I  have to go back to 2001  when we lived in our PierPointe condo in  Norfolk.  We had a second bedroom that we used as MC's study and as our  guest room.
Enter IKEA, yes, that fabulous, ingenuous home furnishing company.  We needed storage, lots of storage and  
 BOY  did we get it!
MC  and I drove the 3 1/2 hours to the nearest Ikea in the suburbs of DC.   We came home in our Acura Hatchback stacked with seven plus huge boxes.    I believe I sat on a few in the backseat.  Our saving grace was the  Sun Roof!  The only way the large boxes would fit, was to have them  stick out the roof!  And it was raining......
Somehow we survived the drive and so did the cardboard boxes!!!!The  hardest part was carrying them from the garage, into the elevator and  then down the hall into our unit!!!!!  Those boxes are heavy, very  heavy!!!!
For the next few days, MC, tools in hand, assembled,  perfectly all seven  "pieces"
(there were only three "extra" items that simply didn't seem to "fit" anywhere!)





Now, jump ahead in time to 2007......
We  are living in our City, Highrise, Condo in Charlotte.  The BIG DOWNSIZE  move.  We downsized to 1096 sq.ft.!!!.  We gave away our large, curved  sofa, club chair with matching ottoman, dining table and a few side  chairs, just to mention a few pieces!!!!  I often wonder:
 "WHAT WERE WE THINKING?"Now  .......we have a small apartment size sofa and matching chair.  We  can't entertain more than one person at a time!!!!!  What to do???
This  is the period  Kenneth Brown, a California Designer, was a friend who I  could go to for Design assistance!!!  I sent him pictures of the space.  He suggested a large bench that could serve as a coffee table and extra  seating....and he said:  "Patty is has to be RED"!!!!!  We headed out  for such an item and this is what found!
 PERFECTION.......
PERFECTION.......Our
  "Highrise" Life didn't last too long.....in fact barely a year!!!!
In  June of 2008 we were in Sun City Peachtree,  in a 1700 square feet  house!!!
The  Great  Room was 18" x 18"..... and guess what?  We needed larger  furniture and more of it!!!!  Apartment size sofa,  chair and small  dining table......
PERFECT pieces to give to the newlyweds, Erica and Adam!!!
Our  new Great Room furniture went great with our RED bench, BUT no one sat  on it and no one would put a glass or cup on it......Lots of  Form.....but no Function!

SEATING.....OH BOY DID WE HAVE PLACES TO SIT!!!!
We bought a coffee table and put the bench in the guest bedroom.

NOT GREAT
BUT USEFUL!
(THIS POST IS CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE AS "THE SAGA CONTINUES)
(SCROLL UP TO TOP OF THIS PAGE AND CLICK ON "THE SAGA CONTINUES" IN THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN  or CLICK ON "OLDER POSTS" RIGHT BELOW THIS)