take a nice photo of it (black and white maybe?), frame that, and give the sofa away.

Let it go....Grandma would want you to. Once it's gone something much better will take it's place.

I had a very similar art deco sofa that I picked up at an antique store for $400. You may be able to get that for this sofa.

Don't be afraid to get rid of it. Your grandmother does not live inside the sofa, she lives in your heart.

to piggy back on my last post, lets say you can get this for $400 and pay $1000 to have it reupholstered - that is still a lot cheaper than new sofas that aren't built as well.

Sounds like the feeling of obligation outweighs the enjoyment. From the looks of it, it isn't MCM or THAT old & therefore, you're young & I'm much older. Think of it this way, grandma would be happy that you have something YOU'RE truly happy with. You've done your part (possessing it all the years) & your memories won't disappear once the sofa disappears.

Would it be more affordable to have upholstered in a fabric less expensive than mohair? If so, then go for it. If it is still out of financial reach then it is time to let it go. There is no point to holding on to a couch too uncomfortable to sit on, no matter how sentimental. If the sofa is truly shot and cannot be used unless reupholstered, then I see no harm in skinning it before you resell it, give it away, or put it in the alley. Cut some swaths of the fabric off of the cushions and use the fabric to cover decorative pillows on your next sofa.

If getting it re-upholstered is really out of the question, I would just cover it with a sheet or two and stick it in the attic. If you don't have room or don't like to store something of that size when it's not in use and want to give it away, I think Austin&Foster's suggestion of taking a nice photo of it would be a good idea. Since it has sentimental value, a photo might not be the real thing, but at least it's something.

I like @AUSTIN & FOSTER 's idea. Take a photo, then just let it go.

If you are holding on to it for sentimental reasons only, let it go. If you love it, keep it until you can redo it. You will never find one as well made today. Have you considered taking a class and uphostering it yourself? I took a class 15 or so years ago, and it is really pretty easy. Go to one of those fabric stores that sells off price fabric and take the class. You could do it for a few hundred dollars and have the satisfaction of having done it yourself

ADORA said it beautifully: Don't be afraid to get rid of it. Your grandmother does not live inside the sofa, she lives in your heart.

@RMBNN, it isn't Mid Century Modern, it is Art Deco which was popular during the 20s and this sofa is probably that old.

For those who love Hollywood Regency, the period was definitely inspired by an earlier Golden Age of Hollywood during the 20s. Many of the old studios and Hollywood's downtown have beautiful Art Deco architecture.

My old art deco sofa was an ox blood red sofa that looked like it belonged in an old movie theater. Check this out:

http://www.antiquehelper.com/blog/antique-helper-express-auctions-instant-new-decor

I was recently sofa shopping and was totally shocked at how expensive and poorly made many sofas today are. It may well be more cost effective in the long run to restore this one and keep it forever. But, with these sentimental items, there always comes a time to decide once and for all to keep it or pitch it. If you don't think you'll be able to afford to restore it within the next year, it's time to let it go.

@Thorndale, do not skin this sofa or throw it away. This is a collectable and most antique stores will take this off your hands. See my other posts above.

I'm no expert, but agree with others - there is some value there. Send some pictures to your local high end antique dealer or consignment and see what they think. Many people here mention storing it, but do you even have an attic or basement where this is possible?

I really love the very first comment, how about a nice family (or just you!) photo on the couch, print in black and white, frame and hang on your wall. Such a lovely tribute.

Why not cut a swatch of the fabric and frame it? I have an old platform rocker that was my great grandfather's and after he died, my great grandmother had it upholstered in this hideous 70's burlap-like fabric. After she had her cataract surgery she saw the chair and exclaimed "how could you have let me choose such an ugly fabric!!?" She has long since passed away, but I still have the chair in storage. When I get the money together to have it reupholstered, I plan to frame a small piece of the ugly fabric to remember her by :)

If you want to let it go, then I love the photo idea. But if you really do want to keep it, I'm with P-. It might even be possible for you to retie the springs without recovering the sofa, depending on how it's put together (you'd have to take off the fabric underneath, but that's no big deal at all). If, like me, you can't afford an upholstery class there are tons of tutorials online, including this series over at design*sponge: http://www.designsponge.com/category/upholstery-basics

She says the springs are shot and that it's uncomfortable - this basically means that the only part that is structurally worth keeping is the frame.

It would cost an arm and a leg to replace the springs and reupholster. It's very possible that she's just not going to be able to renew it without spending more than twice the cost of a new sofa. And if she's keeping it for sentimental reasons and would truly like to renew the sofa, she's not going to care that its value has gone up or that antique stores would give her more money for it. It's a gorgeous frame, but it really needs to be completely redone inside and out for it to be functional.

Since the springs are shot and the sofa is uncomfortable, take a note from posters austin & foster and thorndale: take a photo; save some of the better upholstery to make throw pillows for your next sofa; and junk the thing. However, before you throw it out, try save up for a sofa that's screwed together and has 8 way hand tied springs. Staples and sinuous springs SUCK.

I found a 7 piece sectional at Costco a few weeks ago for about $1000 to replace the Klaussner sectional that my friend's teenager killed with his habit of plopping into seats - most of the staples pulled out, the wood frame cracked, and the sinuous springs helped to put tension on the wood in such a way that there was no way we could repair the thing. We'd only had it about a year when it broke - it was just after the warranty had expired, in any case. That piece of offal cost us about $1200 and that was during a "half price" sale!!

We kept it for another 2 while we scouted for a good replacement. Costco kept having right-chaise sectionals and we needed a left-chaise sectional. The one we got this year (ever try to rent a truck on a Saturday afternoon with no advance reservation??) has 7 independent pieces (2 corners, 3 armless chairs, and 2 ottomans) that we were able to configure just right.

As others have said, don't be too quick to discard it -- An old, well-made sofa, if reupholstered (which usually involves fixing the structural components as well as recovering), can last for decades. A $2000 couch from C&B or Pottery Barn will last 7-10 years max. The cheaper ones last won't last more than a few years.

don't do it! I once had the most gorgeous bright green silk shantung softa that was my grandmas. It was stored in my ex-boyfriend's basement and survived a big flood! Finally, when I moved into my first post college apartment, I convinced my dad (and the ex's dad) to awkwardly put it in a truck and move it to the city. Sadly, It did not fit in through the front door of the apartment. Firemen downstairs couldn't even get it in through the window:( Sadly, it died a slow death in our hallway until my landlord threatened eviction if we didn't move it. Now it is memorialized in this post on facebook https://www.facebook.com/notes/marisa-harary/anyone-need-a-couch/2222625137 but I will always regret not holding on to it! The green was brilliant!

What Ericat53 said.

I'm currently sitting in a deco club chair that we carted around for years until we were able to reupholster it properly; it is wonderfully comfy, and as time marches on, deco pieces are becoming rarer.

New mass-market sofas don't compare to the old ones; when you are finally able to have it reupholstered and fixed up, you will be so happy that you held on -- you will have something unique and very personal.

(mmm, I can see it in a beautiful blue velvet mohair now...!)

I think @adora gave the best advice.
This sofa is not going to get more beautiful or comfortable until it is restored.
Sounds to me like you won't be able to do that anytime soon but parting with it will give somebody else the opportunity to do so.

You might be able to do a temporary quick and dirty fix by putting plywood over the springs then adding new foam cushions and a slipcover. It could make it functional enough to live with until you can do the real restoration.

There are places that can print a photo on fabric. How about a pillow with old-sofa fabric on one side, and photo of the old sofa printed on the other?

Funny, only yesterday I picked up my grandmother's chair from the reupholsterer. Like you, I have been moving it around with me for 18 years, dreaming of reupholstering it. $600 later, I have a new chair (even though the chair is nowhere worth that price), and it was worth the wait. Your couch is AMAZING, and I think it is worth the $1000+ it will cost to restore it! I would not recommend getting rid of it. The springs can be easily fixed. Unless you buy another used couch, you will be spending at least $600 for a new couch that is nowhere near quality and beauty of your grandmother's couch. What if you put away some money every month and spent a year or two finding your favorite fabric and a quality upholsterer?

Agree with others, take a photo and then sell it. I think people should do this with most of the old family stuff. Unless you really love it and it suits your style, those old things can really weigh you down. I take pictures of family pieces and make them into a book. It's a great way to preserve the story about the pieces, which is what you really love about them anyway, the feelings you have when you see the photos. My family works on these projects together, then we all get copies of the book. We usually do the books for a special birthday or anniversary celebration.

Thanks everyone. Some really good suggestions. I have thought about learning upholstery, but I haven't been able to locate classes in Chicago. If anyone has info on that, would be greatly appreciated. Right now, I'm leaning towards putting it into storage. Yikes, that is just deciding not to decide isn't it?

http://www.chicagoupholsteryschool.com/

I know it's been said already, but... the memory isn't in the sofa; it's in you. Take a photo.

I think we take things too seriously - we think we own the things, but they end up ownign us. I find that "making the cut" (getting rid of the thing) is the hard part. Once it's gone, I don't miss it.

It's a SOFA. If you love it, keep it. If you don't -- don't. Don't let the emotional stories of random strangers here or anywhere make your decision for you. Nobody else has the right to determine what you are saddled with in your life -- just you.

(If the decision were taken out of your hands, and it was destroyed by vandals or in a fire -- would you feel devastated or relieved???)

@Sherrybinnh,
"right to determine what you are SADDLED with in your life," this sounds like the emotional story of a random stranger.

Don't put words into her mouth.

I'd hold on to it and get it reupholstered. Or, if not, give it away but it looks like a really awesome couch. Reupholstery is expensive but not as much as a new sofa... if your bent on the idea of mohair check out http://www.modern-fabrics.com/ they have a lot of discount fabrics from other upholstery jobs, you may be able to buy the fabric cheap, or something else that would work, and save for reupholstery, you'll be happy you did.

The other thing you could try, maybe you could take an upholstery class in your neighborhood and learn to tie springs. It's not hard, it's just time consuming, and you could try re do the couch yourself. It wouldn't be perfect but it would be possible.

Ok, first admission, it's easy to tell someone ELSE to get rid of something (done that with close family). It's harder 'n heck to do it yourself; I have, am will agonize over parting with some of the stupidest stuff!

Kate's (give her a hand for being good natured to the comments) idea of storing it crossed my mind too; out of sight for say, six months & then decide its fate.

I'd say, for the keepers, say, the next month, look for rough ideas of what fabric/look you'd like it to be; note the price per yard of fabric, then take ? a couple months & get a few up to date quotes on how much it will cost to re do. THEN, decide, after all these years, do you want that x amount of $ spent on it OR would you rather / need the $ to go elsewhere; maybe a more deco looking vintage sofa than grandma's (which I'm not convinced is, or is that much deco). Kate never did specify an age or good guess on the age of the sofa.

Whatever Kate does, GOOD for her & have no regrets. It's ridiculously tough to be the one who's considering ditching a family item (note, didn't say heirloom). It's also perfectly human & not wrong to maybe feel 'I don't really want this, but I also don't want someone else to have it'.

I still stand in the 'get rid' camp; find something vintage you'll like even better & you'll still have good memories. Storage, if not too $$ might be a good road to whatever answer fits best.

If you decide to reupholster see if you can find a trade school in your area that would do the job for the cost of materials as a project for their students to learn on. Or you can bring in your own choice of fabric for them to use. In my city there's such a school and I've seen some good results on pieces that friends had done. The down side (at least here) was a long waiting list of projects they had lined up.
As to the sofa itself, it's from the late 1930's or early 40's. I saw a lot of those when I was growing up in the 60's in the homes of older relatives and neighbors, also in movies of the period. When my friends and I were starting out in our own homes in the 70's and 80's we all went for this style as they were readily available and affordable then , very comfy and sturdy and solid as an Army tank. I had a sofa and club chair from a classmate's grandmother that were done in bright emerald green mohair velvet with down filled pillows. Try and afford that today! She had used for fifty years before passing it on to me and it was used and loved in my family for thirty more before it just finally gave out under hard use by my sister's grandchildren. I guess my point is that a piece like this is usually solid and stylish enough to warrant reupholstery. If you opt not to keep it and do it over at least put it out into the world in a shop or a sale where someone else who likes this down home version of Art Deco can have a chance at it since these aren't so easily found any more.
I enjoyed reading some of the ideas for preserving a memory of the piece, like photos or skinning some of the fabric. How about this? Take a cushion to a copy shop and make some color copies of the fabric and use it to mat around your photo. That way the fabric stays on the couch as long as anyone may need it to.

Also, if you and any other family appear in a photo it might be fun to see if you can find some vintage clothing of the 30's/40'sto wear and have the picture printed in b& w or sepia.

Watch a couple episodes of hoarders to steel your nerve, then take a picture of it and toss it. The couch is nothing compared with your memories of your grandma, so keep those close, and give the couch to the Goodwill.

@MSMARIS That is a great couch. I didn't even know it and I'm saddened by its loss. :(

Unless you love it, let it go. I've let go of family hand-me-downs that I don't truly enjoy and have never regretted it. On the other hand, when we bought our house it came with a sturdy mid-century sofa with beautiful lines that I absolutely adore. I won't be able to afford the reupholstery job for years - but I know I will love it, so I almost enjoy the wait.

Is that sofa even an antique? We have no idea if it was purchased in the 80's... which is what it looks like to me. Just because she says grandmother doesn't mean it's really old art deco.I'm just curious as that would help in deciding whether it was as keeper in terms of actual value or is it more sentimental.

I would probably be stuck on the "shoulds". I should get it appraised. I should try to sell it. I should get it reupholstered. And on and on... But the truth is, that depending on what else is going on in my life, it may not be reasonable for me to navigate any of that. We often don't consider our time, energy and effort when determining the cost of something, but they are our most valuable assets. If you know you really can't afford to do that (financially or otherwise) then it is ok to decide not to do any of that. Donate it to the Salvation Army if it makes you feel good to know that it is helping someone else. I would guess that your grandma gave it to you so that you would know she was thinking of you. Mission accomplished. Less about the couch, more about the gesture. It would be great if there is an old family photo with your grandma on the sofa that you could frame. Good memories.

If you really love the sofa, have it reupholstered. You may want to chose a less expensive (but just as nice) fabric to make it cost effective.

A good upholsterer can work wonders with the springs, batting and wood restoration.

In addition, you can have custom modifications done (a firmer or softer seat, higher arms, etc) to make the sofa perfectly comfortable for *your* ergonomic needs.

In the end, it could end up costing you the same, or less, than a new sofa and you end up with EXACTLY what you want.

I'm having a wingback recliner reupholstered now. It would've cost $400 if I'd gone with a mid-line fabric and just had the legs restored to the original. But I'm having the legs heavily modified and shortened, the arms are being raised, the back is getting extra lumbar support and I've chosen 5 different fabrics (including several sq feet of real leather) and added a custom throw pillow to the mix. It's costing me right around $1000, but it will be my perfect chair in color, design and comfort.

Totally worth it!