Thursday, August 9, 2007

Sprucing


I did a bad thing. I'm not sure if you remember, but back in May we bought a blue and white chandelier from Ebay. During the installation of this little bargain, Sam got a bit, shall we say, testy after the dimmer blew and the sparks started dancing across the dining room ceiling. It was then that he mandated that no "antique" shall enter our house again. Don't get me wrong, he was completely justified; we have brought home some real clangers thinking that with a little sprucing we could have something really special, only to find that we what we had really belonged in the burn pile.

I've always had a hard time with our living room. It's a long rectangle with a bank of windows, a French door, a fireplace and two arches all of which are located in the most inconvenient places. See (at the moment, we are going for the lived in look):

IMG_5049 IMG_5048

Since moving in 5 years ago, the room has been like a used furniture store with things moving in, out and all around. We have made many attempts to get it right and it still isn't working. Last week, we decided to give it another try, which brings me back to the bad thing...I found this sofa on Ebay

and I bought it for $189. We picked it up and it is now sitting in our garage awaiting some "sprucing". I knew it needed to be recovered and reworked a bit, but being the responsible buyer that I am, I already contacted the upholsterer for a price. Here is the real problem...I now have to pick a fabric. You were worried I was going to say my husband blew a gasket weren't you? No need to worry about my marriage, I gave a full disclosure and left the final ruling to Sam, but he liked it too.

With the yellow walls and blue and white everywhere, these are some of the Calico Corners fabrics I am considering for the sofa, wicker chairs and a French wing chair:

Fabric

Wish me luck!

19 comments:

couragetocreatewriteandlove said...

Mrs Heather Nice:
You have been mentioned and awarded for being very NICE!!!
So go and get your award and share it with the world!
LOL ;-)

Kari (GrannySkywalker) said...

Good luck! I love the wood carving on that sofa. And I really like your fabric choices, too. Can't wait to see which one you decide to use.
Kari

cammy said...

I love the sofa and I think you got a great deal. Good luck on your fabric choices. The are all really pretty. I especially like to large blue and white check and the rooster fabric. Can't wait to see what you decide.

Janet said...

Yummy fabrics. Blue and yellow are my favorites also, with a touch of terra cotta or brick red depending. I vote for the roosters or the second fabric from the left. Good luck

Janet

Leeann said...

Hey Heather!

I wouldn't even know where to begin to advise you on anything home decorator-wise as I am clearly missing that gene in a big way.
You, however, have it in spades so I know whatever you pick will be lovely!

Thanks for your wonderful support of my blog!
Hugs,
Leeann
niccofive.blogspot.com

cherry said...

Hi Heather! Nice to meet ya! I enjoyed your blog....love all the fabrics you chose! cherry

Julie said...

If you are asking for opinions about the fabric, I would go with a plainer fabric for the sofa because it (the sofa) is so ornate on it's own...so out of the fabrics you posted - I would choose the blue with the tiny dots...or even a plain blue fabric with 2 side throw pillows in coordinating print.

I like the blue toile rooster fabric for another piece.

Julie said...

Opps - almost forgot to say that you got a great deal on the sofa. It is really beautiful!!!!

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

That is a great sofa~ it will look so nice once you finish.
Let us know!

Cindy said...

I love that sofa! What an unbelievable deal! I have a blue and white chandelier similar to yours...it also was an electrical nightmare. I've since found a crystal one that I hope to get hung this weekend.

I love all those fabrics! I think our tastes are very similar. I love blue, yellow and white also. I can't wait to see the finished sofa!

Peggy said...

you know I am going to go with the rooster print don't ya! LOL

Marianna said...

Of course I am partial to the rooster fabric! Honestly I love them all.

Gigi said...

Much ado in the room, roosters charming but more ado. Consult w/your talented Mom, loved what she did in her bathrooms. lv Gigi

Elle Jay Bee said...

Love that sofa!! My vote is for the ticking look fabric. I once saw a sofa like that done over in a mattress look ticking and the utilitarian feel it gave it was a nice contrast to the elegance of the piece. Either way, with your taste, it's going to be beautiful!!

Linda

Heather said...

Thanks everyone for your comments -so much fun! I am still undecided, but leaning toward a neutral one given my history of changing my mind.
This may take a while...
Heather

Mrs. Cherry Heart said...

I have a sofa similar to yours {which by the way you got a heck of a deal on} and I just had it recovered! It was not easy decideing on the many fabric choices out there!
I do recomend a plainer fabric so you don't get tired of the pattern and you can add pizzaz with pillows! Also I did a different fabric on the back for a different look too!

Hope this helps.....
Good luck!
Hugz, Dolly@From my CHERRY heart

Unknown said...

I think your living room is beautiful! I love the colors. The sofa is going to be really nice when you get it done. You definitely have a choice to make though. I really like the one second from the left in the picture. I think it would go well with the wood carvings.

Sue said...

Heather,
Great sofa and teriffic price to boot! I like your fabric choices. Your beautiful room, furniture and fabric choices remind me of a room Pat W. did for a magazine using many of the same elements. The sofa was upholstered in the blue & white buffalo check. Curtains and 2 wicker chairs in the rooster toile with blue and white cording for welt on the chairs. The French wing back chair in the light back ground stripe toile (I can't remember which one).
I'm sure what ever you choose will be gorgeous. Happy designing!

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Very nice fabrics! I have Calico Corners blue/white fabrics in my bedroom (I have the 4th from the left one in your lineup)& they are great fabrics. I used a paisley & stripe together, along with a few others thrown in for pillows.

Your sofa is going to be beautiful.

Rhoda