So, I have one of those non-problem problems. You know, the kind that are meaningless, but yours nonetheless. My hand is on my forehead.
I bought this couch on Craigslist because I love the lines of it.
I think it would look smashing recovered in a warm white chenille with no skirt and chrome nail-head trim across the bottom. Like something right out of a fancy magazine.
Here’s my perfectly fine living room set up that is comfortable, kid-friendly and not that old. (And I happened to catch my husband in a shy moment. Just kidding, he’s sneezing).
The new sofa (that I love) presents two main problems:
- It’s a big ole couch – 101″ long, and, therefore, it creates all kinds of furniture displacement issues.
- And I want it to be white and I have two little kids (and a husband). There’s hypocrisy here because I have told people on many occasions that my recommendation for furniture when you have kids is to “buy things the color of dirt.”
Since I am a procrastinator of the worst kind, this big ole couch has been wedged between two cars in our garage for six months (much to my husband’s dismay). So finally this weekend I decided the best way to determine whether or not to keep it is to bring it in and try it different places. So we did. It’s a little short, so we need some slightly taller legs, but the lines are FABLOUS. Even the 70s shimmery green looks kinda cool with my wall color and drapes. Not that I am keeping that fabric.
So, it’s totally cool, right? Minus the skirt and little taller. There are three seat cushions that aren’t on it in the picture. By the way, it’s very comfortable.
It really needs some tables with matching modern lamps on either side. Can you see it?
If I use this big sofa, it must be centered under the windows to look right, which means there’s not much room for the recliner in the corner. That’s prime real estate in our living room. I can actually squish it in there, but it’s sort of odd because the couch has a higher side than the chair.
Hmmmm. Not ideal, right?
I do have a pair of wing chairs I could use perpendicular to the swanky couch, but they are really tall next to that low profile sofa. Plus that means no recliner.
Or I could use recliner and swanky couch and that’s it. Seating would be limited (except that 18 people can sit on the couch).
I do have a front living room that has almost no furniture in it, but the sofa is so stinkin big it takes up almost a whole wall of the square room. The scale is definitely wrong.But I find myself talking myself into it, trying to find a way.
All signs point to sell it. I only have $50 in it, so I am sure I could even make money on it if I sell it rather than spending money to buy fabric and recover it. Plus it creates all these issues. But I LOVE it. For the love of…a couch!
Okay, somebody grab one of my home magazines and slap me with it until you knock some sense into me.
Thoughts, anyone?
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Side note: this post was written with Charlie (3) standing on the chair behind me doing my hair. He’s done and just told me I now look “like Violet from The Incredibles.” Thank you, Charlie!
I love the couch – I totally see your vision! I can also just imagine the choice words B has for it, too, and that made me giggle a little! Can’t wait to see it in its final version + spot!
And he was so overjoyed to move the furniture around. And around and around to my heart’s content.
Put it upstairs in the playroom. Bring that other couch downstairs and put it in the computer room. Or give it to me.
That’s a thought. I wonder if it would fit up the stairs.
I love the couch, also. I’ve tried to imagine where to put the recliner and nothing happens in my brain. I’ll take one off your hands for a stageing. Love u, Mam
I think I might put the recliner in our bedrooma and bring down the camel colored Milford. That would look good with the white. White couches. Sometimes you should just throw caution to the wind right?
Me loves the couch!!! GORGEOUS. I love the idea of whitish but not with kids….what about a darker blue them your wall color or a peacock blue velvet??? Check this one out
http://www.mgandbw.com/Chester_sf_uph.asp
Ooooooh, that’s pretty. I thought about beige linen, but beige is so beige, you know?
PS – I am glad you like the couch. Makes me feel validated.
Ok, so check it out! Here’s an entire decor page of Chesterfield sofa inspirations….surely something will catch your eye
SO SWANKY!
http://www.decorpad.com/search.htm?searchType=photos&q=Chesterfield
http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=39771&index=5&searchQuery=Chesterfield&searchType=photos Of course I like this one.
Out with the recliner and in with the couch. I do think eventually you would get tired of the white even if it weren’t for the kids. So, I would think about re-upholstering it with a darker or at least patterned material. Just my thought. If you are in LOVE with the idea of white I say go for it. But maybe change your curtains to a bolder-printed fabric for balance. You can have matching/coordinating floor pillows made for the kiddos. Go even further and have them embroidered with their names. They will love them and won’t even care about the couch. I wish I had your couch problem!!!!
You know I thought about navy and cream with my wall color, so I like the something darker idea, too. Not sure I have room for the floor pillows because I have a big coffee table, but what a fabulous couch-saving strategy. If I do the couch, I am sure I will write about it and include your tip – credited to you, of course, because that’s how I roll.
You know, everything is going to get ruined eventually, so why not do the white sofa and use the heck out of it. By the time it’s ruined I’ll probably be ready for a redesign!
Here are some great places for inspiration.
http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/warm-mid-century-modern-living-room/pictures/page-2.html
http://u-svijetu-bajki.org/mid-century-meets-traditional.html
http://www.hgtv.com/designers-portfolio/room/transitional/living-rooms/3988/index.html
http://designmanifest.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html
Thanks, Heather for the sites. I like them all. Especially the blog. Okay, so now I am thinking you are so tuned it that you probably have a fabulously decorated house. I love house stuff, isn’t it fun?