Thursday, August 26, 2010

Trash to treasure

Ok, our free loveseat was not trash.  In fact, it's a very nice solid piece of furniture that is currently sold for a lot more than 'free' on This End Up's website.  When our neighbor a few houses down was giving this away in their driveway, Shaun made me proud and TOLD ME ABOUT IT instead of shielding my eyes and talking about ice cream to distract me. 
By some stroke of luck, we actually had my parent's truck that day, so we drove a few houses down and picked it up.  They even had a couch to match, but it was gigantic and our porch was, uh, full of crap.  So I turned it down and now I'm kicking myself while staring at my mostly empty porch that could use another seating area!  Oh, well.  This thing sat covered with a pink sheet until last month.  And there was a lot of this going on.....
I swear I love both my cats, this one just loves getting his photo taken, so I oblige!  I voted to keep the piece wood because I thought it would be cool against the white walls, but Shaun really wanted to paint it.  So I let him win and helped him take it outside for a makeover. 
We lightly sanded, then used BIN to prime and Behr Premium in semi-gloss Ultra Pure White for the finish coats.  I admit I got a little sad when he did these first strokes of primer! 
Did you catch the 80's pastel southwestern cushions?  Here's a closeup of that mess!
A local upholstery shop quoted me $300 to recover these rectangles of foam, so I said HELL TO THE NO to that.  There are companies online that make cushion covers specifically for This End Up furniture, but the fabrics you get to choose from look mostly like this:
Um, why do they all look like they are made from 70's muppet fur?  I'm so confused.  Not a beige cotton or natural twill to be found.  So, for now it has a 96" long linen drape from Target tucked around the cushions, and that works well enough. 
Do you think we should've kept it wood, or does the white paint look better?

27 comments:

  1. What a find! It looks awesome! And I looove the white. I'm glad you didn't keep the wood :)

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  2. I'm a huge fan of how bright it is--imagine how great it could look next to some muppet fur! ;)

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  3. I just like it, white or wood.

    Where did that red fabric for your pillows come from?

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  4. I think it looks amazing in white. I can visualize it in that space as wood so I can't say whether I'd like that better or not.

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  5. I hate to be a hater, but while I think the white is gorgeous, and it probably works better in your space with all of the textures you have going on, I'm with you. I LOVED the wood. The wood had so much character! I saw the wood and instantly pondered the previous lives it had. Although, that being said, I'm a total sucker for old wood. I once told my boyfriend that if there's anything I'll go completely overboard with, it's old wood. I'd like to cover my walls, my floors, my furniture, my storage, my ceiling fan, my refrigerator, my dog . . .

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  6. oooh, I like it white. It looks like it was made for your space.

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  7. The white works.

    LOL at your '70s Muppet fur observation! You are hilarious!

    You and your husband have a good eye for transforming furniture. I would have seen that thing and kept on rolling. It looks nice.

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  8. Love it white ... especially with the pop of those cushions .... FAB.

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  9. Ooh, trash to treasure - my favorite posts! I think everything is improved when you paint it white. Looks fantastic!!

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  10. Either way (wood vs paint) would have been great. I know I would have had the same convo with my Dude about painting. I guess we pick and choose our battles!

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  11. I actually really love the white! It makes your sunroom look so pretty and crisp. Great job guys!

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  12. I think you made a good decision painting it white. I looks so great...now how it looks in between your bright bamboo tables!

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  13. I have to say, I am a bit partial to wood as well but this white looks great on it. nice job

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  14. I really like the white. I think with the big windows it looks the best. Sometimes letting them win isn't always bad! But not too often! :-) And your cat is too cute. I have one who loves and takes good photos! Happy Friday!

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  15. I painted all of out TEU furniture and never looked back. Savannah has the majority of it now, in purple, blue, and lime. I'm with Shaun on this one, it really gave the piece a fresh Pottery Barn look.

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  16. WHAT?!!!!!!

    You trashed the faded pastel southwestern cushions whatwereyouthinking???!!!!!!

    hahah.

    For the loveseat, I wish you had kept it wood, because I thought the wood was really pretty - but-But-BUT it does look good white in that space.

    As far as the matching couch to the loveseat.....even though you're kicking yourself for what you don't have (extra seating) you really should be more happy about what you aren't doing (hoarding). That could have put you one step closer to a reality TV feature, missy.

    Matching is so overrated anyways. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with for the rest of the space!

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  17. Hmm I'm a little torn as well. I really like the look of wood, but it really does look great in that space. It's a sunporch so it's meant to look bright and sunny, and I think the white does the trick. Pretty jealous of your free find!

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  18. Painted is definitely better. I am sorry you are sad about not taking the couch, we all have those moments, but honestly I think the loveseat looks better in your sun room. The full couch and the loveseat would make it look to packed.

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  19. I love the white. I think it looks really crisps and makes the turquoise and red accents stand out. Great job!

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  20. I love the white. Are you surprised? I'd paint the trees in the front yard if Ryan would agree. ;)

    And, $300??? SERIOUSLY? That's highway robbery. But, it also makes me want to learn to do it, quit my job and reupholster full-time.

    It looks really nice with the wrap-job. And, I'm only moderately jealous that you found this for-free. Okay, I'm really jealous.

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  21. The timing of this is funny, I was just drafting a post on whether or not to paint a piece of furniture of ours.

    I think I prefer the white :)

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  22. I like it. I think it would have looked nice wood against the white walls though. I am shocked Shawn wanted to paint it, actually. I practically have to drug my fiance and hide him in the closet for the day to be able to paint anything wood.

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  23. I love it both white and au naturale. I think it looks amazing in its place! You did such a fabulous job!!

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  24. I'm so jealous you scored this for free! I love the lines of it, and the size makes it really versatile.

    I agree that the raw wood is really beautiful -- for the right space. In your room, I think the white goes well.

    Kelly

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  25. Fab job as always! After seeing the big picture, I think white looks the best for the room.

    Keep on paintin'!

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  26. I was just surfing for this sofa online because I was planning on garage sale-ing it tomorrow (mine has these hideous southwest-flavored cushions) and wanted more info on it. BUT, now that I see what you've done, I'm torn! Great job on making this piece awesome!

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Thanks so much for reading....your comments mean a lot to me!
Sara