you might consider posting this on the decorating forum, there are many talented gals over there who might be able to help.

When I read kidney shaped, the first think I thought of was Vladimir Kagan sofas: The swan back: And the Cloud sofa: I can't tell exactly what the back of your sofa looks like, but it is a more traditional kidney shape than these...but you are making it more contemporary. I would welt a fabric like you describe, but I would do it around the outside of the arm and the seam between the fabric that comes down from the deck of the sofa and the fabric on the front bottom of the sofa. I would not welt the cushion. You would probably be able to get the upholsterer to convert the back of the sofa to a tight back similar to the swan back sofa rather than having the large back cushion. I would do the entire sofa in one fabric. If you want a batik or ikat fabric I would do that in a long lumbar pillow or arm bolsters, something like that, rather than a two-tone sofa.

You may want to look into Key City Furniture. http://www.keycity.com/Quality.aspx I just had a Key City sofa that I bought at an estate sale for $200 reupholstered for $1,500 (labor and fabric). The sofa was probably 10 years old when I bought it and I have had it for 10 years. The former owners probably did not use it much but we use it nearly ever day. It would have cost me $6,000 for similar quality new. The upholsterer said it was still in excellent condition and need no work at all. Mine had 10 way hand-tied springs and all kiln dried hardwood and it is made in the USA. I believe Key City still makes a similar sofa to mine and it is not too deep and very comfortable. The style of mine is very similar to 914-90 in the link below except mine has T-cushions. http://www.keycity.com/Gallery.aspx?category=sofa If $7k is your budget I would go new from a quality manufacture or shop estate sales and high-end consignment shops and then get it reupholstered. Also, make sure to check on-line for your fabric. I get mine for less than 1/2 the price the upholstered was quoting.

It looks like a brand-new sofa! And my compliments to the upholsterer on lining up the pattern, which, as Olychick pointed out, ain't easy. I followed the links to see what those products were, and they don't look nearly as tacky as I was picturing, though they would after I was done using them on all the places that need it in my house. :) (Being a life-long dog owner whose now the smitten owner of two awesome cats, I've a lot to learn about cat "stuff.") And btw, I'm sorry about the cat in your picture who's no longer with you. :( After all is said and done, we can replace the things our pet destroys, but there's no replacing the pet. It boggles my mind that not everyone thinks that way, but it is what it is.