I think the first thing I would consider is painting the white walls. Changing them to a softer color, maybe a almond or light fawn color. Get plenty of paint chips and take them and see how they would look with the rug, couch and buffet.. Good buys you have made

A great color like what ihlyjoann is suggesting is SW Maison Blanche. Pic is Maison Blanche in my RE broker's house

If you want the shabby French country chic I'd go with a light antiqued color on your sofa and then pull up that rusty red color for the buffet.

Looking at the buffet, it seems like it's burled wood. I sure wouldn't paint it.

I'd layer different colors of beige, cream, and white.

I would either use the technique Tibb suggested (ivory with brown glaze antiqued look) or the blue carsonelm suggested. A dark "Java" or expresso finish would be totally unsuited to the French vibe you're looking for.

All your pieces are completely, totally wonderful! I adore your rug and would love to know the manufacturer, if you don't mind sharing that info. Your room is going to be just lovely!

Hi! I purchased the rug online, through HomeDecorators.com http://www.homedecorators.com/p/patchwork-rug/00/910/

Thank you everyone for these great ideas and comments! I am in the process of stripping the couch..so I have a ways to go before I am ready to stain or paint the frame. I don't think I have ever flip-flopped on a decision as much as I have with this one. I am still thinking it over...does anyone else do that?

Hm, I wonder if you could photoshop the frame color of the settee.

Is that sectional Hollywood Regency? If yes, it may not be so easy to go French cottage.

I was thinking of dark stain until I saw the new gorgeous piece. Now I'd try and come close to that stain, but then do a wash over it in darker brown.
I can't wait to see your room come together.

unpainted top

I am going to try to Photoshop...(thanks for the idea nosoccermom). That may take me longer then the upholstery will. LOL

Haha, but I agree that seeing a visual may help :)
Pretty impressive pieces. Make sure to share some progress pictures.

I am not going to quit my day job anytime soon...and I have such a new found respect for anyone that is an expert at using Photoshop. This is not easy to do.

Here is my best shot at frame colors and upholstery.

The room:

I did try to move the sofas into the room itself, so I could see it 'in' the cottage...but wow...I don't think I'll ever figure out how that feature works. LOL

Well, you know. You could always print out your pictures, cut out the sofas and put them in the picture of your room.

I don't really have any advice, but I am so excited to see how this turns out!

Like picture #4 photoshop best of the above, but would love to see the blue a MUCH lighter hue. Def "no" to the white, dark blue or green, and don't even bother to try a black. The last,two are best.

And thanks for the rug info! I wish I had seen that rug for my home office before I bought the current rug. It is so happy and colorful! Your room is going to be charming!

I, on the other hand, like the white/cream/light color best.

I like #s 1 and 4. Both are very French Provincial and I think either would give you the cottage-y look you're going for, esp. the antiqued ivory where the tan is a bit more formal.

The white is a stark contrast. Perhaps a softer ivory with yellow undertones and a glaze would coordinate better with the fabric.

I think the suggestion all along has been an antiqued ivory, not a stark white. However, with that beautiful rug, I think a frame with definition and contrast between the rug AND the sofa fabric is a good idea to allow the sofa to stand as its own piece in that room.

I think something like the first sectional in the Hollywood Regency pictures. Personally, I think you want some kind of contrast between fabric and frame.

Welcome to my basement. <laugh> I have a love of french chairs...and just happen to have a few hanging around. I will be redoing chairs for the cottage, but I will be finishing this sofa first.

The frame took a great deal of work...sanding, repairing, gluing, reinforcing..you name it, I did it. I wanted to be sure that this sofa would last a long time.

After I finished all the frame repair, I took justgotabme's advice to match the stain to the buffet, but a darker wash wasn't necessary, as when I would wipe the gel stain off, some would remain in the crevices, just like she was thinking.

I am making progress, and thought I would share this with everyone that provided me with so many great ideas. So, here it is.

Right side:

Left side:

I started blogging about the cottage, and what I am working on...it gives my friends a chance to see what I am doing, without clogging up their Facebook news feed. If you want to see my progress, feel free to drop by:

http://thisold1920scottage.blogspot.com/

Rather than doing something that may be expected, i would opt for something a bit different. Find a blue paint (acrylic from a craft store) for the wood you'll be painting~i'm thinking you'll need 2 coats. Use a medium brown glaze when the paint is dry, but AFTER you've applied a satin finish craft varnish~you don' t want a heavy glaze. Look for a blue fabric almost identical in color to the blue glazed wood.

Your rug is beautiful and a one-color piece of furniture is what's needed to bring out that beauty, but not white or ivory, IMO.

Lizzie, I have found a kindred spirit! I taught myself a bit of upholstery a few years ago, but wouldn't have the confidence to take on that sectional. I have been reading your blog - LOVING it - and just ordered some Timbermate from Amazon. You have a great eye, and I'm sure the results will be perfection. Love the space you have to work in. I do my stuff on a card table in my office, and a crowded former garage turned into a woodworking shop off my cellar - Obviously just chairs - no sofas. Back to your blog... :-)

Oh, I have an assistant who helps with everything I do. Thankfully the other two are content to watch, but Riley makes sure nothing moves while I'm working on it.

Thank you! I have used the Timbermate on many pieces of furniture I have refinished...whether painting or staining, I get very good results. Great photo! Not sure which I like more, the chair or your assistant, Riley. ;)

Guess i was a little late to the party! I' ve used gel stain with much success, and besides, you can never go wrong with a stained wood, be it furniture or flooring. Can't wait to see the finished project. Good luck! :)

I wanted to add an updated photo of the sofa with the deck finished. Enjoy!

Wow! It looks really, really good. I am impressed with your upholstery skills! The frame looks great. Can't wait to see it done, it's going to be amazing.

That is going to be one gorgeous sofa!

ooolala this is going to be marvelous

I'm impressed! Looks like you got the color with the sideboard pretty close!

Wow, very impressive! Sounds like a lot of work but definitely worth it looking at the result.

What an interesting sofa and room. It is really fun to see something so different.

Amazing work. It will be gorgeous!!

The sofa has arrived to the cottage! The cushions are still a work in progress...but thought I would share.

You did an amazing job, It is hard to imagine that you had no training as an upholsterer.

I think you made the right choice with the frame color. That thing is gorgeous and it looks great with the rug.

I'm in awe of your incredible talents. I hope you don't mind, but I want to re-post your blog link here so people can see all the others things you've done. http://thisold1920scottage.blogspot.com/ Now, I'm going back to read the details!

Wow, just Wow!!!!

Thank you for the wonderful compliments; it made my day. Emmarene, I took an upholstery class some years back; my first project was a french style, vintage chair with a tufted back and a spring seat in need of re-tying. Sound kinda familiar? <laugh> I have been reupholstering since then. :)

Amazing work! I want to be like you when I grow up :-) That's a wonderful skill. I'd love to learn how.

For everyone that helped me figure out what to do, or was interested...here is the sofa, with the cushions. YAY! And yes, the hanging stained glass artwork (which was a separate thread) has been returned home. <laugh> Now, I will be working on some french chairs I have hanging around. ;)

It's simply beautiful!

Wow! Very nice.

Fantastic job! I'm envious of your talent :)

Lovely!!!

Love what you did with it. It's beautiful!

May I ask where you got the rug? I really like it.

Hi Pugga, I purchased the rug online from Home Decorators, here is the link: http://www.homedecorators.com/p/patchwork-rug/00/910/

Love it!

Thanks for the link!