Before and After :: the Antique Sofa

A long overdue post about our redone sofa!

Ever since spotting Rashida Jones amazing NYC studio apartment in the February 2008 issue of Domino magazine (oh how I miss that gorgeous publication) I basically could not get her antique white sofa out of my mind. I KNOW you too...here let me remind you:

I mean the dark wood work contrasting with the amazing white linen feather seat. Be.still.my.heart. Seriously if I could marry a couch this would be it, it's just perfect in my mind. So I did what any level headed mother of two wild boys and a dirty dog would do. I hunted Craigslist for a similar one.

It was a mission that I was fully committed too no matter how long it would take. I found this one about three years ago now. Great bones, right but the original gold brocade was pretty hideous. Never mind the smell and the fact that we did not have the money to redo it. I bought it after considering it for like thirty seconds. Drug it home. Ignored Mr. Gough's eye rolls and plunked it down into our living room.

It has sat in our front living room for all these years. I've hosted parties with it, covered it with a sheet for a time. Like I said it was a commitment and I don't ever remember caring when someone would look at it sort of sideways wondering the story and why it was taking up residence in our home. I knew what she could be. I waited.

And then a miracle occurred. My sister and brother in law seeing as how they had spent many parties sitting on the old gold couch and how much I longed to see it redone, one day surprised me with an early birthday gift..the money to have it recovered!! I KNOW - seriously - WOAH!

I mean it was crazy, like I think I sort of feel like I know what it's like to win the lottery. Amazing. It took me months to decide because after all a white linen sofa with now three kids under the age of four would have been so stupid.

So I considered damask, velvet, a gorgeous orange brocade. But I just could not for the life of me get Rashidas sofa  out of my mind. And because there is a God who loves me :) one day I thought to myself - what about white leather? hm..too expensive...white pleather? Would it be gross? Could it be awesome?

Here she is:

I KNOW! Seriously if I could marry a couch. I.love.it! And we have had it since September and the vinyl is holding up great with the kids and the dog - even better! Spills and dirt for the most part wiped off with only a wet cloth!

A special thank you to Jeff and Jenny who saw my desperate heart and chose to fulfill an indulgence that without you guys I probably would never have known!

And if you live in the Seattle area and need the name of an amazing upholsterer, Denise Lingle is your girl. She spent hours tufting this vinyl couch and tirelessly added each one of those brass nail heads to make my vision come to life. Seriously email me if you want her info she is wonderful!