Sofa Makeover And Some Tips

Happy Monday dear readers!! I am Excited to share my sofa makeover story with you all. 

Regular readers of my blog are very well aware that I was sick of my ugly looking sofa, especially of its brindled cushions/seats and boring look. I was quite desperate to give it a quick makeover and after lots of head-scratching, I decided to get the covers stitched for its cushions as this was the cost effective and easy way for quick sofa makeover.

Let me show you how boring it was earlier. I didn't like the dark tone of its seat and back cushions though I liked its teak wood finish a lot. It was really hard for me to style the sofa even with the prettiest cushions. That's why sofa makeover was the need of the hour. 

I went to the local market in search of the best fabric for my sofa. I wanted the fabric that fits my style and budget. I gravitate towards earthy/warm tones and that's why I chose gold honey colour for my sofa cushion covers and fabric I chose is poly chenille for its premium quality and elegant look.
The beautiful colour of the sofa cushion covers sets a perfect backdrop for throw pillows and knick-knacks placed on the coffee table.

How a small change can completely transform the look and feel of the place. If you are also looking for a quick sofa makeover, here are some tips for you:

• If your budget is less then changing cushion covers can do the trick. Having cushions in different sizes adds the dimension but if the cushions are in same size then choose cushion covers in different colours & patterns to make it more of a statement. Though there is no particular rule to decorate your space. Create several looks and go with the one that works best for you. 

• If you are bored of the same look of your sofa then it's time to change the upholstery and in turn, it will change the look of your place. If you have a wooden sofa with removable cushions/seats then get the covers stitched for the cushions the way I did. There are myriad of colours to choose from and fabric comes in various varieties too like chenille, polyester microsuede, velvet, soft linen, jute, spandex and many others. You can get 2-3 sets of sofa cushion covers in different colours and fabrics and change them when you are bored of the same look or wish to give a quick makeover to your place.

• Sometimes all you need is just a beautiful throw or a blanket to cover the seats of your sofa and it can totally transform the entire look of the place and let me ask, how much did you spend? 
• If the cushions of your sofa have become saggy and ruining the look of your living room then replace the stuffing to plump up your sofa. 

• With time, the wood loses its sheen and make the sofa look dull. If you have teak wood furniture then you relate to it very well. So after every 4-5 year, your wood furniture needs polishing and touch up. I too got all my furniture polished and added few more years to its life. 

Don't forget to style the coffee table and side table. I placed green votives and a brass trinket box at the one end of the coffee table and a red Anthropologie inspired planter in a sabai grass basket on the other end to balance the look. On the side table, I added lots of green to make the place look lively and placed Buddha figurine that exudes serenity. I placed an orange colour vase behind Buddha for a cohesive look as my cushions are orange too. 

Here is a complete look of my living room after the sofa makeover and I am totally in love with my sofa now. I hope you enjoyed reading about this sofa makeover and will take advantage of the tips I shared here. 

See you all soon with some new post or a new makeover story.  Have a lovely week ahead!!

Our New DIY Industrial Coffee Table

This post is a long time coming. I started this project with my brother and dad a few months ago and we finally finished before the holidays. I just haven't made time to take pictures and share with all of you. Some of you might remember that a coffee table was one of my 2014 Home Goals. We did finish in 2014..so I am making that count!

We have been living without a coffee table for our entire marriage. That is almost 10 years people! I really liked having an open space in front of our couch, but never realized what I was missing until this beauty came along.

Now we have a place for our drinks, snacks, feet....whatever! This table is so sturdy that we can literally stand on it to change a light bulb or dance the night away without worrying about the damage our hefty selves might cause.

My brother built the wood top out of reclaimed wood from an old pub in downtown Raleigh. He planed the wood and sanded it down to create a smooth surface.

My dad and I designed the metal base and welded the pieces together with heavy duty steel. I am working on a tutorial to share with all of you over the next couple of weeks. So stay tuned!

I added a few coats of clear polyurethane to bring out the color and knots in the wood and to give it a durable surface with no worries of water stains. I also sprayed the metal with a clear coating to protect it from rusting in our humid NC weather.

I absolutely love how the table came out. It really gives our living space some texture and life. I love combining different styles to create a space that I want to spend my time in.
So much meaning and hard work went into this piece. I can't wait to have it in the family for many many years. A HUGE thank you to my talented brother and father for helping me create a memorable piece. I loved spending time working on this with both of you!

Tuesday Treats #23 {Inspiration from around the web}

Hi All! Thanks so much for your sweet comments and emails about yesterday's post. It is good to have a balance when it comes to this thing called life!

Today I am back with a round up of some pretty fabulous inspiration and ideas from around the web. Hope you Enjoy!

***Please remember to pin from original sources! I have linked to all image sources below pictures!**

#1: Flower Arranging Made Easy
Love this quick and easy idea from Burlap and Lace. It will seriously change the way you place flowers in your vase from now on!

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#2: Tonic Living- Year of Change Sale
If you have never checked out Tonic Living's site, then you are missing out big time! I have ordered some fabulous fabric from them and for a limited time they are offering 10% off everything! That includes already made pillow covers and even custom orders. You won't be disappointed with their selection. Click on over and start saving till November 10th!

#3: Free Printables- Thankful Tags

I love Emily's idea on creating a thankful tree. It would be a great family activity where each family member has to write something they are thankful for each night during November. I think I am going to implement this in our home. Take a look at her adorable tags. You can sign up for her archive and get so many free printables throughout the year!

Source & Free Download HERE. 

#4: Black, White & Bold Living room

Do you follow Kristen from The Hunted Interior? She is absolutely amazing at how she can transform a room on a budget. She recently revealed her fabulous living room and I am in love. So many colors and textures. My eyes literally bounce from one thing to the next. To see the full room reveal make sure you stop by HERE. 

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#5: Black and White Pillow Sources

Sherry pulled together a great round up of black and white pillow covers from Etsy! If you are as much of a pillow snob as I... you might like to check out some great sources from Etsy. I love supporting Etsy artists! Click on over to Sherry's post HERE for a full list! 

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Hope you all are having a wonderful Tuesday! Stop on by tomorrow for a HUGE surprise!!

XOXO

Client Project Update {The power of paint}

Hi All! Hope you are having a great week. I am so ready for Friday...how about you?

I have been working with a few clients both local and via e-design and wanted to share with you all about what I am doing on these projects. I have enjoyed working and creating spaces I know my clients are going to enjoy for a long time.

Today I am giving you just a little peek into one of my local client projects. Donna contacted me about a month ago for a paint consultation for both her front living room and large family room. She wanted to brighten up both spaces and create a more relax feel.{sorry for the quality of my phone pictures! That's all I had with me}

Family Room Before:

Living Room Before:

As you can see both rooms have fantastic features and pieces. They both just needed a little paint and some accessorizing. That's the fun part!

My clients really fell in love with Restoration Hardware's line of paint colors for the family room. I originally recommended either Glacier or Silver Sage. I thought both colors were great neutrals but would give a bit of a relaxed feel to the space and allow them to choose punches of color in accessories. I left my samples with the family to decide. They called and decided that they wanted more of an impact and to really make a statement on the walls.

They decided on Light Silver Sage. I am so glad they did. It really feels like a soothing room that you want to escape to. They have large windows that look out onto their hardscape and pool area. This blue/green/gray really reflects some of the colors just outside their windows. I also love how the color changes throughout the day. It really is gorgeous in person!

The color on the wall really pulls out the colors in the rug as well. This room is starting to come to life!

Now onto the front living room. I shared the picture below with my clients and they automatically fell in love with the idea of adding a pop of color to the built-ins rather than painting all of the walls.

The paint on the back of the shelves is Wythe Blue by Benjamin Moore. When I shared the sample with them, they thought it might be a bit too dark for the space. So they decided on the color above Wythe Blue called Chesapeake Blue.

Boy did that color make an impact in that small space!

Now we are on to finding some lamps, pillows, throws, artwork and of course tackling the built-ins with some stylish accessories. Stay Tuned! Can't wait to share more progress.

And I couldn't leave you without a couple Before & Progress Pictures...

Fabulous Feature Friday {Charming in Charlotte}

YAHOO! Happy Friday everyone! I know I am pumped for the weekend, how about you? I am looking forward to spending some time outdoors with my family.

Today's Friday Feature is the lovely Mallory from Charming in Charlotte. She also attended the Haven conference a couple of weeks ago. If you don't follow her blog, hop on over and take a look. She has great ideas for the home as well as fashion posts you won't want to miss.

Enjoy the tour!

How adorable is this nursery? Love the idea of using an old frame around a monogram!

Hope you enjoyed Mallory's home tour. She is the queen of DIY and has completed many projects on her own in each space. Please check out more of her home tour HERE and start following up to date projects HERE.

Have a fabulous Friday my friends!

Tuesday Treats #17 {Inspiration from around the web}

Hello Hello! Your comments were very thoughtful yesterday. Thank you all for letting me share a bit of everyday life on this blog as well as decorating and DIY inspiration. I mean...where would life be without our families and those special weekends away? Am I right?

Today I have another round up of fabulous ideas from around the web. I love sharing what I find and I hope you enjoy this series as much as I do.

#1: Frozen Watermelon Popsicles 
How great do these look? I can see these being a hit at a party or something easy for the kids to munch on in the hot summer weather. All you need is watermelon and Popsicle sticks! Recipe Here.

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#2: Summer Entertaining Inspiration (by Ikea)

We all love a good summer cookout with friends and family.. don't we? How about this fabulous outdoor party space with tons of great inspiration-- from Ikea, non the less!! Those umbrellas make me smile and want to sip some sweet tea. Most of the products can be found at Ikea. More pictures and sources Here.

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#3: Bed, Bath & Beyond Coupons

So my friend Dina from the blog Honey & Fitz just wrote about how you can use your 20% off coupons for some fabulous online products from Bed, Bath & Beyond. We all have a bunch hanging around our house, but never have the chance to use them on something great and grand. Well there are SO MANY great items online that they don't carry in the store. Check out Dina's whole post: 20 Things to use your 20% off coupons on! You will be shocked at what Bed Bath & Beyond actually carry online. Below are only a few amazing items!!

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#4: Why Lighting Matters

I recently came across this article written by Centsational Girl. It talks about why lighting is important in your homes. Whether you are ready to splurge on something grand or you find a fun chandelier at Goodwill, lighting can make or break the look of your room. 

Here is what Kate says about lighting: Great lighting is like the jewelry that makes a fabulous outfit. Your lamps, chandeliers, and sconces are an opportunity to set the style of a space, to add a layer of texture (think industrial or woven shades), or to play the role of the unexpected element. Think of crystal chandeliers in a contemporary space, a minimalist modern fixture in a more traditional room, or an industrial cage pendant in a cottage dining room.

Click HERE to read the full article as well as see some lighting sources.




#5: Gorgeous Traditional Living room with a Twist
And since I can't leave you all without some fabulous decor inspiration, I found this lovely living room designed by Shea McGee. It has many traditional elements infused with some industrial and modern touches. It is the perfect combination of classy and comfortable.

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So what about all of you...any great inspiration I should know about?

Have a fabulous Tuesday friends!

Fabulous Feature Friday {Amy Butler Design}

It's Friday my sweet friends! Time for the weekend and what a better way to get this party started than to share Amy Butler's gorgeous home with all of you today. 

I fell in love with Amy Butler years ago when my mother in law introduced me to her sewing patterns and fabric. She designs patterns for the everyday sewer as well as gorgeous fabric with bright bold patterns and colors. I have made many of her patterns in the past few years. Little did I know that she also has an amazing eye for design and making her house a home. I am so excited to share Amy's house tour today!

Her home is what you call a mid-century style. She has kept that feel throughout her home but has added the edge of mixing vintage finds with mid-century furniture. You will also see this popular Ikea light sprayed gold in her living room. So she has quite the mix of new and old as well as a few of her own fabric pieces throughout the house. I hope you enjoy this fabulous home tour!

"Beauty is in the way you live. Enjoy your surroundings. Let them inspire you. Follow your own path, and approach everything you do with love in your heart." ~ Amy Butler




Doesn't her home just seem so restful? I love the airy feel of the home and the mix of textures she adds to each space. She is also quite the gardener and you can see a full tour of her garden HERE. For more pictures of her home click HERE and more pics of her studio click HERE.

Have any of you ever tackled one of her patterns or used her fabric in your own home?

Have a fabulous weekend my friends! xoxo