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Wednesday, February 24

I hate my sofa!

So I get a voicemail from a client a few weeks ago:

Grant- it's XXXXX- I just can't take this family room sofa anymore- this sofa is so horrible. It's the wrong color- it's ugly, boring and you MUST call me back soon- we MUST to go shopping to get a new one to replace this. What are you doing next week? I just can't take it anymore. Kisses- CLICK

(Now before we go any farther lets review that I did not PICK this sofa out and this is what I call a "preexisting condition" from BEFORE we started working together)

(This next part is where is where I enter the picture to try to save the day- one pillow at a time)

I arrived at the house a few days later- ready to evaluate the situation (with my laptop tucked in my tote bag with all kinds of inspiration shots for new sofas).

My first thought was to remove all of the throw pillows off of the sofa and put them in the closet. By the time I came back to to room- what I saw was a classic- clean lined sofa (you know me- I say it over and over again- invest in pieces that will be timeless). So anyway to make a long story short- I could have started with showing my client all kinds of new sofas and convinced her to purchase something new- but I saw that the sofa really wasn't the problem it was the boring pillows that blended into the sofa. The sofa just needed little pick me up!

So now what did I do?
A few days later I had been up in Marin for a client meeting and lunch and I spotted Calico Corners out of the corner of my eye. I had not been in a long time-and was SO pleasantly surprised by the selection of really affordable fabrics and some great colors and bright patterns.

We are still picking out which fabrics will work for this sofa- but I thought I would share some of these great fun patterns and fabrics that would be sure to brighten up any ones day. Everything seemed so fresh and fun. The prices were great too!

(Disclaimer- if your sofa is ugly to start with- this won't work in every case!)

I work on projects of all levels and sizes. Some days I can be out picking out a paint color and just consulting and other days I can be working on a design of a whole house. If you don't know where to start- why not call up a designer (or me!) to consult just to make a few minor changes. Spring is just around the corner- time to freshen things up and let a little color into your life! I think that some peoples first gut is to start again and get new furniture- but sometime just changing a few things and editing and moving things around- and changing out something as simple as the pillows can change the whole space.












20 comments:

Lynne Rutter said...

fun! i have been really into ikat patterns lately

Anonymous said...

It's like fabric PORN!

Acanthus and Acorn said...

Too funny! I was at Cailco Corner in Virginia yesterday after a long absence and too was surpised at all the colorful and beautiful choices! And, of course I love that you point out that some of us will be happy to work on the small stuff!!! Can't wait to see what you chose to breathe new life into the sofa.

A Perfect Gray said...

great post. thanks

"Yeah, that works..!" said...

Amen - it is so much more cost effective for a homeowner to hire a designer for any level project rather than try and save $ and make a bunch of mistakes that cost them more in the long run. Love the fun fabric choices!!!!

All that is Pie said...

I like the first fabric with that sofa best, but I haven't seen the rest of the house. It's really kind of you to demonstrate what the real problem is and save the client money. And you have a smart client,too. She or he know something was wrong, which is saying alot!

Marija said...

Calico Corners can definitely surprise! And they actually offer very large memo sizes which is a huge plus! Make sure you show us the sofa when you finish picking fabrics!! Marija

Lacquered Life said...

The two geometric fabrics that you show in orange and olive, I have in turquoise ... got it at Weathervane Hill, another fab discount spot. I absolutely love that fabric. Calico Corners has some really great stuff these days!

DAM said...

would you client be willing to show before and after pics when it's all done?

Kathysue said...

Love all of these patterns and colors they would definitely bring some fun to any room,Kathysue

for the love of a house said...

I don't have a CC close by since our move, so haven't been to one in a couple of years.... I would never have thought these fabrics came from CC! They are so much fun! I bet your client was thrilled to not have to purchase a new sofa, only pillows!
joan

Chic Coles said...

Great colors and patterns. That sofa sure is going to look great. She knew just the right person to call.

72 and sunny said...

you're kidding, C.Cs has gotten really cute! good to see.

Windlost said...

Some fun patterns and colours there. We don't have Calico Corners in Canada, and have very crappy chain fabric stores here. The decor shops sell expensive stuff only it seems, so I will have to check out a Calico Corners when I am in the US next month. Thanks for the tip!

Terri

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad to know that other designers are willing to work this way! It's so true; it's just not always necessary to completely replace things. Clients really appreciate it, too, when you are careful with their money like this - and it leaves more to use on other parts of the project when it's possible to do this without sacrificing either style or quality. This is definitely a perfect example of why it's more cost effective to hire a designer than for a homeowner to just go out and buy new things for themselves.

And yes, Calico Corners does have some really nice things, and they change routinely enough that there's always something fresh and new. I even got my own kitchen window treatments there. The fabrication quality isn't quite as good as my regular workrooms do, but it's good enough for the condition the cabinetry is in, which I can't afford to replace.

Doug Davis said...

we did an idea house for Southern Living magazine last year and Calico Corners was one of the sponsors...I was very pleasantly surprised by what they had to offer. lots of good stuff!

and I agree, sometimes you don't need to start from scratch, just spruce things up a little bit.

Doug Davis said...

we did an idea house for Southern Living magazine last year and Calico Corners was one of the sponsors...I was very pleasantly surprised by what they had to offer. lots of good stuff!

and I agree, sometimes you don't need to start from scratch, just spruce things up a little bit.

cindy hattersley design said...

Great post. I am a newcomer to your blog. I found you via the skirted roundtable! Whenever I am in the design center in the city I wonder is anyone doing anything really interesting...well now I know..you are...love your apartment (you are in my daughter's neighborhood) & love everything you do! And to think you are such a youngster! Continued success...

Laudan said...

Great post. It's good to know that designers will consider working on discreet projects. I have color issues and an odd sized front parlor that I've been unsuccessfully grappling with for years, but I've always assumed that it was too small a job for a designer.

Rashon Carraway said...

These are some really great fabrics. The graphic ones are sure to please. I havent gotten on the ikat train yet...

good luck

Mr. Goodwill Hunting
http://g-w-hunting.blogspot.com

 

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