The pretty picture I started this post with is to rope you in as it has nothing to do with my post at all. But it is pretty and I felt I owed you eye candy given what follows. Sneaky? Maybe. But necessary.
Meet my new sofa. Comfortable does not even do it justice. Unbelievable is more like it. Ninety four inches long! The lines are a dream. I love the comfort and get ready, I love the flea market price of $100.00!! Someone else bought it right away, but as the day went on, she could not get it home, so I SCORED! But I am a bit on the fence as the wear and tear on this gem could be almost too cruddy to be cruddy-cool. Make sense? It has some rips inside the seat and that makes me know there could be life there, and that is not what we need, more beings living here. You know how people often say the picture they are showing you does not do a person or thing justice? Well, these do the sofa more justice than it deserves. I couldn't take a bad shot of this baby, almost like it knew what I was up to! Odd, but true, so don't get all ohmygodleaveitjustlikeitis on me, until you factor that in person, it is not this good.
So, what to do?
Option one-Clean her up and revolve my room around this interesting shade of blue that I and child four adore, but may shelter an entire universe inside??? I will clean it well, but still, it is from the sixties-we see the original tag on the bottom of the sofa-so there could be some hippie bed buds living in a seat commune and well, how do you get them packing?
Ew.
Option two-Recover in a delicious, buttery soft, creme leather. I am a wholesaler who just happens to design leather books so I will not need to rob a bank for the leather, just a
7-11. (John, please breathe. This is just a thought. I know upholstery was not in the plan as you helped me lug it home with a huge smile on your face, but I fully plan on driving the getaway car if we go with this option.)
Option three-YOU TELL ME!!!
It's a diamond in the rough and if I just stick it in the playroom, part b of option one, it will be like, gee, thanks lady, why didn't you just let me fall out on the highway and call it a day. Yet option two is a bit scary as well (see above) and the blue color is one of the things that made me adore it in the first place. Oh, the drama.
Ok. Enough said. I believe my dilemma is clear. I could really use some input.
Please.
A total score! I tend to favor option 2 of recovering with a new buttery leather. If you have the ability to do this, I don't believe you will ever regret it. This sofa will last another lifetime!
ReplyDeleteI happen to LOVE the color it is right now. I say clean it up. It's quite spectacular actually and if I'd seen it in a high end shop it'd gone right on my wish list.
ReplyDeleteThis is a GEM!!
ok i have no idea... but your post cracks me up! good luck!?!
ReplyDeleteI love that shade of blue and it's so unique... I say let it be the centerpiece!
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of Cinderella, so pretty! (yes everything reminds me of movies). Perfect as is, or take the middle road and recover in something other than leather...no clue what that would be.
ReplyDeleteg.
ReplyDeleteOH!! OH!! OH oh oh!!! Excuse me I had to catch my breath~~ Leave it to you to find this treasure. It is SO Tim Walker.... what would he do? A whole room around this baby for sure! I'm gonna do it whether you like it or not OHMYGODLEAVEITTHEWAYITIS x a million! In my world, the more I scrolled down, I loved it even more!! My vote is option #ONE FOR SURE. I would pay big big dollars for this sofa and live happily ever after right on top! Covering it would be a sin in the first testament. And putting it in a playroom is shameful! You must polish it and honor this find. You must make it a statement piece...Oh gosh... I can't believe how beautiful it is. The color is my whole world... Paris skies in October & the sea on a cloudy day~~
oxox's
Janet
i would recover it to make it look close to what it originally looked like...or maybe get that turquoise color but with a bit of distress in the leather to antique it? i would make it look new again!
ReplyDeletexox
www.froufroufashionista.blogspot.com
From someone who spent two college summers upholstering, I can tell you that doing the button-tufting and nail head trim again will cost you the equivalent of Costa Rica's GDP. Throw in leather, and your upholsterer will put a hex on your children.
ReplyDeleteFunny post! I say work with that great color! Can you imagine the possibilities? Unless you can't deal with the old factor...but that's the charm, right? Have the leather cleaned and start decorating around it. Great find!
ReplyDeleteYou must way keep this as it is~ Just a great cleaning! What would Tim Walker do? It would be the whole room! A sin to recover and shameful to use in the play room. Use it, enjoy every little scar on it. It is full of BEAUTIFUL character. My color and my world... Paris skies in October and the ocean on a cloud day.... I am gonna say it now. LEAVEITTHEWAYITIS:)
ReplyDeletexoxs'
Option 2! Whatever the expense, it will be worth it for something that long with great lines.
ReplyDeletelove it reminds me of my greatgrandma,..when class was class,..ahhhh the good ole days
ReplyDeleteOption 3: give it to me! Ok, just kidding but I would certainly take it off your hands.
ReplyDeleteI'm on the as-is bandwagon. That is an amazing shade, and after it is cleaned up a bit I think it will be wonderful. Plus, I like all the character it has in its current state.
See. I knew you guys would know what to do!
ReplyDeleteI think I'd go with the recover. Over the long run, I think you'll be happier.
ReplyDeleteI'm also in favor of recovering. I do love the blue but you'll likely end up recovering eventually so why not do it now and make it your living area highlight??!
ReplyDeleteoh dang it!! i can't see the photos!! but $100 for a SOFA?!??!?! you are RAD!!!!!!!!!!!! that is an amazing deal!!! bah! i am so jealous!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, wow, wow! I definitely vote for reupholstering it. It'll be just like the one in my fantasy room! [So jealous.]
ReplyDeleteFrom The Right Bank:Right????See, your photo made me a bit nuts. In a good way. Hahaha! xoxoxo g.
ReplyDeleteDon't touch it period. It is a gorgeous color and I love the button-tufting and nail-head trim. You will spend a lot of money to destroy the character of this piece. Embrace this wonderful color and build the room aroud it. Trust me.
ReplyDeleteWow! Great find!! They don't make 'em like that anymore. It's so beautiful. You're really lucky!! I think it's perfect the way it is.
ReplyDeleteHugs!!
the gold is great - go for it :)
ReplyDeleteok, so now i am seeing the pics and that couch in all of its glory.
ReplyDeleteand i know EXACTLY what you should do.
put that couch on a truck and have it delivered to me TOMORROW. ok? okay. do it. DO IT.
I agree with Laura Casey above. Give it a good cleaning and see what happens! Great find, g!
ReplyDeleteHoly freakin' cow that is outrageously fantastic! I love that you acted on your instincts and had your hubby lug that little piece of heaven home. My husband would have done the same but there would have been much eye-rolling and hurumphing. Now as to the decisions, decisions...well, I'm crazy for the color and detail and I think it would cost fistfuls of cash to reupholster, in leather, and recreate all that original beauty. So, I say get a big batch of leather wipes, I think Method makes a good, safe product and give it a go. I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised. And heck, if all else fails and you can't live with the ghosts of hippies past, recover that hot mama. Either way, it's a win-win, no?
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT. LOVE IT. How about approaching "what to do" with least invasive first--as in clean it up as much as possible and see if you can work around it. The color really is awfully cool and you have a unique piece. Basically, I agree with nkp.
ReplyDeletegood luck!
I say butter! It was meant to be perhaps, you have the access, it needs a cover - anyone who says leave it as is has never bought antique/old furniture before.
ReplyDeleteI reminds me of an chesterfield I used to own. Sigh I miss that hard sofa.
Hahha I have to agree with my mom. LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS one more time. That is in perfect condition to me. I love it!
ReplyDeleteoxox Noel
check this out
ReplyDeletehttp://www.diyleathersolutions.com/
♥xoxo♥