Opinions needed! My leather loveseat needs the seats recovered. 1,2,3
I'm on the fence about what leather color or maybe fur-on cowhide to use on the seat cushions of THIS Bernhardt leather loveseat. It sits by itself in my loft, next to a bookcase and a desk. The brown leather on the loveseat has faded to gold on the arms...yet it still looks near new. The cushion to the right has a one inch wide rip x four inches long ....too big to ignore. I can sew it myself if I could just decide.
1) Can I use a different shade of tan leather & upholster both seat cushions, top only?
2) How about fur-on cowhide, for both cushion tops?
3) Only use matched leather...or it will drive me crazy?
In this example, I show 2 colors of leather hide and upholstery velvet in fawn/far right.
Here's my loveseat.
Comments (26)
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Comments (23)I agree with everyting above, with the exception of the comment about staples. They are much maligned and misunderstood and several friends of mine who reupholster swear by them. In our marine climate stainless staples outlast even the best quality tacks and there is no rusting. The holes they create are smaller and the load is spread more evenly. A properly adjusted staple gun and the proper size staple can be set much more efficiently with no damage to the frame. I've had 5 pieces reupholstered over the years, the youngest in the 50-60 yr. old range (in original upholstery!). All were completely "ripped down", the frames checked for "racking" and the "wobbles" and tightened. All the webbing was removed and replaced, the springs reused and re-tied. Any horsehair (on the really old pieces) was cleaned and reused, fluffed up and secured with bridle ties. All the foam in the cushions of the newer pieces was replaced (I sampled the density of the foam before deciding which one to use), and wrapped in batting with a non-woven cover. Every piece came home looking wonderful and I've never regretted having them redone. Reupholstery is labor instensive. You are paying someone who lives locally to take the time to fuss over your furniture. They have worked hard to amass and perfect their skills, they have overhead, and they pay taxes, too. Personally? I would rather pay a tradesman/craftsman in my own country to breathe new life into something I find pleasing and works in my home. I agree than many of new particle board pieces are not worth the time required, but any good upholsterer will tell you that at the time the estimate is given....See MoreHelp with picking sofa/loveseat for this room
Comments (12)I struggle with these kinds of decisions myself.. but here are my thoughts: 1. a loveseat isnt much more effective than a chair --yes, you can put two butts on one, but they arent a whole lot bigger than a generous club chair. 2. If you ever have a need for more seating.. the sofa is there. If not-- well, you have another place to stretch out. ;) 3. I had a bauhaus microsuede sofa and it just wore like teflon-- even with two large dogs. 4. And finally, I like it's earthy clay color with your fireplace and the absolutely lovely floors!! I think the ivory of the loveseat may be too sharp a contrast....See MoreI need help with white leather sofa and love seat for living room
Comments (8)I think you have some very pretty spaces here and have already done a more than respectable job with the decor. For the living room in particular, it only needs tweaks, such as raise up the art higher (and pull that sofa a bit from the wall, so that no one feels nervous about hitting their head on the art); take everything off the media unit that has height and make the decorations low bowls or trays. Plants look wonderful in that room, so bring in as many as you can handle. Are you completely averse to a light toned shag-type rug for your living space? if that doesn’t work for you, a sisal is fine. That rocking chair in the corner of the dining room isn’t going to get used, so I’d replace it with a plant. In the other corner, instead of sticks, get a free standing or wall mounted wine rack. For the dining chairs, I would go for ones in colourful or transparent plastic (these come in different colors) or if you prefer the comfort of upholstered go for bright colors, florals or graphics, or solids. Coral, aqua, — whatever you like. You could have a livelier linear light fixture, either something curvy or feathery or with shine. What you have is fine with your chairs, but after you switch out the chairs, maybe you’ll want a new fixture. I love your glam Monroe headshots in the kitchen. A more fun and flashy kitchen clock would be nice, as would pop-style utensil holders, fruit bows, dishtowels, fab dishwashing gloves and a great cooking apron or 2 I would make bar stools the last purchase. My problem with macrame is that it collects dust. If you like fabric arts (and they can be inexpensive and easy to hang) look at batik wall hangings and Japanese noren curtains — that kind of folk art, which can have bright colors or subtle designs....See MoreSmuggling suggestions - loveseat
Comments (68)Hi Gina, yes, I know. They will be easier to smuggle but still require smuggling. Also, the room already has a desk chair and two "dining" chairs, so I am thinking more of a loveseat or better yet something someone can sleep on in a pinch (not me). And for under $300 --- in fact some options are under $200! Your chair odyssey sounds interesting! Do tell. P.S. I am seeing conflicting info between the guidebook and the online virtual tour about single rooms. One source indicates that singles will be furnished the same as doubles (maybe a good thing for our purposes); the online tour shows the deluxe single room furnished for one. It's hard to say since these are not actually dorms, they are privately owned (and I think this one was a hotel before) but they serve the student population only. We are heading out on vacation in a few days but will do a tour when I get back....See Morenicole___
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoI've upholstered in leather and sheepskin before. The rip has a one inch gap. It looks terrible! Someone, the neighbor, tried repairing the rip and made it worse. And...used up the leather scrap that came with the couch. The loveseat came with a 6"x6" patch of spare leather under the cushion....you know....it's Bernhardt. ♥
summersrhythm....I own a lot of sheepskin scraps, from previous projects. We also have a Tandy's leather store & upholstery shops that sell hides. ♥
olychick....too many seams on the back. Can't get a full hide out of it.
Here's a patchwork sheepskin piece I started, using pieces from previous projects. I think a solid cream would look "better"...?Tandy's sells small leather hides for $20ea. A $40 fix is well worth saving my couch! Maybe once the leather seats are replaced....it will all blend in....?
Olychick
2 years agoYes, totally wrapped are a problem to keep the cushions from squirting out from under you when you sit. I'm still stuck on the idea of using the hidden back. Is there a piece large enough that a pro repair could use to fix it?
Would cushions which match but with seams be worse than unmatched cushions?
there are lots of pics of leather sofas with cloth seats and most of them are dreadful, including this, but I saw this one with the front of the cushion in leather (most have the whole cushion in fabric). I think I would vote for the velvet in the closest color to the leather you can get, with the leather on the front of the cushion.
nicole___ thanked OlychickOlychick
2 years agoI know you mentioned cowhide - if you like that look, I might look for a faux which would be way more pleasant to sit on. I don't know if you like other animal prints but I thought this was kind of nice, esp if you could leave the cushion fronts leather:
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2 years agonicole___
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agonicole___
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nicole___ thanked rob333 (zone 7b)nicole___
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