Friday, May 21, 2010

Old Furniture





Here is my very spare living room after a good spring cleaning. I got the sofa and matching chair from my grandmother. I adore both of them, but they are in terrible shape. I keep sewing them up. The chair I gave up on and just threw a blanket over it. I recently got it in my mind that I would reupholster these myself. I have read a lot of blogs that promise it's not too hard. There are a lot of reasons I want to save/rehabilitate this furniture. It came from my grandma, my original Good Babushka. It has retro class and style, which I love more and more all the time. And this is a lo-o-o-o-o-ng sofa It would cost too much to buy a new one like it.

Now my objections to new sofas: They are too fat and overstuffed. They don't have any detailing like the trim and buttons like this one has. You have a choice between dirt brown and dirt gray and dirt green. No color, no class, no way.

I have taken the plunge (and I'm taking you all with me). I ordered some upholstery fabric online. Enough for both projects according to their yardage calculator (hope I did it right!) The fabric and trim came to $180.00!!! You can't get brand spanking new fancy furniture for that, can you? Let's see if it's as easy as they say...

9 comments:

Pondside said...

I'm glad to read that you're not going to get rid of this pair - you'll never find anything to satisfy you if you really love them. Good luck with the re-covering - I'll be back to see how it goes.

Rebecca Anthony said...

I wish I had the talent of sewing! You will be so proud after dressing up the old pair. I had an old pair I just gave away and I loved them they were SO comfy! If I did have the talent of sewing I would have done the same, good luck!!

GardenOfDaisies said...

I can't wait to see how this project goes for you! I love the tufted back on your Grandmother's sofa. You may find as you go along that you want to replace the foam or down, or whatever is currently in the seat cushions.

Viki said...

I can't wait to see how it goes. Good luck.

Kass said...

OMG - that's my Aunt Fern's sofa!. I love this style also. I agree about the current cumbersome over-stuffing style. Awkward, bulky. None of my rooms are big enough to call for gargantuan furniture.

~✽Mumsy✽~ said...

I can't wait to see the finish projects. I was tempted to do something like this before, but gave up..Good luck with yours!

Tina said...

I agree that new furniture has all those problems. This couch has great "bones" if you get my drift. It's inviting, makes me want to sit down a sip a glass of wine with you, our feet tucked under us, giggling and sharing about our week. Can't wait to see how this progresses. What kind of fabric did you choose? Color? I have a lovely old couch too, from my aunt. It's been reupholstered in a fresh mint green. Super comfy, and I love the family connection. Come sit for a spell. I've got the wine!

paige said...

I agree about new furniture! I hate it all. I cannot wait to see what you do!!

RNSANE said...

I have no creative talent in that arena. I could probably recite poetry to you while you work. Good luck on your project. I would have liked to keep my mother's sofa. It was such a quality one, very well made..sofabed, really, and, we gave it to Goodwill, when she went to extended care. I couldn't afford to move it to CA, anyway.