Classic, classic, classic in high quality fabric. In fact, let a professional do it, and start learning about upholstery on something you won't care if you mess up. Save the bold for pillows you can donate when today's bold fad passes. A quality piece of furniture deserves upholstery that you love today, tomorrow and years to come so that your own history becomes a part of its lore.

Yes, I sound a bit dour but few things are as delightful as aging with a beloved piece of furniture. I have a writing desk I've hauled everywhere since 1972. Got it for $27 at what we used to call a 'junk store' aka "antique store" ;-) It is my history now and I could not imagine being without it.

By the way, it could be a reproduction from the '70's but no matter, if it's really solid and well made, a reproduction can still become a heritage piece.

Really like this piece; good find! I agree with gooddog though, that this may be a bit challenging as a diy.

With upholstered furniture that is going to be in your life for, say, a decade, I would go with classic over bold. I think a really crazy bold choice is going to look dated at some point.

If you want to go bold, go bold with a vibrant solid that you LOVE and know you will love for years to come. This would look great in a bright green, pink or blue.

Personally, I'd go classic. If you plan to keep the piece for some time, it's the most versatile choice. Add bold accent pillows.

Either way... if the piece is well made (and by the way - what a find!!!) and you plan to keep it for some time, do consider having it professionally done (unless you are really good at DIY). Also...

Opt for quality fabric with a rich feel (whether classic or bold) to keep the settee looking as good as possible.

And... if you do choose to go bold, stick with bold colors or patterns that are not super trendy and will still look good in 5 or 10 years. (So yes, a "classic" bold) There are some bold choices that are never truly out of style.

I think it is possible to do both. Get a bold classic.

Designers Guild would be a good place to start.
http://www.designersguild.com/fabric-and-wallpaper-showroom/fabric/

I actually have a similar piece that I got from my mother when it had some funky, dingy material that I immediately had recovered professionally. While I like the idea of something bold, in the end I went with classic. that way you can move it around from room to room. I change the throw pillows when I want something different.

Classic, please. And serve it up with some throw pillows in bold patterns and colors.

I concur on the classic style, given the quality of the piece. Go bold and trendy on something not made as well so it won't be as big of a deal to be rid of it if need be. As to the other part, about reupholstering yourself, go for it! When else will you have the chance to produce something so nice from a small investment? Good luck!

Is there a budget limit? I would do a leather or linen. It will last forever and become more gorgeous, the more it is used.

As an example, here is one I drool over on a regular basis...
leather: http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/home-furniture/063053.jsp

linen: http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/home-furniture/063228.jsp

I want to know your choices too... just picked something like this, with a little more curves for FREE... would be great if your can give details too

Go for bold! It can take a classic piece of furniture from "nice" to WOW!

How about a classic texture, but in a modern color? A velvet (or something like it), in the popular apple or lime green? I'd hate to see you get something stodgy. Maybe check out the new fabric line by Nate Berkus at Calico Corners. He's got a modern twist on fabrics.

Classic.

Classic, upholstery weight linen, you can go with a bolder color if you like. And re-think the DIY, unless you've already done other pieces of furniture & REALLY understand how to stuff, re-tie, & make sure the fabric is cut precisely on grain. Or you could find an upholstery class (a traditional one, where they truly teach you the right way) & re-do it there.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure that seat cushion has at least a down wrapped foam cushion. A fully down cushion would be wonderful (but more expensive).

And go all out bold & trendy on a couple of pillows. Save the fun print for those.

I agree! Have a pro do it and I'd pick a chocolate mohair. I did a trade with a client for a beautiful mohair couch and i've never looked back, it looks luxe and holds up like iron.

Classic please. I'm thinking a high quality velvetene which will last for decades. There's already so much that's fabulous about this piece which a punchy fabric will just distract from.

Maybe a velvetene in a rich royal blue? (picking up from the color of the fabric you were considering)

I agree with classic, but I want to add an additional reasoning. I can only see a few background pieces, but if this picture was taken in your house, it looks to me like you have sort of a classic/country style going on. A bold, contemporary fabric like the one you've showed us in the picture of the gutted settee just doesn't look like it would complement the rest of the items in that photo.

I LOVE the blue key pattern! I really want to learn to re-upholster, too. Maybe you should get it appraised to make sure you aren't ruining a museum piece, but it looks like you already took it apart. If it isn't a museum piece that should be professionally restored, GO FOR IT! You will love what you make & you'll know how to change it if you start hating it.

bold classic

If the bottom photo is of your two fabric choices, they're both traditional choices. You won't go wrong with either one.

tough choice, would love to see it with a cool bold fabric or mohair, i even like whats on it now, and classic is always good..... but there are so many ways to make this look really cool... fun project... hope you will post after pics....

I concur with classic but gold color. Ala royal blue or crimson velvet. Good luck and have fun!

Agree with Gooddog

I would love to see it in some sort of velvet. There's a couch sort of the same classic style on Elementary that I just loooove. There are a few in Sherlock's Brownstone but it's the one against the wall under the steps. I tried to Google to no avail. Do the wood parts a little darker if need be.

If you don't mind doing it over again in a few years you could always go more trendy since you got a good deal on it. Have fun and please share the after!!!!

I say bold. Life is too short to always be taking the safe route.

If you want to go bold, go bold! I would follow your initial instincts, particularly if your personal style is more modern/funky/eclectic rather than traditional. Keep in mind that a bold fabric does not diminish the quality of the piece; it simply reflects your style preferences.

I have a Kittinger sofa I inherited from my grandmother that I reupholstered with a heavy fabric in a bold, modern pattern. A classic fabric would simply not have fit my home's aesthetic, but a classic sofa design with a modern print makes for a perfect statement piece.

Go bold. You won't regret it. There is something fabulous about having an unusual piece that really speaks to your style and mixing styles in decor is always fun. Having a piece that blends in isn't always the point.

I think Classic is the way to go. If you're looking to add something interesting to the look, perhaps a classic print in a bold modern color. Since you're inexperienced, I would recommend trying your hand on a few chairs before you tackle this piece. Great find and good luck!

www.facebook.com/ArtisanUpholsteryandDesign

I'm with the other posters, stick with classic. Classic doesn't mean drab though! You can still go with bright colors and patterns (I like jennysilentg's idea of royal blue) to keep it lively. Get creative with the accessories! But please, stay away from earth-toned tapestry or damask-style fabrics. It'll look outdated and dull.

I have done this in the past and used an animal print but in Navy and cream, so it made a huge impact on the overall look. It makes it much more interesting and more usable in different spaces.

Classic and simple fabric, rich texture. If you go with a bold color, tread carefully. Find a color you've loved all your life, or some bright color that never really goes out of style. Something you won't wince at in five or ten or twenty years.

while I like the blue key fabric, if you are getting it professionally done get something in a solid that will last and use the blue key for pillows or maybe a chair

Plain Linen! Something neutral, but lovely. And get feathers in the seat. Kooky fabrics only look good in editorials or somebody else's house. You'd get sick of something bold. I know I would.

pick something you love, dont back down from your first instinct because someone else says something is worth $x. were it me, i'd go with a cobalt blue solid [so much easier to work with than a pattern], and i'd silver leaf it, because, why not. but that's me. my .02 is dont spend a mint on professional upholstery, unless that was in your budget in the first place. congratulations on your steal.

Do what's going to make you happy, you're the one who has to live with it. And remember if you reupholstered it once, you can always do it again down the line if you need to.

Personally, I've gone the classic route before, because I wanted something that would last, be versatile, blah blah, whatever. I'm not classic, I'm bold. And It took wasting lots and lots of money on classic pieces and ultimately being unhappy with those choices for me to finally just go with what makes me happy every time I look at a piece of furniture, sit on it, etc.

I say go with your gut and your personal tastes. You are the one who will be looking at it and using it every day. Also, it's a piece of furniture, not a one-of-a-kind national treasure. You aren't beholden to keep it "close to original".

Love your idea for the cobalt and silver! It's a color combo I've been trying to figure out where to incorporate into my own space for a little while.

I would do what feels right to you. This is a piece of furniture that will be living in your space.

My first thought when I saw the settee is how amazing it would look in a Caitlin Wilson print. I think your favorite colorway of the Fleur Chinosie would be a perfect mix of classic and bold, and I have the feeling her stuff is your style based on that blue key print in the photo. Whatever you pick, it will look great! And like others said, you can always redo it down the line! Don't waste time and money on something "safe" that you don't love just because you think it would be better for the piece. It's yours now, have fun with it!

Classic upholstery in a very high-end fabric. Then you can make throw pillows or whatever of any bold thing you like. Best of both worlds.

'We had planned to cover it in some bold fabric to make a real statement piece, but now we are wondering...'
usually your first instinct is correct.
don't over think it.

Awesome find! I agree with the suggestion to go pro on the job. If you look around it doesn't have to be crazy expensive, and they will be able to make sure the piece is in good shape for the long haul. In my experience, upholstery starts looking shabby and dated after about 10 years, whatever you pick, so just choose whatever you like best, goes with your style, needs, and stage of life, and be ok with wanting to update it in 8-10 years. Don't worry about what you're going to like 20 years from now, there's no way of knowing. (But something that will obviously look ridiculous in 18 months is never worth the bother.)

You paid $50. You had something in mind. Stick with your plan. Have fun. Go bold. Don't let a piece of furniture tell you what to do with it. You have no obligation to an adopted sofa. There is no such thing as a "valuable" piece of furniture if you plan to use it -- if you treat it that way, then the next question is going to be, "how do I keep my dog off it?" or "how do I tell my guests that we only drink white wine in my apt?" or "is it possible to keep my furniture perfect while living my imperfect life?"

Redo it in a fabric that will make you smile -- don't let the piece dictact your decision. Me..I'd go for a Cheetah print!! :oD

Those photos of the sofas from Anthropologie, posted above, were what I visualized when first looking at the piece, or mohair, and the button back would add a lot of textural interest to that flat back. You can find chairs from the 30s and 40s for a dime a dozen with a similar feel to do up in bold. I could see the sofa in the bold fabric if you were going to paint the frame in bright white or a color for that trendy look.......but I think you'd regret it later, the wood has such a patina. And frankly, if that Greek key fabric is one of the choices, I think it's gawdawful for this piece, especially if the wood is left "as-is." Great find !

My instinct is to say classic, but agree with others that a bold classic could be just right. Maybe chinoiserie, toile, or a Napoleonic bee print in bold, rich colors?

Agreeing with the majority - go classic, and good quality, but choose a bolder color that will make you happy.

What a great deal you found!
I have used the modern material you show for curtains and receive rave reviews for all the time. Go with the choice of fabric that makes you joyful. Life is too short to worry about what your "style" will be 10 years down the road.

A suggestion though on doing the reupholsery job yourself: does the settee need any structural work? For example, if it is a high-end piece it will most likely have a spring system supported by a burlap weave. If the springs require replacing or resetting, you may want a professional to tackle it. The mid-to-lower range pieces typically don't have this structure. I took an upholstery class with a professional in NYC this past year and we created a spring-based bench. It required the use of professional tools (expensive if using for a one-time only project) and was labor intensive.

Best of luck on your project, can't wait to see the results! Cheers

Classic fabric doesnt mean it cant also be bold...just not cheap looking fabric on such a great classic style piece.

YES! Exactly. Have fun with it and enjoy it - if it's as well made as you say you can change it as your tastes change.

I recently went through the same dilemma. It was difficult because it was expensive to get the chairs recovered and pay for the fabric. I wanted to get something that I would love for a long time (Go Classic) but I didn't want to spend a lot of money on something that looked like I could have gotten it at any store (Go Wild). With many of the wild fabrics, I wasn't sure if I would still like them in a few years; however, I didn't want to pick a neutral tone that I could have gotten for less at a chain store. I picked a stripped fabric (John Robshaw --coral/blue strip) that was wild because of the colors but somewhat classic with the strips. I just got them on Wednesday this week and I love them.

I wouldn't let the quality of the furniture change what fabric I used. If you want bold, I say, go for it! But in all seriousness, you should consider how long you'll be happy with it. Personally, though, I'd be kicking myself if I went with something neutral for the sake of better quality. Fabric isn't permanent; neither is life.

Neo Traditional! the navy greek key is fantastic!

check out http://www.wildchairy.com/ for more neo traditional inspiration.

go bold, or go home :-)

My vote would be to leave it as is for a while, and live with it until you are SURE of which way you want to go. It is certainly not an eyesore as is; quite the contrary. You could use the interim time to experiment with throw pillows, throws, scarves, or whatever. Try different fabrics, textures, patterns, colors. That piece deserves some consideration. Are you sure it's a wise decision to attempt a DIY on a piece of that quality? Either way, good luck and congrats on scoring such a stunner.

Be strong, go bold!

Thanks everyone for the great input. The original blue key print we were going to use was acting like a new pair of jeans- the blue dye was smearing while making piping. We decided to go with a grey key print and make some funky pillows. I think the grey key will be a bold classic. As far as unanswered questions the seat cushion is pure down and the wood is stamped "Made in Italy" and there are definitely springs inside but they seem to be in great shape. My mom is a rather experienced quilter and I feel pretty confident in our upholstery abilities so we are going to attempt the DIY. I'll definitely submit our project to Before and After when its done! Thanks -Danielle