apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

i would use a beautiful and simple wheat-colored linen

Amy Butler Fabric! (but it is kind of costly)

http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/products/fabrics_display.php?fabric=midwest-modern&cid=32&flid=12

I do love RonnieCT's suggestion on the wheat colored linen. It was the first thing that came to my mind as well. However, maybe you could try getting a fabric from Repotdepot.com backed so that it could be used for upholstery. They have some great 60's & 70's inspired florals.

Definitely check out reprodepot.com they have tons of that big 60's / 70's flower design fabric and at reasonable prices.
Good luck!

This one is similar to what's on the couch now, but I'm not sure if it would work for upholstery.

http://www.contemporarycloth.com/cgi-bin/Store/store.cgi?cart_id=9906802.22635.s0&product=City_Girl&productid=178&sales=0&lastmenu=submenu-1000.html

I wouldn't go for a big loud print I think you should let the lines and shape of the sofa speak for itself (it's gorgeous!)...I'd do a nice neutral ultra-suede fabric and get bold accent cushions that you could swith out as your heart desires.

Check out these flicker photos from "SoSylvie"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sosylvie/2085113673/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sosylvie/1663619246/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sosylvie/1556157191/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sosylvie/1445836102/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sosylvie/501369306/

Are only the seat cushions ripped? A very Euro option is to recover the seat a different - but coordinated -- fabric from the arms and backing. You see that all the time in old French and English country houses.

...actually, on second thought a nice flower/print would look nice but I wouldn't go to large scale.

What a gorgeous piece! Are you recovering it yourself? if so, i hope you take lots of pic and post a how-to.

Great sofa! Is the wood still wood, or is it painted? Please post when you complete it!

And good news, those hand-sketched looking florals are super hot this season.

Also a great many quilting stores now carry modern fabric. Which could work if you're pet free and scotchguard it well.

I heart these guys for retro-look prints.

forgot the link, sorry!
http://www.jcarolinecreative.com/
i just bought a bunch of fabric for summer dresses here.

I found this green parakeet fabric but it is on clearance for 10 bucks a yard. I think there is 10 yards left? It is funky and sort of the thing that when you see it you think..love it or hate it. It is a spring green with yellow birds. Each bird is about 2 1/2 inches. I think it has the sort of 60-70's feel but in a more modern way. I can post a link the the photo...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25450761@N06/2396694382/

I would try Unika Vaev.
http://www.unikavaev.com/
I used their fabric to cover several pieces, and I find it to be of absolute fantastic quality and lots of beautiful designs. You can find fabric on sale for $15 a yard, which is a steal, considering that most of it is usually about $60 or more.

It totally depends on the rest of the room, and how true to it you want to stay, or whether you want an updated look.

I'd also have the upholsterer do a tight but tufted back instead of the three back cushions, either with or without a single long lumbar pillow or round bolster. It will make it more modern.

But check Calico Corners.

I recently reupholstered a similar sofa, with a simple blue velvet and a white high gloss finish, and I love it!

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/fall-colors-2007-midwest/16-laurens-color-tells-a-story-034114

I like the large floral print, personally. But I'm a little partial to the 70s florals.

If you are in LA, F&S Fabrics has a few home decor stores just across the street from their fashion/quilting fabrics store. The home decor stores have great selections but are a little steep price-wise. They also have a clearance store for home decor fabrics. It's hit or miss as far as selection is concerned, but if you're not in a huge rush, you could just check in every week or so and see if they have something new that fits what you are looking for. The clearance store is the big blue (really bright cobalt blue, you can't miss it) store on Pico Boulevard just east of Overland (I think? It's just past the Westside Pavillion on Pico). Good luck and be sure to post pics with the new fabric! The sofa has such great lines, I'm sure it will look great no matter which style of fabric you choose!

Since it's time for new fabric, how about trying something new? There are so many fabrics out there, that could really change the look and feel of the sofa.

With a similar blue and green, but a new pattern, how about this:
http://warehousefabricsinc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WFI&Product_Code=PAYCHL&Category_Code=paisley-fabric

I just love the curves in that sofa. It would be nice to have something smooth feeling, the above is a sturdy cotton duck material. And to have something extra squishy to sit on. Like down topped foam.

This could be nice, Somerset Botanicals:
http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/catalog_itemdetail.aspx?ItmID=U7357

Perhaps adding in some loose throw pillows in the solid Trinidad and the Serene Stripe in the Mist colorways too.

Browse those sites. Look at prices, materials, textures, colors, patterns. You can be creative, doing the outside portions of the sofa in a stripe or solid with the inside in a floral. You know?

PTOO, i totally agree about changing the back cushion.

also, I'd paint the wood trim black or white...

what a gorge couch!

How fortunate you are to have come by such an incredibly stunning piece! Looks like you already have a ton of great advice on the fabric, so I just wanted to say I hope you'll post a picture here of the completed project - love to see it when you're finished! Good luck!

love this piece! I remember seeing a photo of an amazing sofa in Home Cheap Home that is a similar style that was upholstered in bright red and the wood painted light blue. You can see a photo of it here: http://www.amazon.ca/Budget-Living-Home-Cheap/dp/0399529683

EBAY. there are some great vendors of fabrics at really great prices. type search by fabric makers (fortuny, scalamandre, etc.) or by fabric (mohair, linen) or by pattern (stripe, floral). add color and words to decrease your hits.

it's best if you've visited a good fabric store first to touch the goods and compare.

ask how color true the photos are and on return policy. i bought ten yards of a great sina pearson stripe, bounce, for $56.00 including shipping. it lists for $89.00 a yard. i've also bought really expensive remnants ($250/yard and up) for pillows and seat covers for $20-30.

good luck.

My first thought was Amy Butler fabric too. She does some great stuff is a very similar palette. And it's not really expensive.

Check with your upholsterer too before you buy - if you pick a floral pattern with a large repeat you might need wayyy more than 10 yards to have it match! I'd go for a solid, or a really nice washed down stripe.

Downtown LA fabric district is great for cheap fabrice of all kinds.
Don't know what kind of budget you are on, but if you are willing to spend about 5 hours downtown ,you can most definitely find something.
I usually make it a two day affair as it is overwhelming and exhausting!

I take one day to maniacally run through the shops , take notes and addresses,and then make another trip to reassess and make purchases.

I have found amazing stuff there ,it just takes a little time and energy,and not to mention RESTRAINT.

Ebay has great fabric, and Ebay UK, even more. I'd look for a classic Liberty print, like the Peacock feather design or else a linen velvet, in an unexpected color.

Michaels downtown is also a good source.

I agree with Palmetto - Michael Levine has a great selection and is very reasonable. I would do a solid color for the seat, arms and back then use a printed fabric on one side of the 3 back cusions. Its a beautiful sofa - great lines, please post a pic when its finished.

I'm not a big fan of a giant 70's floral, but while you're about updating the piece, why not go ahead and pickle the dark wood frame? You don't even need to strip the wood completely bare for it to work, just wire brush the dark stain enough to expose most of the wood and then go over it with pickling stain or white wax. The dark bits remaining the the crevices will bring out the character of the carvings.

As for fabric, I'd choose natural flax-coloured Belgian linen that you can get at art supply stores - the medium grade should be quite well-priced and sturdy. What about nickel tacks instead of gimp? Then go crazy with floral toss cushions.

Aaaack! I LOVE THAT SOFA. Dearie me, if I could find such a sofa, I would snatch it up in a heartbeat!!

I like the idea of natural linen, but the cushions will look a little rumpled after any time sitting on them. I personally don't mind the rumpled look, especially on an old couch like this (reminds me of the Louis XIV chairs I'd see at the Marche aux Puces in Paris). Ok, craigslist, deliver me a vintage sofa!!

Hi-Poster here...Thank you AT and all you readers so much for all the comments!! I'm so happy to see other people like the piece as much as we do.

Just to answer a couple questions; the wood is stained dark brown, that's original to the piece. Not sure if we would want to paint it. White looks nice but I think would look dated very quickly.

There are some great links here. I too, thought of Amy Butler but even it might be too mod. I'm loving the suggestions about blue velvet. Mom has cats, which isn't the best mix but she could put a blanket down. Linen is nice too but as someone else mentioned, it might wrinkle too much.

Wasn't considering changing up the cushions but that's something to think about.

I am in LA so I will try F&S; haven't looked there yet, just looked at Calico Corners and Diamond so far. Downtown is very overwhelming, I've never found anything good down there-maybe I'm looking in the wrong places. I remember one upholstery shop that had a nice showroom and reasonable prices, a block north of Michael Levine's I think.

True Blue- I really like that Paisley you found!

I'll post a follow up when the job is done. Will be a few months. Thanks again so much to everyone who responded!!