My living room sofas had gotten so tragic, I hardly wanted to have company over! They were custom made about 15 years ago and then I had slipcovers made for them about seven years ago. They had seen some heavy daily use (and lived through two sets of teenagers). This is embarrassing…
I was going to spring for new sofas, but my friend Cindy Hattersley said why not refurbish them since the frames were good quality (and I needed about the same size). Six-foot “apartment size” sofas are versatile, by the way.
So, I thought…” ah ha, I could do a single bench cushion with less welting and possibly a different color to switch it up.”
My friend, Liana helped me find the slipcover fabric for about $38/yd. (my wholesale price) and considering I needed around 32 yards, just the fabric was an investment. The cotton blend material was washed before fabrication so it won’t shrink when I wash it in the future.
Cindy’s upholsterer made the new down wrapped seats …which are heavenly to sit/nap on!
Sweet Liana made the charcoal on tan Peter Dunham Deeg pillows and black velvet pillows for me as gifts. The vintage rug remanent pillow is from eBay. Liana knows my taste after all these years…and I do tend to gravitate towards neutrals (like in our master bedroom). Then, I like to mix in a color. It’s so good to have friends like Liana and Cindy to bounce ideas off of… do you have friends like these?
For now, I’m storing our Christmas cards in this glass and brass box.
I love getting Christmas cards. Did you send any out in the good old-fashioned mail? 
The textured linen pink pillow is from Pottery Barn and the black stripe in Perennials linen is from Restoration Hardware.
My cousin gave me that white Frazier Fir candle. I love the scent so much I sent one to my sister (before we all descend on her for Christmas 🙂 )
Here you can see the washed cotton/linen fabric (I like that it is a departure from white, but has the two tones) and look at Liana’s custom blanket stitch.
In an effort to try to keep Chief off the new sofas (to keep them clean for a little while longer), I got him a new bed from Foggy Doggy.
It comes in different sizes and he loves it near the warm radiator (old building)…In fact, when I can’t find him under the blanket at the end of our bed, guess where he is? 
Realistically, Chief will be back on the ivory blanket…especially when there is sun on it.
If you want to see where Kris lets her Boston Terrier, Hope sleep…check our her beautifully decorated home for the holidays.
Now I feel like having a party!
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Such a good idea! I love re-using good furniture especially when it works so well in the space! I love bouncing ideas off my designer friends also…..and hey the “pillow game” is on point:)
Your new sofa looks fabulous. I love how you changed the cushion to one long one. The entire room looks different and of course gorgeous.
Merry Christmas.
Your posts make me smile! Always fun to read!
Thanks, Pat!! Merry Christmas. I have been enjoying your instagram feed!!!
You, Cindy and Liana make a great team. Your refresh looks like it could take on two more generations of teenagers!
Looks great. Did you redo the cushions? And, if so, what did that entail? Thanks.
Thanks, Gail. Yes, an upholsterer made brand new single bench cushions.
Looks beautiful and appreciate refurbished furniture. Always love e seeing your spaces. I live in a 1940 Georgian home outside of Chicago and our living room is small. We bought the sofa, a classic English roll arm from crate and barrel over 20 + years ago. I just had it reupholstered for the 3 rd time. They do not make furniture like they used too, so it is worth it to me if you love the piece and the bones are good.
Ours is an English roll arm too, Mary. Your home sounds amazing.
Funny you should post this! I will be doing a post on our new sofa in January. Twenty years with a very inexpensive Jennifer Convertible sofa that held up SO WELL but was out of date and needed to be replaced. We tried the refurbish route but no, it needed a total redo. And just the price of fabric, retail, was going to be prohibitive. So I found just the perfect sofa at Crate: love love it and yes, now I am not embarrassed to entertain!!!
Ha! So you know my pain about hating the sofas… and we had TWO to redo. Can’t wait to see yours.
Looks sooooo good, perfect choice!!
Just stunning! Love the texture of the new fabric and the fact that it isn’t solid white.
Thanks, Cynthia. I still love white but needed a change…especially since we were spending all that money!
I have two chairs that I love but the fabric Is worn. I have looked for new ones that I like as much, but no luck. I think I’ll follow your lead and have them recovered. A new fabric will make them feel like they are new and I have done my part to upcycle old. Ha!
I love the silver lamp in your living room. It makes quite a statement.
Merry Christmas to you & yours!
~ Joanna
Thanks, Joanna. You could look at discount fabric stores after your upholsterer tells you how much yardage you need.
LOVE your ‘new’ living room!! The sofas are gorgeous and I love your pillows. You have such impeccable taste.
Hopefully in January we can get together and make some decisions on my kitchen after the window is installed.
Happy Holidays!
Jan
I would love that, Jan. And if you are in the City, it would be great if you could stop by.
As usual, Mary Ann, it looks amazing! Those pillows are exquisite (might have to try that blanket stitch on some of my pillows) and your sofas turned out beautifullyAll your decor touches make your living room a cozy, comfortable place to enjoy that gorgeous view.
Have a wonderful Christmas filled with all the delights that the season brings!
xo Gail
If anyone can do a blanket stitch, Gail…it’s YOU. Merry Christmas!
Smart decision! It looks great. I love the bench seat and fabric choice. I wish more people would refurbish older quality made furniture instead of always buying new. It minimizes landfills and helps smaller businesses.
I agree, Elena. With clients…I always try to see if the refurbish method works first.
Hats off to you for refurbishing!! So much better for the environment. And it’s hard to get the same quality one found years ago. I have some armchairs that are 35 years old and still look great (slipcovered now–so nice to just wash them as needed in the machine), whereas family members are on their third or fourth cheap (in quality, not price) living room set. The new upholstery looks great. The color is just right.
Thanks so much!… also, I didn’t have to take the sofas out to be reupholstered as they have to be carried down two narrow flights. The seamstress used the old slipcover for the pattern. If I could get better photos of the sofas and the bay view from the other windows…you could see that the colors are soothing.
Merry Christmas!
Love the idea of refurbishing. I have an old track arm leather sofa that is beloved by my three dogs. (read seats are a sinkin) Def need the seats redone. Does this work for leather couches?
Yes…you might consider getting new seat cushions and recovering in a complementary fabric.