A Four-Time Olympics Doctor Shares What It’s Like to Care for Team USA

Dr. Brian Krabak will be caring for the U.S. swim team at the Paris Games.

Interior design is not my strong suit. With two kids, an 80-pound dog, and a scratch-obsessed cat, I choose functionality over style when picking out furniture. My husband jokes, “This is why we can’t have nice things,” when the dog knocks over a lamp or the kids spill their drinks on the rug. In the 12 years we’ve been parents, my husband and I have gone through several reasonably priced couches—all comfy to sit on…and just plain. Finding a sofa that balances durability, comfort, and style felt impossible (unless you’re willing to spend big money on it). The constant wear and tear had left our old couch in shambles, so I jumped at the opportunity when Albany Park offered me a new sofa to review. Was this my chance to transform my run-of-the-mill living room into a stylish yet comfortable haven?

Image of a navy blue couch against a white backgroud

The ordering process

Albany Park offered me the choice between its Barton, Kova, and Lido styles. My attention was immediately drawn to the Barton sofa (from $1394). It has a clean, sleek look—the opposite of the frumpy couches I’ve picked out in the past. From ten fabric options, I chose Indigo Basketweave, a deep navy blue that gives off sophisticated vibes while being stain-resistant at the same time. I paired it with the Walnut legs and hit “add to cart.” Once my order was complete, I received a confirmation email noting an estimated five to seven-day delivery window. On day five, I got a call from the delivery company confirming that delivery would take place the next day—easy peasy!

Assembly

Something you should know about me is that I absolutely refuse to buy furniture I have to assemble myself because I don’t have the time, energy, or patience to assemble it.

So, on delivery day, two delivery men placed three gigantic boxes in my foyer, had me sign a piece of paper, and then left. How was this couch going to get put together? How was I supposed to take enormous couch parts out of these cardboard boxes? I was frustrated at the monumental job that lay before me but was pleasantly surprised at how fast assembly took (much easier than the Ikea bookshelf I tried to put together during my senior year of college).

There is no doubt about it: assembling the couch is a two-person job. Luckily, I had my husband to help and take on the grunt work. First, we attached the arms to the base, then slid the back into place, aligning them inside metal brackets on the inside of the couch. Then, we screwed on the legs and placed the cushions. The entire process—from unboxing to complete setup—took about an hour. We did have to make special arrangements with our recycling company to haul away all of the cardboard, so that is something to keep in mind.

Image of boxes and a couch being assembled — *Photo: Author*

How it performs

I’ve had the couch for several weeks now. My dog naps on it, my cat scratches it, the kids watch movies while eating crumbly snacks, and I even drift to sleep on it. Is it comfy? Absolutely! Despite our household’s rigorous testing, the cushions remain firm and supportive, bouncing back after every use and never losing their sleek shape. The fabric withstands scratches (cat-tested) and spills with ease. (Pro tip: I applied Scotchgard to the couch before anyone used it.) The overall structure feels solid, giving me confidence in its long-term durability. With its low profile back and modern silhouette, the sofa looks so elegant in our family room. Even after my kids have been laying around on it for hours, it cleans up nicely and never looks frumpy. It has become the focal point of our family room, and I finally feel like a home decor pro!

Image of a navy blue couch in a living room setting — *Photo: Author*

Albany Park Barton Sofa: Final verdict

I was afraid that the Barton sofa would be too nice for our family room. But I’m happy to report that, yes, you can have a stylish couch that is both comfortable, durable, and won’t cost you and arm and a leg. If you have children and pets, it doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice style for function. To be fair, assembling the couch wasn’t my favorite part, but it was well worth it. I finally feel like my home has a “grown-up” feel to it.