I think this goes down in the record books as our first ever video reader redesign submission (though the transformation is just as fantastic in photo form). So if you haven’t already seen this time lapse of Susan’s couch upholstery makeover then you’ve just gotta check it out:
I’m a long admirer of your blog and work! Recently my husband and I reupholstered our 8 1/2 foot long couch. The couch itself has 8 way hand tied springs and really good wood. We changed the shape to fit our taste a little better. And we shot a time lapse video of the entire thing! It was taken over 9 days of a two hour upholstery class. – Susan at Freshly Picked
Here’s what it looked like before:
And after:
We’re not sure whether to be amazed or exhausted, Susan! The final result is stunning – and we can’t believe how much work it looks like it required! It’s so cool that you got to learn how to do it as part of a class. What do you guys at home think? Anyone else tempted to take on a major reupholstering project like this? Or sign up for a class near you? We’re definitely wondering if they have something similar here in Richmond…
WOW!! What an amazing transformation! Great work Susan!!
That looks fantastic! I vote for “exhausted”.
If our dogs didn’t love the one chair in our house that needs to be recovered I’d try it!
GOOD LORD! Now I know why it costs so much for custom upholstery… NEVER could I tackle such a project. but woohoo for Susan…
I would LOVE to be able to reupholster my couch and love seat with a fun & funky vibe similar to this http://judysturman.typepad.com/in_his_grip/2010/07/goodwill-sofa-made-fabulous.html
This gave me inspiration and hope that I can do it!
That looks amazing!! I really like the tufted buttons and the color of the fabric. I’ve wanted to learn how to sew and upholster but I don’t know where to start. This makes it seem so worth it though!
Check out your local community college for a class. In Wilson, NC the upholstery class is the first to fill in the continuing ed department each quarter.
Amazing!!! Amazing that they were able to do that and the couch looks amazing!
That is amazing! It makes me wish I would have held onto my grandma’s old sofa…
Wow, I love this! What a transformation..And it looks like it took a lot of hard work! Great job!
That was AWESOME! I loved the music too!
Wow! I’ve toyed with the idea of reupholstering a small chair. It sure looks like a lot of work. My favorite styling is the addition of the fun pillows – so cute!
That’s awesome. Mu husband and I bought a house in the Church Hill area, which we have been renovating all summer. I was wondering where a good place to get my craigslist dining room chairs redone… any suggestions would be appreciated.
Hey Katarina,
We love William’s & Sherrill (a local fabric place) where you can go to get reupholstery recommendations. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Wow! That is WAY COOL. And I love the music.
It reminds me of a couch I admire at Room & Board. I love the color and the tufting. I cannot, literally cannot even begin to imagine doing such a huge project myself. Kudos to these folks!
There are definitely upholstery classes in Richmond, my mom has taken a few (and produced quite a number of cool pieces) through Henrico County Rec/furthering education. I think Chesterfield County offers classes as well.
Hey Jillian,
Sweet! Thanks for the info!
xo,
s
Wow! That wasn’t just reupholstery, it was a total gut job! OR an extreme makeover: sofa edition! Awesome. And I love time lapse. ;)
The couch looks amazing! I have to know who that singer was! Does anyone know?
Wow – that looks fantastic!
Wow – that looked like a lot of work! My favorite part was the little girl jumping on the pillows at the end. :)
I love the new couch! And I especially enjoyed the video. How fun.
YHL, I don’t comment to you very often, but you are one of my favorite blogs to read. My heart skips a beat each time you make a new post! Love it!
Allison @ House of Hepworths
Aw thanks Allison! We so appreciate the kind words.
xo,
s
looks great!
I always thought it would be so fun to learn how to reupholster furniture, but after seeing how much work that was… I don’t know!!
WOW! That is great!
OMG – that video was amazing! My favorite part was clearly when the little girl started jumping on the cushions. Nice job on the sofa, it turned out great!
WOW!! Really?! That’s amazing! WOW.
It’s been confirmed. Reupholstery is an insanely involved biz. Much respect for anyone that takes it on! Love the video. The music was really fun. Cheers!
That was so fun to watch! Great music too. And don’t you just wish you could hit the fast forward button in real life accomplish such a big job a short amount of time?!
that would be a class well worth taking! you could save thousands, what an amazing skill set to have!
The music is “Via Con Me” – By: Paolo Conte
way to go, that’s a charming ‘after’…time lapse videos like this are so much fun to watch!
i also had a smile at Jillian’s comment about upholstery classes in Chesterfield county…in Canada, ‘chesterfield’ is a (somewhat old-fashioned) term that we used to refer to a couch or sofa–made me think of home :)
Wow! It looks like a totally different couch. Amazing job!!
( .)(. ) OMGoodness! What an amazing job. I echo a previous poster — now I know why custom jobs cost so much! Congratulations and thanks to Sherry for posting.
First time poster — love your blog, dear John and Sherry! I want to buy my own house now so I can have all this fun.
I’ve so been wanting to learn to reupholster furniture because a few of our pieces need a makeover – but after watching the video, I feel a little overwhelmed! They did such a great job, it looks gorgeous.
Amanda – I just Shazammed the song and it’s “Via Con Me” by Paolo Conte. I really like it too!
HOLY CANNOLI! What a task… but there is no denying, the end result is positively breath-taking. Thanks for sharing, guys! ;-)
yay! that was fun!
fyi they have these classes at our community college in Pittsburgh, so chances are they have them at yours!
I’m a new follower to your blog (apparently, I’ve been living under a rock…) and I have to say I love everything about it! I love how you are smart, frugal, and most of all, you share your knowledge and how-to with others. Thank you!
And this couch makeover? Brilliant! Susan and helpers should be very proud.
I especially love the pillows. Hilarious!
Inspired by their vision for sure!
Totally intimated by the work and after watching that, I am totally happy to pay for someone else to do the work.
Trust me, it would look like a blind in one eye and can’t see out of the other, armless muppet did the work if I did it!!
Thanks Sarah! : )
http://www.henrico.k12.va.us/adulteducation/2010WinterSpring.pdf
That’s the link to Henricos fall classes. I haven’t looked into the this season buy they do usually offer reupholstery classes!
Thanks so much Chloe!
xo,
s
A friend of mine told me she was taking a class at Marie Antoinette’s on Seminary Avenue. I just looked it up and they have classes in upholstery and other decorating projects starting up soon!
http://draperiesdecor.com
Wahoo! Thanks for the lead Donna!
xo,
s
WOWOWOWOW!! That’s freaking amazing & wonderful! Plus I loooooooove the after pillows, it just makes it all that much more wonderful!!
Pure. Inspiration. Wowzers!
I need NEEEED those couch pillows!!! Please tell us where they are from, too cute!!!!
Wohhh! That looks like it took an incredible amount of work and time. Great job! I’m really impressed that you took on such a difficult project.
I love the idea of upholstery classes, I’m definitely going to look into that sort of thing in my area too.
And I love that song… it always reminds me of French Kiss.
That looks great–hard to believe it’s the same piece of furniture! My husband and I tackled our first reupholstery job a couple months ago and I recently detailed some tips about it on my very new blog:
http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2010/08/chair-in-striped-pajamas.html
It was a TON of work, but worth it–and I guess we didn’t get too frustrated with it, because we recently dismantled our hand-me-down couch to reupholster that, too…:)
I absolutely love this video. It’s amazing.
Oh, and the finished couch isn’t too shabby either! :)
My friend Sarah Grinter teaches a great, affordable class in Chesterfield County. She also has a woodworking and upholstery shop in Fulton Hill in a revamped former gas station. She’s an awesome teacher!!
Here’s the info:
http://chesterfield.k12.va.us/ccps/instruction/adult_ed/files/Course_catalog.pdf
Thanks so much for the link Jarman!
xo,
s
Fantastic!! She is SO talented.