If you've ever sat on a sofa or chair upholstered in burlap (or hessian if you're in the UK) you'll know they are horribly scratchy and uncomfortable. My cousin's got a hessian/burlap wing back chair that I love to look at but it's never my first choice to sit on when I'm over there for dinner.
Is that going to stop me from covering a loveseat in the stuff? Probably not. I just love the way it looks - it's an interesting neutral that works with any scheme. Although, I might go for a rough burlap-look linen so as not to torture my whole family.
I found an adorable little two-seater sofa on the street a couple of weeks ago and we happened to have hired a car for the day to look at houses. It was actually a mini-van (or people-carrier as they say here). Perfect! My husband's used to me bringing home junk but even I was a bit worried about this one because it's got some really tacky fabric on it. Faded red with Italian words on it in a curly font. Really awful. I can't imagine what the previous owner was thinking.
But we don't have ANY furniture. Remember a year ago when we sold everything and moved to London?? Yeah, still don't have anything except for my street finds and charity shop trips.
Anyway it's got a nice shape to it and it's comfortable. I also found two chairs on that same trip. Thank God for minivans! (I'd never own one, but damn they're useful). My kids were crammed in the back with a load of dirty old chairs. Nice. They're probably going to grow up wanting everything shiny and new and it will be all my fault!
Here's what I'm going for:
(Minus the ruffled pillow and candelabra)
via thestyledblog
Home of Jenna Lyons/J Crew Creative Director
But since I'll be upholstering it myself, here's what I'll probably end up with:
Plonked down next to this beauty below it's going to look fabulous!
via Anthropologie
Of course I don't actually own this Anthropologie chair, but it's bloody amazing. Next time I've got a spare £2000 I know what to do with it.
how about raw linen - cotton or silk? with exposed blued upholstery nails...!!! xox
ReplyDeletehaha just re-read what i'd skimmed. you're on it already. duh:)
ReplyDeleteHi Kim! Yeah I think that's where I'm headed. Although I'm thinking twice about doing it myself. I don't think I've got it in me anymore! I bet you've done some upholstery haven't you? Not sure how you do the seat, where it meets the lower part of the back. I see lots of swearing and throwing tools in my future...x
ReplyDeletei haven't done a couch. but lots of chairs...usually only ones that have separate bottoms from backs, to avoid that meeting part. i did do one chair that had that issue, and just sewed the seam first and then did a sort of fold/tuck- that way it stays put when sat upon. and a cute cushion on top to hide my amateurness. also i'm a huge fan of the intentional use of exposed nails or tacks...nails if its easy but tacks (to cover staples!) if its trickier. but who are we kidding? i'm sure you've already made this thing up twice or thrice in your head. pix, pls!!
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