I showed you here how I cheated my tufts on the headboard. When I got this settee at an estate sale for $50, I knew my cheating method was out of the question.
This settee needed the real deal, diamond tufting. That is something I didn’t want to tackle. I knew I was going to have to send her out to be professionally upholstered. But first the finish needed to be changed, which was right up my alley. Once I ordered my fabrics from Calico Corners,
Robert Allen Showtime Velvet in Steel
I made the decision to gold leaf the frame. Have you ever gold leafed anything before? It is messy to say the least. I pulled off the old grungy cording so that I could get the leaf around the whole frame. Then I gathered my supplies
The raw umber acrylic paint in a tube is my NEW go to for glazing. You just put a dab of it on a paper plate, add a bit of water and you have a glaze. The acrylic in a tube is thicker than the regular acrylic paint, so you can make it as thick or thin as you want.
This site has wonderful video tutorials on gold leafing that are easy to understand and follow Gilded Planet.com They explain how to gold leaf way better than I could, and not to mention it is a video so you can pause and rewind if you don’t understand a step.
I left the brown finish as is, but wiped it down with TSP to clean off the years of grime. I wanted an old world look to the finish, and by leaving the brown undercoat, it allowed slivers of brown to show where the gold leaf wasn’t perfectly overlapping.
This came in especially handy when I got to the deep crevices of the ornate areas that I couldn’t get the gold leaf applied, the exposed brown undercoat gave it an antiqued look.
It is a must to put down some type of drop cloth, the gold leaf gets everywhere! One of the tricks I use when I gold leaf, is to cut the square packet into smaller sections. You can see in the picture below, my cut gold leaf sheets next to the scissors. It makes your gold leaf paper go further because you have less waste, and it makes it easier to apply in narrow areas.
Once I got my gold leaf finished and the sealer applied, I took my fabric and settee to the upholster. It took two weeks and $565 in new seat cushions and labor to get her done, but oh so worth it. It was love at first sight when I picked her up. The gold leafing was the perfect addition to compliment the grey.
This settee goes out to our river house, to be put in the “fun” room. so for now it is residing in our garage until I can make the trip out there.
I used the dijon fabric on the outside perimeter of the settee. Just to give it a little pizazz. {it looks cream in these pictures, but it is more of a mustard color} Isn’t the diamond tufting to die for? That is why I used a professional. Mine would of never came out that good!
If you remember, I had almost purchased this Target Settee for $249
Target was having shipping issues getting the settee to me, so I had to cancel the order. I think it was a blessing in disguise. Even though reupholstering the estate sale settee was more expensive, I think it was well worth it don’t you?
I am sharing all of her tufted beauty at these wonderful link parties
Catch as Catch Can at My Repurposed Life
Air your laundry at Freckled Laundry
Saturday Seven at Positively Splendid
Twigg Studios Sunday Showoff Party
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Stunning!!! I’m sure you’ll love this for many years to come.
Nikki @ the ambitious procrastinator
THAT’s the kind of stuff you have at your river house? Must be a glam place! The settee is plushy gorgeousness, and was definitely a much better choice than the Target version.
Wow! Love this project. Such a better option than the Target settee.
Wow what a beautiful sofa its gorgeous i would love it if you have the time, to pop over and link it up at http://www.twiggstudios.com/2012/03/sunday-show-off-party-6-come-and-link.html?m=1
the head board is beautiful to xxx
Wow. That’s all I can say. The diamond tufting is perfect, the contrast colors are so fun…and the gilding! I was hoping you’d get that Target one just so I could get your opinion of the quality. What you ended up with is far and beyond better, however. :)
Stephanie–your settee is beautiful! You did a fabulous job with the gold leaf, and I love, love, love the fabric. (gray) I have to admit I don’t love the mustard fabric. I’m just not much of a fan of gold/mustard. Keepin’ it real. :)
Your settee will be perfect for your fun room at the river house. When you visit it, you’ll smile every time you see it.
Thanks so much for sharing at Catch as Catch Can.
gail
Oh my this is so gorgeous!!! You can’t find a couch like this for what you have in it so it is still a great deal money wise not to mention the gorgeous appeal this will make in your room!
Just like everyone else stated….this is beautiful! So much more prettier than Target’s settee.
Mandy
So beautiful! I am obsessed with Hollywood Regency and this is so my style. I am now going to be giving those ugly looking settees I see a second look. =)
i love love love this! I just want to write LOVE a 100 times in this comment box, is that OK? I acquired a french sofa last summer for FREE, diamond tufting and all, and I have been planning to gild the trim too! And wow, that grey fabric is gorgeous!
Great job! That settee is to die for! I love it!
Just found you via Freckled Laundry! Love your blog and LOVE the settee! You did an awesome job.
Rachel
xoxo
It looks so beautiful!! I love what you did with the wood! It will look so great in the room!
We have a sofa that we want to have re-upholstered, but one company we talked to quoted us $3000 to get it done, so I gave up on it. But maybe I should keep looking for another company, after I saw what you paid for yours – there’s bound to be someone who does it for a more reasonable price.
Your settee is absolutely gorgeous! I love the gold leafing and the gray velvet, it’s now a classic beauty!
Wow, this is fantastic. Congrats.
[...] Cre8ive Designs Inc bought a settee at an estate sale… you should see the before and you will … [...]
Fantastic work done, like all of images done with Gold Leafing. They are looking very beautiful & Amazing work.. Do visit our site http://www.goldcraftstudio.com/
Love, love the grey Satee!
your settee is gorgeous!