to a luxurious muscle car -- dialing up the speed from 1 to 10 is similar to stepping on the gas. It
just Subjected the block of cheese into the Vitamix). Never once was an result produced by the 7500.