{Home} Library, chapter 2

15 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, Renovating

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You may recall that nearly a year ago I painted our library. You can read about it HERE. I knew I needed to recover the sofa in that room due to fading but had to find the right fabric and save the necessary dollars.

As you can see in the “before” pictures, the wall paper and sofa fabric had faded from the direct south facing sunlight. We believe we’ve remedied the issue by extending an overhang outside the bay window and by tinting. Crossed fingers that this will be a permanent fix. We’ve had to have the finish on the ladder back chair repaired due to sun damage. These renovations sure can get expensive!

BEFORE (ABOVE)

Last month, call it an anniversary present, we had the window seat cushion, sofa and pillows made and I thought I’d share the final images with you.

I choose a cotton velvet in a taupe color for the sofa. I had my upholsterer add the nail head detailing and replace the straight wooden feet with bun feet. What do you think? I was happy with the way it turned out.

I was able to buy a soft throw on Josh & Main to add a splash of black. Since the sofa is love seat size I wanted to avoid throw pillows but felt something more was needed.

I apologize for the lighting in the picture below, this table sits to the right of the love seat. {Note: I’m currently taking photography classes in an attempt to learn how to use my DSLR camera. Hopefully, there will be vast improvement in my photography once I know how to set all of the buttons and settings}

This vignette is on a tray on top of the wicker hamper I use as a coffee table. I used to have a butler’s tray table (actually still do, it’s in our attic) but I liked the gray wicker hamper and have found the added storage to be a bonus.

The window seat and cushion for the windsor chair is this quilted taupe fabric with a small black leaf pattern; the pillow looks to be embroidered but its machine embroidery.

Madison has given me her full approval of the changes. This is one of her favorite places to nap.

I was able to keep the toile on the ladder back chair…I really like toile and fortunately I was able to find coordinating fabrics that worked in the room.

Are you beginning to sense that I like dogs?!

The print over the sofa is a sentimental favorite because my grandma bought it for me and I think of her whenever I sit in this room.

So, that’s it. I hope you see some improvement and will leave me a comment. I always enjoy our chats!

Catch up with some really great ideas over at No Minimalist Here open house party.

{Home} Upholstery and change

17 Tuesday Jan 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Collections & Accessories, Decorating, Renovating

≈ 4 Comments

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upholstery

I am finally reupholstering our loveseat that sits in the reading room/library. The fabric has faded beyond the “worn, but welcome” look, which is kind of sad because I really liked the fabric when it first went on.

Such a sad state this little love seat is in. It was originally a crisp, casual linen-like plaid.

Once it became clear that I was going to be able to do this project I started looking at blogs and magazines with a discerning eye towards styles.

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I gave some thought to button tuck for the back, but decided that it seemed a little formal for the room.

I’m fortunate enough to have an outstanding upholstery team. Home Creations in Aliso Viejo, California does amazing work and are so customer friendly. They can redesign almost anything and with the help of my friend, Carla, we came up with a re-do that should be a welcome change for the room.

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I did decide on a tight back sofa, instead of the 2 cushion loose-back the sofa is now. I also decided that since the loveseat didn’t have a skirt I’d add wooden legs, similar to the ones shown above.

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Joan and Dan at for the love of a house always wow me with their design sensibility, so I visited their site for some ideas. Their living room sofa has arms and legs similar to what I’m going to have changed on my loveseat, thank you Joan.

Country Living

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I believe I’m going to change the back to a very subtle camel back. I like the look of this one (above). The skirt and lack of arms on this little sofa made me think it was a bed when I first looked at it. I do think it would be charming in a bedroom even though its a bit too fussy for my house.

you can’t see our window seat cushion that well, but it has rotted from sun damage and will also receive new upholstery.

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I also want to use nail heads on the sofa arms, similar to this (above).

As you can see by the first image in this post, the sofa was a traditional, rolled-arm; loose back and seat cushion loveseat. Clearly, the loveseat had seen better days. Our reading room receives an inordinate amount of sunshine; we believe we’ve helped cut some of the sun by extending the overhang just outside the bay window, which shades the room a little more {fingers crossed}.

Pottery Barn

I’m not sure about the arm on this sofa in the Landon Collection…I like the width but the slopping angle might not be right for my reading room.

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I mostly posted this image because I like the British art above…how fun is that?

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I really like the higher back of this sofa but I don’t think I can afford this much change to the loveseat.

This phase of the project will include reupholstering the sofa and the window seat. I hope to add a seat cushion to the Windsor chair and pillows for the window seat in the third and final phase of ‘rennovation library’.

I’ll be sure to post the pictures once the sofa and window seat cushions are returned. Do you have a favorite style sofa?

I’m visiting over at Tablescaper, visit this site for some great ideas!