Cottage makeover with slip covers. . . . . . . . . . .

Was it worth it? 

Sending the slip covers across the country to change their color, and

 my living room, was definitely a leap of faith.

Showing you the new look is not easy either - the lighting in this room on

these later winter days is not the best, however I think you will get the 

feel. . . . . . . . which is a lot different from the previous bright white

shabby chic look. 

Overall I'm pleased with the slip covers. There are a few darker

marks on the chair cover, but nothing a pillow and throw can't hide!

As warned, the zippers used on the backs and the cushions were white

 polyester and they did not take the dye, however they are just about

 invisible on the furniture so that isn't a major problem for me.

For now I'm keeping the antique French linen cover on the side chair, and the 

ottoman cover, white. As the slip covers came back quite a bit darker than

expected, charcoal rather than medium/dark grey, I think I need the white 

to keep the room from looking too dark.

I picked up some new pillow covers at IKEA at the weekend - two large grey

velvet and two small indigo blue linen - which I think go well with my antique cream

 and blue covers purchased in Provence some years back, also my elephant

 cover from Pottery Barn last year, and the sweet bird on a branch pillow in

another shade of blue found here at the Vintage Village.

I like how the dark grey contrasts with my armoire painted in

 Annie Sloane's Paris Grey. . . . .also with the silver metal gym

 baskets under the coffee table, perfect storage for my magazines

 and current reading materials.

Nothing fancy here - after all this is just a small cottage, compact and comfy.

 We've lived here 30 years now, not sure how much longer, but will keep it our

home as long as we can. . . . . . . . . . because our neighbors won't let us move,

 and our garden birds would miss us, haha! 

We have a bathroom reno starting this week, followed hopefully by a

 kitchen facelift during the Summer. Later this year the exterior of the house

 will be receiving a much-needed paint job.  

It's going to be a busy year around the cottage!

This photo was taken with my iPhone and it seems to be the closest

 color match - more the shade of charcoal grey without the blue hue in the

other photos.

All in all I am pleased with the covers. I did wash them all in my washer

 yesterday (and dried them in the dryer) as I wanted to be certain the dye is

 permanent and would not rub off on light clothes - it won't, and there was no

 dye in the washing water. The covers feel lovely, much softer and for some

 reason were easier to get back on the cushions - the job I always dreaded!

The wall behind the sofa might need some work. Perhaps I'll eventually

 hang some art along with the old mirror, haven't decided yet.

So this is the new look - even Bob seems to like it which is always a 

plus - and it cost much less than new furniture for the time being!

Now I'm working on the dining room table for Spring, and eventually 

for Easter. I've definitely edited my collection of Easter items over the 

past couple of years so remaining are just my white rabbits. . . . . . and 

a few other things I'll share in a later post closer to Easter.

Going through changes.....

If you're wondering what on earth is piled up on my sofa and chairs, I have to agree that it's all looking a bit of a mess right now.   After the recent living room paint freshening, some serious searching for new upholstered furniture ensued, only to  come to an abrupt halt...........our small room could never hold the super-sized sofas and chairs that clog furniture departments these days!  

Enter my Italian friend, a former Milan trained tailor who now makes the world's best slip covers.  One visit to the cottage, a few hours making her perfect patterns for sofa and two chairs........while sipping cups of tea and dipping biscotti of course, and voila, several weeks later, spanking new creamy slip covers were ready to pick up, bring home, and zip on.  New looking furniture at last! 

Once I realized I was now pulling together the simplified, eclectic, French-Nordic look with my newly covered upholstered pieces, I was able to add other things I've been saving, such as the vintage locker baskets to hold my books and favorite magazines, the painted table with beautiful old foxed mirror top, the fluted end table, and decorative items found while treasure hunting. 

Soon I hope to have the entire room shipshape and decorated for Christmas..............then I will show you what I found on my recent travels to a couple of North Carolina's great antiques malls.