Good Questions: Help Me Recover This Sofa?

Hello AT,

Here you see my two upholstered living room pieces in a new apartment. While I still love the look of the 80's Italian sofa, the red (cotton damask) has got to go! The chair is covered in a fabric that has some sheen. I cannot afford the silk velvets I would like to use on the sofa. Any suggestions for a more affordable fabric?...

(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first.
Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to:
editor(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)
Link To All Good Questions

I cannot decide whether to go with a light or medium neutral, or a dark, silvery charcoal. Also, if I opt for the lighter color on the sofa, it would seem that the light chair would need to be recovered in a darker color. Btw, coffee table, wall color, rug are all tbd. Floor lamp goes elsewhere. Thinking of putting a Flos Parentesi behind sofa.

Thanks for your suggestions. Sheila

Comments (10)

I don't know about the couch, but I LOVE your chair. Do you mind telling me where you got it?

posted by natalucci on 2007-01-25 15:04:25

Room & Board offers a 65% Poly/ 35% Cotton Velvet called Valor in a bunch of colors. It runs about $30 per yd and is really nice. I especially like the Charcoal, which would work nicely w/ your current chair.

posted by Sagesse on 2007-01-25 15:06:53

natalucci beat me to it - I must know about your chair! It is gorgeous!

posted by Kate on 2007-01-25 15:27:10

If you're in NYC, check out: Mood Fabrics on 37th street for extraordinary designer fabrics for less--you might just happen upon an affordable velvet.
http://www.moodfabrics.com/indexFlash.html

posted by Karyn on 2007-01-25 16:00:29

Thanks for the compliments on the chair. Sorry to report
that is was just a lucky purchase almost ten years ago
at a vintage shop here in Philly. No markings.

I will definitely check out Mood.
Does anyone think mohair might be a good option?

posted by Sheila on 2007-01-25 16:46:42

I actually like the red sofa, though might like the red in a different fabric....

posted by Maureen on 2007-01-25 19:17:36

Why has the red cotton damask to go? It suits the style. Why not add some bold patterned cushions/pillows and a co-ordinating throw would look great over the square end of the sofa. Much cheaper than recovering.

posted by Di Overton on 2007-01-26 03:29:13

Thanks Di and Maureen. I bought the sofa almost twenty years ago.
I chose the red! However, it needs to be restuffed and the red
is now quite pink. A neutral would coexist much better
with the wood pieces (credenza, table) that are now placed near it.
Believe me, I have been on the fence about the recover/replace
issue for a few years already.

posted by Sheila on 2007-01-26 09:57:06

Sheila -
That left corner has such an interesting hump to it that the right corner doesn't have. This really doesn't answer your question, but I think yet another chair, but this time one with a similar hump as that end would be kind of great.

posted by Curtis on 2007-01-26 10:04:01

If you are in NY, on Fabric Row there are many shops with inexpensive fabrics. Consider mens suit fabrics. They are even great for comforter covers. Just a thought.

posted by June on 2007-01-26 12:27:19