I have the first estimate back. $1800 to reupholster, not including fabric or foam/wrapping the cushions. I'll see what the 2nd shop comes back with, as the 2nd shop did come back and ask some more detailed questions. The shop estimated 16 yards of fabric for this sofa, including what is needed for the tufting.

I did make up a bit of a concept board using the existing sofa color, and what I could maybe do if I used blue velvet on chairs instead, with an inexpensive sisal rug for the interim. I do want to keep the rest of the room fairly traditional but I think I still need to figure out one or two more unexpected elements, maybe art or accessories? The pillows are a rubelli pattern. My house was built in 1930 and is a little Tudor revival cottage style so I'm ok with a vintage feel and don't need to be trendy.

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to be honest, I'm happy that is too expensive to redo the sofa. It's beautiful and charming the way it is .

I would only use a different rug something like this https://www.pier1.com/magnolia-home-ella-rose-blue-rug/PS77398.html?cgid=area_rugs#origin=gridswatch or this https://www.pier1.com/magnolia-home-ella-rose-steel-rug/PS77400.html?cgid=area_rugs#start=0&sz=108&showAll=108&origin=gridswatch

What would they charge to get rid of the tufting? It's really the only thing I'm not crazy about with this sofa. Tufting is a pain to keep clean and it does sort of "date" the piece in a not-good way. Untufted, I think it could be smashing. If it wasn't tufted, you could use a blue Ikat fabric and the velvet on the chairs as you show it. I think that could be smashing! I really like this one from Ballard Designs.

I can ask about the tufting to see. This shop didn’t break it down to give me an idea of how much that added.

That’s not an old sofa. It’s a reproduction. You may be paying a lot more to rehab it than to buy new from, e.g. Ethan Allen, which would be a high quakity purchase. You are likely to find a similar style in a new one if it’s a style you like.

How can you tell it's a reproduction, tangerinedoor?

Not sure how anyone can say with such certainty how old it is from an internet photo. Doesn't matter how old it is, if it's good quality. If there are no tags, it's likely it was recovered at some point and I can't imagine anyone choosing that fabric in the last 20 years, or maybe more like 40 years.

Or go a little wild. http://www.wildchairy.com/portfolio/

Twenty five years ago I traded a mid-range new traditional sofa for a beat-up camelback sofa from a friend’s attic. The sofa was from a well- known local manufacturer of solid, traditional furniture. The original tags on it revealed it to have been made in the 1920s. It cost me $2500. to have it totally redone in Italian silk damask. It is still in excellent condition.

I had a wingback chair that my mother bought new in the 1950s reulpholstered five years ago- cost $1600. These pieces of furniture were definitely worth the cost, but those buying furniture to redo should be aware that is not necessarily a cheap option and the furniture should be worthy of the cost. Another choice is take a community college class to learn how to reulphoster.

Yeah! Go with sapphire or emerald velvet!

... or any other vivid jazzy color you determine to be your accent color.

Do you know of the 60-30-10 decorating rule? Well this could e your 10% accent color

Don't be scared of color!!!!!

Gorgeous chairs, partim1! Bookmarking that site, thanks. (Not that I ever find anything with great lines on my Craigslist.)

That damask fabric is about as quality as it gets. Velvet, can loose nap in the most 'used area' and leaves the sofa or any chair looking shoddy. There is not a better fabric than OLEFIN, except in the sunlight...it will eat it up. Don't do LEATHER either....todays' leather furniture in alot of cases has the surface color PAINTED on the leather..you know what paint does...rub off! ......Damask, or Chenille <https://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/p218439_dfw50830?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=DFW50830&gclid=Cj0KCQiAxNnfBRDwARIsAJlH29BpdYE0NWUp-IiDdU5erZ0zdkllNWPUIeyWA-hxKiws4q-0gOzYFzoaAhGEEALw_wcB>; or/

and Olefin, fabrics that don't stretch or grab and not allow one to slide into a comfort spot. Also, the wood on the sofa appears to need oiling. It is dry. Hope you can use some nice furniture oil cloths on it to give it some moisture. DO NOT LET anyone install MEMORY FOAM for the 'replacement foam' in your nice couch either. You need the firmest/densest foam a mattress maker would use, to keep that soft looking shapely in lines and keep the fabric taught. Just a few tips. Glad you found such a pretty one. I would tend to call it an "ice blue" and ivory fabric. The great thing about blue...like the sky....just put most any color with it and it is lovely. DO not choose an oatmeal or solid greige color fabric, do not choose a dark emerald or only ALL sapphire fabric--they do tend to show flaws and house hold debris such as threads or even dust(in all those buttons...if the upholsterer keeps them all when you decide to change it..... A medium hue or a dusty hue, DENIM for instance, or Sage Green in that realm...or a fabric design of all the jeweltones including gold and black, is very very easy to live with, the more colors in the fabric, the longer you will love it! Both of the links here have alot of choices to rule out, and help you find what you are looking for, including solids if that is your favorite consideration............. <https://www.decorativefabricsdirect.com/FIRE_Tapestry_Fabric_p/9338611.htm?gclid=Cj0KCQiAxNnfBRDwARIsAJlH29BSthiqUFYf-s9EysUX8LS5vRsmpsC5Od72ebzQ9xiIeA5Ypr23ZCEaAl2xEALw_wcB>;

Following.

Following

I really need to stop looking at Craigslist. Lol.

Do you think these chairs would be easier to recover than the sofa, in a color similar to what I have in my inspiration pic? They are obviously not nearly as old as the sofa, but pretty affordable again ($25 each). I would lose the skirt and do a turned leg. It's hard to tell from this pic but the current fabric is a mauve.

The upholsterer can tell you which is easier. You have to determine which piece(s) tempts you more (and what you can afford). My opinion: these chairs aren't as appealing as the sofa.

I would think the chairs will be cheaper to reupholster. Less fabric, no exposed wood frame to fiddle around, no tufts.

Seriously, look at painting the upholstery of those chairs. There are so many threads and blog posts about how easy and successful a process it can be. The chairs look like they're in great condition except for the color. I'd actually try painting the couch myself, before I spent $$$ on reupholstering it. Also, check out pinterest for more examples and youtube for instructions.

after:

What about if you redid JUST the sofa cushion (please do one long one...three is just too broken up)...? Do it in a solid, slightly darker velvet. Or a silvery gray...Or pink (sounds odd, I know, but it would work if it was the right shade...)

Pink always works if it's the right shade, penny! :) Interesting idea and I concur on the one long cushion. Might be less expensive than three cushions too.

Painting it is an intriguing option as well, olychick. A friend painted a leather (or was it pleather?) couch. It hasn't held up.

If re-upping isn't in the budget,then just one long yummy velvet cushion with a nice crown to it should work well. What is the interior dimension on that sofa?

Pacific Heights Exuberance · More Info

I do like the idea of the one long cushion. I'm not sure if I would stay with a velvet still like this one that both of the shops offer, that is supposed to be a "performance" fabric suitable for commercial use:

And then I would definitely consider attempting to paint the chairs, and maybe remove the skirt but I would research how hard that would be first. I found this tutorial where the woman did paint on more of a jacquard type fabric and I like that you can still see the design but it tones down the contrast.

How to Paint Upholstery Fabric

This chair is about the color I would want to go for, sort of a rose /coral color.

We have a member here who painted a chair with a jacquard fabric. She used plain latex and then stenciled over it...I'm hoping to find the photo, but I'll send her over here to post if I can't.

I actually love that you can see the jacquard through the paint...

ETA are the chairs a good brand? Something to consider if you're considering reupholstering. I did a recover job on similar chairs. It's not too difficult...HOWEVER, first you need to find chairs that "go" with the sofa.

Obviously budget is the driving factor here (I hear you as my name implies)

If you want to share which Craigslist you're looking at, we can take a peek and tell you if something is (in our opinion) worth looking at...

Love that sofa! Penny directed me over this way and asked that I post a photo of my painted chair. It was painted about 10 years ago and could use a few touch ups but we use it daily and most 10 year old chairs could use a few touch ups, painted or otherwise. To clarify, the paint is about 10 years old. The chair is much older and was purchased from Craigslist. Here is my before and after. The after was taken within the past month so you can see how it has aged in case you decide to go this route. If you look closely at the brown back, you can see the jacquard pattern of the original fabric.

Fabulous! Love your creativity.

Hi Penny-

I live in Minneapolis. The listing on the chairs above didn't have a lot of details. The guy did give me dimensions but he didn't have a lot more details.

$50 Pair of Chairs

This is the other pair I really like but obviously the current fabric doesn't go with the sofa, and I don't think I would have the heart to paint these. Look at that quilting.

Quilted Chairs

And @Ilikefriday I love how you chair turned out. You are giving me encouragement.

Maybe we can take a peek and see...if reupholstering is in the budget, I like the idea of 2 different chairs done in the same fabric...

I'm assuming you like an eclectic sort of look?

What a great find! Velvet would be beautiful and its very trendy right now. My current favorites are the Osborne and Little velvets. They're washable/performance kind of fabrics and super soft and come in a lot of colorways.

Yes Penny, I like an eclectic but still traditional type of look so pieces from different styles or periods are ok and I'm open to 2 different chairs. I do want both of them to be comfortable as this is the main living area.

That pair of chairs is fabulous! If they're in good shape (springs), they could easily be slipcovered. I bought a similar one about 35 years ago and it lives in my DD's LR, slipcovered in a great Brunschwig & Fils plaid.

Just wanted to show a pic I found on your local CL...It illustrates what a sofa can look like with one cushion in a different fabric...they've also carried that fabric over to the accompanying chair.

I think with the right toss pillows, your sofa would look equally as fabulous.

Wow that looks like it is in amazing shape! Great find. Weirdly, I am not bothered by the fabric on it right now, But I think recovering it in a velvet jewel tone would be beautiful.

Love your sofa! You have great ideas for making this work for you. Love the vintage styling ideas with the current fabric. Also love the jewel tones velvet. Years back I had a sofa that was very similar. Mine was done in a green velvet similar to the photos above, I was never sorry for choosing the velvet. I owned it for about 15 years then it moved to a friend of mine who had been in love with it since she first saw it. I used it in rooms with two different color schemes, only relinquishing it when I was wanting a different more casual room, a beachy look. Currently I am considering a velvet sofa again, love the fabric. When you decide to recover velvet would be fabulous for the sofa.

FWIW I had chairs reupholstered for my remodel. It’s not cheap but the style and quality sure beats the ubiquitous grey or beige PB or whatever new piece and one has something unique.

My sofa is inspired by an Art Deco one I saw and is being done in teal blue velvet. It’s not ready yet so I can’t post.

I had my mother's Danish Modern occasional chairs remodeled with a paisley and an Art Deco arm chair with carved wood arms reupholstered in a geometric pattern. The Art Deco chair is from the 1920’s and is currently on its second reupholstery by me.

Photos aren’t great because i took quick snapshots.

Oh those are lovely, Helen! What a fun grouping it's going to be :)

I had a new custom sofa covered in velvet. The fabric did not wear well at all. It looked worn within a few months, even though it got little use When I complained I was told that velvet always wears poorly, and I'd agreed with the decorator's suggestion of velvet, so too bad. The shape of the back and arms, and cushion stuffing, were also very uncomfortable. I got rid of it as soon as possible, even thought it was sold to me as a forever piece, at a "forever piece" price.

I’m really hoping I hear back from the other shop early this week so I can decide if I should do just the 1 long cushion in a new fabric or reupholster the entire couch. Everyone’s comments are really giving me a lot to think about with fabric.

I’m still looking at chairs. I may try to wait until I’m a bit more mobile and can visit a few shops.

I thought of this thread when I saw this couch at ReStore today for $120 and 20% off. If it was in that blue fabric I would buy it but that pink just would not fit in my house.

I bought the blue one in the second picture instead for $72. It is from 2007, made by Ethan Allen and very comfortable. The third picture shows the couch cushions against my rug. I won't know if I love the color until I get it in the room, but it looks like a good match and definitely the right price.

Looks great, Lyndee! Photos/monitors mess up colors amazing well :( but it looks terrific next to the rug (which I think I know the real color of). That's a great buy and it says a lot about a sofa that the previous owners were the kind of people who both kept the arm protectors on and donate to a worthy cause....

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/fuo/d/best-chair-co-glider-nursery/6757035676.html

My friend recently redid a chair she bought years ago at the Salvation Army

Chair reuholstered with wood refinished as well. The original chair had no great intrinsic value as an antique so hardly blasphemy to alter the wood

Well, shop #2 has still not returned a quote. I'm on the fence about what to do.

Well, people who don't make an effort (even to say "no thanks") don't get my business now or in future...

I'm wondering if Craigslist has an option? There are many garage/basement shops on my local CL and I wouldn't hesitate to take a chance on them if you're only considering the cushion...It costs nothing to ask, right?