Sunday, January 1, 2012

Reupholstering a Sofa

 

30+ years later a decorating dream of mine has finally come true.

See this sweet well loved (worn) sofa, it sat at my grandparents for years.  From the first time I saw it I have been in love with it.  My grandmother saved it for me and a few years ago we loaded it up and brought it to our house.  I quickly found the perfect fabric to cover it in and bought it.  Then the fear set in……fear of trying to recover it myself and not being able to and fear of paying someone huge amounts of money and not being happy with what they do.  So it sat and sat.  Until the week of Thanksgiving when I sweet talked my hubby into trying to recover it with me.

reupholstering a sofa

 

The first step was to move it to the basement, easy enough, ha.

 

reupholstering a sofa

Then we got busy doing what turned out to be the hardest part of the whole process-removing all the staples.

reupholstering a sofa

It took hours

reupholstering a sofa

and many blisters to get to this point.

reupholstering a sofa

From here things started getting easier (are you as shocked as we where?).  We just started laying the fabric out smooth and stapling around the edges.  Piece of Cake.

reupholstering a sofa

I cover the staples with fabric glue and gimp and there you have it.

 

reupholstering a sofa

A dream come true

sofa recovered

I wish I had tried it sooner and not lived in fear.

sofa recovered 3

 

Do you have any projects you are putting off because of fear?

Cha Cha

 

 

Monday

Between Naps on the Porch

Made By You Monday,

Tuesday 
Home Stories A to Z
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Today’s Creative Blog,

Tip Me Tuesday
Coastal Charm


Savvy Southern Style

Wednesday

Creative Kristi

Thursday 
\The Shabby Creek Cottage

Friday 
Tatertots and Jello
Funky Junk Interiors

Under the Table and Dreaming

29 comments:

CreationsForEleanor said...

LOVE it, you did a fabulous job. So impressed.

Rachel said...

I am so impressed! I love it! I would love to do a slipcover but am terrified! :)

The Mac's House said...

Ok I'm going to start this year with that jumping off point of living in no fear of tackling these projects too. I have a sofa and 2 chairs that need to be loved upon to be refinished. I must get them done this year. The fabric is waiting for me to get a move on them. Thanks for the encouragement!

Adelina Priddis said...

That is gorgeous!!

Angie Holden said...

Love it Cha Cha!! And I do this all the time...sigh....

Stacy of KSW said...

Cha cha, it is gorgeous!!! So proud of you for taking a leap of faith. You are awesome

Anonymous said...

Wonderful job! You are a wonderful source of inspiration for me. I have followed through a several projects because of your influence. Thank you!

Unknown said...

I'm so, so glad you finally tackled it - because it looks GORGEOUS!!!!

Happy New Year, my sweet friend :)
Gina

Inspired by you said...

It's great when you finally tackle a project that you were dreading and have such great results, isn't it?! Nice job!

Unknown said...

Wow, you tackled a huge job and you won!!! It turned out great.

Hugs...Tracy @ Cotton Pickin Cute

Unknown said...

Good for you! What a great change.

Little Miss Penny Wenny said...

This looks beautiful! You and your hubby did a phenomenal job. upholstery is really scary until you try it. And then, just like yous aid it just simply hurts. LOL. I found this fabulous little upholstery tool for removing staples/tacks, etc and it has made my life SO MUCH EASIER. If you plan on doing more upholstery, feel free to check out my post about the tool.
http://littlemisspennywenny.blogspot.com/2011/10/best-tools-for-upholstery-staple.html

I am so envious of your couch. I've been debating one online right now but i think you just solidified my decision for me. Thank you!

Penny Wenny

Jill said...

Wow! It looks great!! I have a footstool that I'm super close to finishing, but don't have a staple gun & haven't borrowed one yet, so it's been sitting unfinished for a year! ugh! lol

~JILL
www.envirocraftiness.com

Unknown said...

You've inspired me!!!! Gorgeous upholstery job. Heather

Unknown said...

Great job! I have an antique sofa in my garage that I need to work up enough guts to recover myself... thanks for the inspiration. It looks beautiful!

Bridget said...

so pretty!

Anonymous said...

I have a couch similar to yours except it has upholstery tacks. I have wanted to reupholster but like you fear..... and not being able to figure out what fabric I would like. Ok I think you have almost convinced me to take the plunge!

Finding Home said...

So beautiful - just shared on my Facebook page! Take care, Laura

Laura said...

You did a great job! I have recently finished a project similar. Blisters and all

Modern Frills said...

what a beautiful job! love your fabric choice!!!

Heaven's Walk said...

That sofa certainly was worth waiting for! It's got such beautiful lines....and now it's got a beautiful dress! :) GREAT job, you two!

xoxo laurie

debbie refresh restyle said...

Love the velvet! saw you at Tattertots & Jello
Debbie

. said...

Wow!! You did an amazing job. When I first saw the photo (can't remember where I popped over from) I assumed it had been professionally done.

And yes, I have a chair I picked up at a garage sale last summer sitting in my shed that I bought so I could try my hand at reupholstering. But it scares the bejeezees out of me!! So, it's still sitting. :)

Between You and Me said...

I am blown away.

it looks fabulous.

The Mustard Seed said...

That sofa is beautiful! I have a rocking chair that I have wanted to paint and recover. I actually bought the material when Jude was only a few months old. Still haven't done it and now the fabric is no longer the right color for Aubrey Lane. Maybe I'll get some courage this spring! You've inspired me ;-)

Tammy said...

Awesome pictures and how to instructions. I love that you recruited your husband! I am preparing to redo my couch and I think I am going to get my guy to do all the deconstruction and I will do the fun part! lol Thanks!!!

Personal Loan said...

lovely blog very nice pic

abby jenkins said...

Magnifique! Job well done, I have a few upholstering projects that I have been putting off. You are inspired me...now if only we had a basement. Might have to wait for it to warm up so I can work in the barn without my hands getting numb.

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

YES!
my settee and chair needs recovering and I'm terrified.

this inspires me-- Pat