 |
Does that sound like something crazy or what?! How many of you were so excited about finding just the perfect sectional only to realize that once you got it home or lived with it a while, it was not the perfect seating choice after all? Pick me, pick me (as my husband always says when he has the answer), me!
I shopped for what seemed like forever for just the perfect sectional sofa. I imagined we would all be lounging around on it together in our jammies under blankets watching movies while eating popcorn.
The reality is, we do not own a microwave (I know it’s crazy) so there goes the popcorn. And then there is my husband’s recliner, which you can read about here. He’s not leaving his recliner to sit with all of us on that couch. No way. Can you see my lovely family movie night slowly slipping away?
And another thing, why does the size of the sectional seem to be twice the size you thought it would be? I measured, I swear! Okay so I know you want pictures so here you go.
This is my sectional before:
Awkward, right? This is comprised of a couch ( to the left), a single seat (middle), and the monster on the right is called a cuddle something or other. That’s the piece that is in big big trouble. It’s like we’re sitting in a circle.
Here’s a better view of what’s on the chopping block:
I chose the big awkward piece out of a book so I never saw how huge and awkward it was before it was brought into my living room. I chose it because my husband’s recliner had to stay and so for some reason I imagined this would work. ( I made my husband drive us to go get it on the only day it snowed that winter! It was like a blizzard. He thought I was crazy but he loves me.)
The only table that could work is something like what I have here and it’s totally dwarfed by the sectional. I really needed the middle to be a love seat to pull it off but there just wasn’t enough space.
Plus, in some of the following pics you can see that my fireplace is on an angle which also makes placement awkward. OK enough background, want to see what I did to it?
Warning: This is NOT a tutorial, nor do I reccomend this to anyone!! (Does that save me from any liability?!)!
I started pulling staples just to take a peek.
Phew, no springs!
About a thousand staples later
Break time! All that staple pullin made me hungry:)
No turning back now…my husband is going to kill me if this doesn’t work out!
That’s why I had to make him an accomplice.
Don’t you love how the rest of your house is destroyed during projects like this?!
I’m just going to have some more chocolate while you work on that for me, baby. I swear sometimes I think the only thing keeping me going is chocolate:)
Is this crazy or what? Who does this?!
I also had to cut the seat cushion. It looks like I cut it with those itty bitty scissors but I actually used a carving knife. It did the job just fine.
Are you ready to see how it turned out?
No more awkward angles!
Doesn’t it look like it was purchased this way?
It’s even pretty from the back. You would never know that half of it had been sawed off!
Are you as surprised as I was that it turned out so great? The old set up was so awkward. This is only 3 years old and I love how child-friendly this color is so I really didn’t want to get a new sofa. Now my problem is solved and I’m loving my sectional once again:)
Now do you want to see what’s hiding behind my sectional?
Brennan’s play area!
From the entrance, you don’t even know it’s there:)
Show me some comment love and let me know what you think!
XO
Linking up with:
|
Related posts:
I found this through Miss Mustard Seed’s link party and I was so excited to see that it IS possible to re-do a sectional. I bought one last summer and it’s still sitting in my basement because I have been terrified that I may have bitten off more than I can chew (and I eat a lot, so that means something!). If you have any hints, let me know and if you want to hop over to my blog to take a look at the monstrosity, I would love it!
Sorry, you probably want the post address, if you do feel inclined, just scroll down the page of endless projects and eventually you’ll find it!
http://theyellowbrickcottage.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-goals-for-2013-now-that-we-all-know.html
Yes it is! I was so over my set up and one day it just hit me…maybe I can take it apart! I figured if I ruined it, I could purchase a new piece from the collection since the store I bought from still sells it:) just take lots of pics so you can see how it goes back together.
I am impressed with your courage and resourcefulness! Nice work!
Thanks! I think I surprised myself with this one!
Wow!! It turned out great. What guts to make that first cut!!
Thanks! I was so relieved that it turned out!
It turned out amazing!
Thanks for checking it out!
I found you from Roadkill Rescue. What a big project, but what fabulous results. You did an amazing job.
Thanks Suesan!
Wow! I would have been too scared to do it, but it came out perfect!!
I was so over the awkward layout that I wasn’t thinking clearly lol. So glad it worked out though!
Wow! Found you on Roadkill Rescue. I was expecting a slipcover or something. You blew me away!!! It looks perfect!
Thanks Amanda, I am thrilled that it turned out so well!
Fabulous-this took guts!
Thanks Amy!
When we bought our home 10 years ago, the previous owners left their sectional – it had two recliners and a sleeper sofa. It was very, very heavy. It was also cheaply made and eventually everything moveable was stuck or broken. I didn’t want to cart the whole thing to the dump, so I gave it over to my teenage sons to take apart. What destructive fun they had and disgust at how poorly it was constructed. Anyway, we saved all wood and metal parts, zippers and stuffing and carted very little to the landfill.
Did you end up reusing the parts? I have a really hard time getting rid if things. I always think I’ll find a use for them eventually:)
That’s awesome! Way to make it work for your family! Having pulled out a million staples myself in the past I know exactly how hard that can be on your hands
You’re not kidding…ouch!
I am seriously impressed that you achieved this. I’ve had a look under my sofa to see if I could fix the arm rests which have collapsed. Suffice to say that instead of having your courage to continue and explore I put new staples back in the base and turn the sofa right side up. I would also love to say that POPCORN is NOT off the menu for your movie nights. I too do not have a microwave I use a trusty saucepan, olive oil, and corn kernals. Put a lid on and watch them pop. Much better for you that the pre-packaged microwave ones and takes the same amount of time.
I’ll have to try that! Honestly that’s the only thing I miss not having a microwave!
Wow, you were very brave to take this on! Awesome job! Found you through Roadkill Rescue!
DeDe@DesignedDecor
Thanks! I’m really happy it turned out as well as it did!
I plan projects like this all the time, in my head, mostly as I am falling asleep! Fantastic -clever of you to think of this!
I always do my blogging stuff at night before I go to bed so I always fall asleep thinking about new projects,too! We need to keep a notebook under our pillow just in case!
Wow I’m totally impressed. It turned out great!
What an ambitious project! I’m so impressed how it turned out. Seriously, it blows my mind how you were able to catch a vision for how to make this happen and then bring it to fruition. You are living up to your blog title, for sure! Way to go with this d.i.y.
(And thanks for your sweet comment on my blog the other day. Glad to have gotten the opportunity to visit your incredible blog as a result.)
Cheers,
Lauren
Thanks Lauren! I am thrilled at how it turned out…I took A LOT of pictures to help me along the way:)
I found a ton of good advice on your blog, thanks for putting that post together:)
Wow. What a brave person your are! I never even considered going to work on my ugly sectional but maybe I should. It looks fab and my favorite part are the toys on the side. Too precious.
Leslie (aka Gwen Moss)
Thanks, Leslie! If its already ugly you have nothing to lose, right?
Well, after picking my mouth up off the floor, I am now on the floor bowing down to you. This is just amazing and I applaud you for your courage to even attempt this. I would do this, but most people won’t so I am happy to see not only how awesome it came out but also how awesome you are to do this! Now, have some more chocolate…you deserve it. And, I am now going to follow you.
PS. I just put on my blog a small tufted stool that I transformed and it makes my piece look like a walk in the park.
Wow, turned out perfectly. Must have been all those candy bars…I can do most anything as long as I have chocolate! Tee Hee…really, so wonderful!!!
Visiting from Cow Girl Up!
Blessings,
Cindy
You have got to be the bravest soul on the planet! So glad it turned out perfect!!!
This really is a “wow” project…you did a wonderful, professional job of restyling the sectional into a piece that works for your family!
You are a brave, brave soul…and it turned out amazing!
How, did you get the fabric to go back so well?? Is that really the same piece of sectional? Simply creative and outstanding.
Nancy
Come for a visit sometime
http://wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com
This is absolutely GREAT! I have never seen a DIY project like this before. You did a wonderful job!
Wow! That is amazing! You crack me up too. I definitely need chocolate when DIY turns the house upside down!
Yes! Isn’t it amazing what a little chocolate can do to keep us going??
Hi, visiting from Shabby Creek Cottage. That is just the most awesome thing I have seen thus far since I’ve been looking at decorating and D-I-Y blogs (probably 3 years now). You didn’t explain but – how on earth did you figure out you’d be able to do that? I mean, like where to make the cuts — and did you have to take the feet of the end and attach them to the “new” smaller piece that was left over? And how did you reattach the upholstery and get it to look like factory-made when you put everything back together? My Gosh! And how long did it take? It seems like you did in in a relatively short time. My mind just boggles. I hope you win a prize in that contest you’re entering! You deserve it for sheer guts alone.
Wow, thanks Jan!! I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure it would work when I started. I saw that if I could cut off the extra angle and remove part of the front, I would have a piece the exact same size as the opposite end. I did not have to mess with the arm because it too was the same size as the opposite arm. I just had to remove the piece that was attached to it that made it longer on that side. I removed and reattached the feet. It did get really confusing at times and I constantly had to step back and assess what I was doing. I was able to use the existing upholstery tack strip to get the upholstery lined up nicely again. I took a TON of photos along the way so I would be able to see how it went back together! It functions so much better now. Hopefully I answered most if your questions, but feel free to ask me anything else. I’d be glad to answer:)
It took me three days to complete:)
Three days, wow! Well, I guess no guts, no glory. That is just one awesome DIY and you are ONE BRAVE WOMAN!
Three days including chasing a two year old:)
Wonderful job! That you managed this on only two chocolate bars AND while chasing a two year old is nothing short of a miracle. Well done!
I’d love if you’d come join my How To Tuesday link party, too.
http://housewifehowtos.com/link-party-2/how-to-tuesday-link-party-9/
I love when comments make me laugh! You should see what I can do with only 4 hours of sleep ha ha! Thanks for the invite,too!
Holy Shi* Balls Batman!
Omgggggggggg…you are one BRAVE momma and a talented one too *Obviously
WoW!! great friggin’ job!
I. LURV. IT!
Thanks! I’m glad I was able to evoke that sort if emotion ha ha:)
Holy cow, nice job! I can do that (and by that I mean eat lots of chocolate too)
Thanks for the laugh, Val:)
Wow!! You are either way braver or way crazier than I am
I can’t believe it turned out so well!
Thanks! A little bit of both, crazy and brave:)
Just found your blog. Sending you a link for someone that has done somthing similar. You two must be relatives! Teasing.
http://www.fourgenerationsoneroof.com/2012/04/diy-couch-before-and-after.html
Wow! She did a great job, thanks for sharing! Are you lolling to alter a sofa,too?