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| Here is an older pictures of when I had my slipcovered sectional in my living room. Oh how I loved that sectional. I miss her but she is living in a good home. She was adopted by Jennifer from Town and Country Living for her pretty farmhouse. So it is all good she has a wonderful new home to live in. I have to tell you I do not miss washing those slipcovers because you know who loves to lounge on the sectional........ |
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| Enter new leather sectional!!!! Big challenge for me to make this work in my cottage decor. Since this it the only seating in our family room it was so much more practical with my family and dog that lounge on the sectional. |
This is where Pottery Barn leather sectional and cottage have to learn to live with each other. Big challenge! My cushions on this sectional are attached and are not removable. So I could not just order a slipcover to the outer part of the sectional and then just have the leather cushions exposed. Nope that would have been an easy and great way to get leather and slipcover to meet. So.......... Plan B
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| I had some old barn wood planks and Terry cut and attached them to the feet of the sectional. This way the leather was not touched at all. |
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| The barn wood planks gave a little of the chippy feel from the room to the sectional. |
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| Then I wanted to add some softness for a more cottage feel so I had a table cloth with a ruffle and cut that and then used upholstery screws to attach the ruffle underneath the cushions. So no damage was done to the front of the leather. This way too if this look is not what I want I can take the ruffle off easily and the tiny holes will be underneath the cushions on the base. |
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| I added a ruffle along the back of the sectional and attached it at the legs so not to put any marks or holes in the leather. |
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I am still working on different throws and pillows and I am not sure I am in love with this look. I need to leave it and see if it grows on me. This has been a huge challenge for me.
Maybe when I get the rest of the room decor done I will be in love with this look on the sectional. Nice part is if it does not grow on me then I can easily remove the ruffles.
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| So I started with this. |
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| Then did this with the old pieces of barn wood. |
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Now I have this. Not sure I am in love with this yet. I will give it a little time. I am just wondering if I should go back and remove the ruffles and leave the exposed chippy barn wood planks or just try to find some chippy architectural feet to replace the modern feet and call it a day.
What do you think?
Working on the decor to the new brick wall in the living room still. This room has been a real challenge for me. I am determined to get pottery barn and chippy cottage to mingle!!!!!
Have a great week. Please come back on Saturday for Spotlight I have a really neat dynamic duo couple for you to get to know.
Kris
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You've done a great job of melding Pottery Barn and chippy cottage, Kris! The ruffle and your pretty pillows really help the sectional feel more at home. And I love your idea of adding neat architectural legs to the couch. Looks like you have another project up your sleeve:)
ReplyDeleteOh, Kris, you are so good at keeping on a project until it's perfect in your mind's eye. I know you'll know when you love it. For me, the framed architectural boards attached to the feet did it, but I'm more of a traditional/transitional girl. I think all the chippiness around that makes a nice blend, maybe even add an area rug of some sort underfoot at the coffee table to give you that warm feeling you may be looking for. The fact that you keep changing it tells me you're not quite satisfied, but you always make a style that's magazine worthy.
ReplyDeleteI have a brown leather loveseat in our tiny cottage. I never thought to modify it!!! I love that you are trying different ideas, Kris. And I really like the chippy boards.
ReplyDeleteOur loveseat is needing replaced, and the best solution would be to go with leather again. It truly is a challenge in a shabby French Farmhouse style home!!! Maybe we can add a few rusty industrial finds in the room to balance the look???
Hugs,
Lin
Well, aren't you clever.
ReplyDeleteI know just the thing. Libby! You've already tied your white and brown together, now you just need Libby to hop up and accessorize your sectional! I like the way you've personalized your sectional with chippy wood and a ruffled skirt and I think you're well on your way to a Pottery Barn cottage look, Kris. I'm a little bleary eyed from staying up until almost 3 am painting in the kitchen. I'm not loving it right now, but I know it will work out.......eventually. I learned that from you!
ReplyDeleteLooking good Kris-I can see how this would be a challenge and you are creative so I know you will be able to solve and make it match what you have in your head!
ReplyDeleteI love what you did adding the barn wood planks. The ruffle looks nice too. I am leaning more towards the wood planks only, but you can always change back and forth for a new look. Add a couple of more french farmhouse pillows with brown lettering to accent the sectional. You did a fantastic job!
ReplyDeleteYou've found lots of creative ways to change it up, Kris! I like Rita's idea of maybe adding an area rug...maybe something with the faded old look. I so understand... I am a person who usually has to live with something for awhile to know if I like it or not. I know you will get that look you are after...you are such a creative person!
ReplyDeleteIt looks so sweet now, but I do agree it's missing something and I can't quite figure out what it is, but I know you will figure it out and your design style will shine through.
ReplyDeleteoh my you are so creative!!!!! Love the sofa and I am sure you will find it much more practical than the white slipcovers!!!! HUGSSS
ReplyDeleteI would never have thought to add the ruffle on the bottom. You are a genius. I love the pillows on the sectional too!
ReplyDeleteI truly believe you need to do what makes you happy. It is your home. I personally like it just the way it was when you bought it. All I would do is add lots of white ruffled pillows and a few throw blankets. A faded weathered prairie style rug would look good as others suggested. Your sofa is a bit modern in style but I believe modern can blend easily with shabby french country cottage. Again go with what makes you happy.
ReplyDeleteHi Kris,
ReplyDeleteOk here I go, I hear you, every word of your frustration with blending a piece that feels like the big elephant in the room!
Kris don't try so hard to fit it in, let it stand out this is why you bought leather and I happen to like the new sofa it's anchors your room of cute, soft and white. As for the legs not bad at all, just pretend they are French empire, if you want you could take your palm sander to them to wear then down a bit around the sharper harder edges and sand off a lot of the black exposing the wood grain tone of raw and natural it will add a bit of distressing to them and will soften the look when you Palm sand down the edges a bit with a soft worn feel.
Then a couple of oversized feather filled throw pillows of rustic in style like the grain sack feel giving your look this French Nordic vibe.
A dark piece like this deserves to stand out and not blend in, I kind of think you are trying to hard when you add the wood to the trim making the piece stand out in a harder way making the leather stand out and not just ease into the rooms space with its own grace.
I love the sofa all by itself, leave it alone, just age the legs, wear that sofa in, and let it demand the attention it desrves! Design around it with your shabby pieces, add a great worn out looking area rug pulling all the colours in, or a big oversized coffee table chippy to the max so a lot of the warm raw wood tone peaks through anchoring the sofa o the table.
Can you float the sofa more in the center of the room instead of up against the wall? This way you can back up a great buffet painted all chippy behind it like a sofa table look, and another great surface area for setting drinks and TV watching snacks on as well as layering under the buffet if it has open leg area with darker French trunks and baskets another element of browns yet natural that make sense to the darker sofa. You can also then place your white distressed pieces on the wall that the sofa is on when it is moved away from the wall. This will give you a back drop for the dark in the center of the room. It will cozy in the leather darker sofa and look like you designed around this sofa, not just make it look like this was the last dark piece to leave the room when you find a white one!
So, not to step on your design toes here, but you need to just let it settle in, you will find that you love it and it was a perfect choice for family and pet living not to mention a real rich european design style, well suited for English cottage, French, Nordic, and best of all you and Terry.
My vote, plain, no trimmed wood, not ruffles, no frilly pillows, just old worn out legs, and a few Grian sack feather filled pillows for comfort and looks, and see if you can free up wall space pull it to the center of the room cozy it in and use the wall space for the back drop of staging this dark sofa, and a great Buffet up against the back side of the sofa layerd with French trunk baskets and maybe a throw folded on top of the trunk under the buffet. Even a gray bench layerd could work.
If you are worried about it sliding on the wood take and place rubber grip pads in natural floor or brown colour under the legs of the sofa making it skid proof an area rug would also solve the skin and slid issue with the sofa.
You are going to rock this look, and I love it.
Xoxo
Dore
Hi Dore,
DeleteThanks for all your great advice. I have been struggling with this sectional and I do feel I am trying to make this sectional something it is not. I will never get the cottage look that my slipcovers gave. I need to find peace with what I just stated. I just have finally figured out that I really do not like the leather look in my decor but love the leather low maintenance and how comfortable it is. So I just have to work it in with my other decor. I am determined I will get this!!!!! This has just been the first time I have not had a good vision on what I want with this piece. I will be losing the ruffles for sure. Then I really would like to find salvage pieces for the legs to give it some character. I do not feel sanding down the legs or painting them would take away the modern feel they give. So I will be on the hunt for something unique to replace the feet then I think it will blend better and hold it own in the room. My other decor is coming out nicely in this room so I think you are so right to say leave the sectional be what it is and it will blend into it's place in the room. So stay tuned hopefully soon this room will be to a better place. Thanks for your honest opinions.
Kris
You are way too clever ;) I think it looks great with the ruffles.
ReplyDeleteKim
Look through Rachel Ashwell's books. She blends leather sofas well with shabby chic. Also did you paint your walls? I actually think your leather sofa would look better with the color of walls in your first photo of your old sofa. The all white with leather. We have a dark espresso leather chair in our living room and it blends nicely with our white walls for the nordic coastal style of our home.
ReplyDeletePs, on the wall if you pull the sofa away from the wall when I said you could anchor it with your white pieces, I meant you could place another larger piece like a book case wall unit or buffet and hutch piece filling it with books and pottery pieces, this adds another larger piece to the room and small cozy space will show room this area.
ReplyDeleteAre you sorry you asked Kris? Lol :)
Xoxo
Dore
You are so clever. I never would've thought to alter the sofa in any of those ways. I agree, sometimes you have to live with things for a while before you decide whether or not you like them. Go with your gut, it's served you well so far!
ReplyDeleteKris,
ReplyDeleteI just adore your imaginative mind and I applaud your resourceful and ingenious solutions. It is the reason why your home style and blog is tremendously popular. I love the tactile feel of the barnwood platform, did you consider wiping it lightly with a dark wax? My mind sees that comfy leather sectional pulled away from the wall if possible with a area rug to anchor the sofas size and add textural interest and if you have any barnwood left I'd ask that sweet hubby Terry with the magical tool belt to trim out a coffee table to enhance the wood on the sofa. But of course these a just a few added enhancements to your already wonderful concept.
Sending love and hugs,
Vera
I love your new sectional and I like the chippy wood on the bottom. I think you need to live with it a while and then you will make the right decision. Sometimes the change is so drastic that it's hard to focus on what you like. It will all come together when you least expect it to.
ReplyDeleteBet Libby likes it.
Have a great week.
Mary
I'm pretty sure you can paint leather with chalk paint. Suzan at Simply Vintageous or Anne at White Lace Cottage should be able to give pointers if that's the direction you want to go in.
ReplyDeleteIf you keep the leather as is, I think you need to introduce some of that same colour elsewhere in the room to help it fit. Just my 2 cents. ;)
xo
Kris - You could make anything look cottagey!! I love just the wooden boards without the ruffle. It'll grow on you!
ReplyDeleteJudy
I think the ruffles are a very creative solution and I love the look. If you live with it a while and still not feeling quite right, you might try using a beige or tea-stain for the ruffle and then white accent pillows so there is less contrast. Funny coming from me because I would just cover everything in floral upholstery and call it done - LOL!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome sectional! Love what you did to it! (but then you never disappoint us)
ReplyDeleteYou are so creative! Funny, I was always against leather, for years. I'd say it's just been recently that I've come around to the "dark side" lol and have grown to like the look of leather furniture. (Please don't tell my husband or he'll have a leather easy chair in our family room so fast it'll make your head spin!) What I really love is the look of time-WORN leather furniture. Once yours gets that worn look it'll fit right in with cottage style. Until then, you'll figure something out:)
ReplyDeletexoKathleen
I think the added ruffles look more like your style, the wood base is nice but it looks a little country contemporary to me. Beautiful either way! But I know you and I know that this will be tweaked many times ;-) .Have fun playing <3
ReplyDeleteKris, you are SO creative! I love the ruffles! I think they give the leather the perfect touch to blend with the cottage whites throughout the room! :)
ReplyDeleteSusan
Oh Kris, you really made this work. SO wonderful how you added the skirt and pillows. You have such a keen eye and skill! Anita
ReplyDeleteYou will figure it out as you go along, Kris. I like everything you have done. You have great design instincts and certainly don't need anyone telling you what to do---you will do beautifully all by yourself. Look at all the rooms you have done and redone in your home and they always come out perfect. Just think- dog hair is NOT going to be a problem on this baby! lol
ReplyDeleteI like that it adds a bit of masculinity to the room, too. It is just a tad darker than the leather pieces I have in our family room and I have used the soft blue/tan/cream to accent it.
When you get the whole room set up I think you are going to love it...PLUS it looks very, very comfy. I can lay down there and take a nap when I come to visit!!!! along with the dog.....lol xo Diana
Omg I love it!!! How clever you are with the ruffle and the wood planks .. Wow! I have been waiting to see what you were going to do with your leather sectional... And it is beautiful! 😍
ReplyDeleteI like all three versions. You might look at Restoration Hardware catalogues, because they have quite a bit of leather in their showroom, and it looks rustic. Wire baskets look nice in the room with leather. The pillows are really pretty.
ReplyDeleteLove what you have done with the leather sectional. I love the wood with the ruffles. I am always amazed at your ideas. I would never have thought of adding wood and ruffles. I just love the way it looks. Much better with the white at the bottom then without. Hope it grows on you, if not I am sure you will make it more amazing :)
ReplyDeletedeezie
Hi Kris - I kind of like the leather sofa without any ruffles or barn wood, but I would change the legs of the sofa. I think it's the legs that are too modern and not the sofa part itself. Maybe even low French Provincial legs would work, very distressed and chippy. I like the ideas from Burlap Luxe.
ReplyDeleteMary @ Orphans With Makeup
Oh wow Kris! You certainly know how to rise to a challenge! I like both looks and am not sure that I have a preference. I'm pretty sure you'll figure out which fits best for you after you walk through the room and look at it several times!
ReplyDeleteVery clever idea to add the ruffle . You always amaze me with your talent. The pillows are just gorgeous
ReplyDeleteKisses
Alessandra
Hi Kris, thought I'd put my two cents in. I think you might be onto something by changing out the feet only. It is what it is - a comfy, functional leather sectional and I wouldn't try to change that. I'm thinking some simple grain sack stripped pillows, a time worn looking area rug that incorporates some of the tan color, and a large square chippy white coffee table might help unify the two. Hope that helps!
ReplyDeleteThanks Marie. I am taking off the ruffles and will live with the barn boards until I can find some salvage pieces for feet. I think I was trying too hard to make this leather sectional into something it cannot be. Will walk away and give myself some time and then see what might happen in there.
DeleteHave a great week. Thanks for your input.
Kris
That's a beautiful sectional. I'd leave it in its natural form and maybe add some architecturals with raw wood to blend with it. A simple rug with light browns would also draw it into your decor. In the end, do what YOU love and you'll be happy!
ReplyDeleteMary Alice
I think you did a phenomenal job with this. There's really only so much you can do to blend leather in with shabby chic and I think you nailed it. I also love the fact that you recycled things that you already had to create your new look. So creative!!! Have a wonderful day!!!
ReplyDelete~ Wendy
I bet you're already loving the ease of that leather sofa! The ruffle you added to the bottom definitely softens the lines of it. If you're like me, it takes a few days (or more) to get used to a major change. After our house exterior was painted a different color, I wasn't used to it and kept questioning my decision, but now I love it. I prefer to make subtle changes and gradually lead into a major change but you can't really do that when you have professional painters out to tackle the house all at one time! I'm sure that's what you're experiencing right now. Give it more time and keep playing around with things until you feel like you're getting the look you're wanting. Have you looked at Pinterest for some ideas on ways to integrate a leather sofa in with a softer white interior? I always use that for great inspiration. Sometimes I just can't think of things all by myself.
ReplyDeleteI added ruffles and braided trim to my tv console a few months back. I started with three sections of ruffles and ended up with just two. It was the fix that I needed.until I feel like tackling the big paint job! We all know that you will find the perfect fix and will be wowing us with your brainstorm, soon!
ReplyDeleteJP
Kris, you've done a wonderful job incorporating Pottery Barn and Chippy Cottage! When I saw the barn wood on the bottom, I thought "wow!" then when I saw the ruffles you added, it just sealed the deal for me. :) I love it just how it is. I like how the ruffles kind of soften everything a little. You're such a great decorator/designer! You always seem to know just what to do to get the look you want. Great job, once again!!!
ReplyDelete1) I think you are amazingly clever and courageous to try new things. 2) Like you I'm not sure I like it, but that might be because it's different. Living with it for awhile will tell ya. 3) I like having some pictures to look at when deciding if I like something or not. Since you have pics, you can look at them and make a good decision from a visual standpoint. And when you're in the room actually using and sitting on the furniture, you can get a good feel. Then you can made the best decision. 4) I know you can paint leather (gulp) so you might whiten it up if the brown just won't work. 5) Leather is always classic...so enjoy it! Good luck with your decisions. Your home is lovely. LOVELY! Kathryn in California
ReplyDeleteA thought entered my head when I saw your new leather sectional....do you like toile? I am picturing a creamy background with a brown or tan print on it. A few pillows or maybe curtains. Then the rest of the room would still have all of your wonderful white things, but this way the couch isn't the only brown thing in the room. Just an idea. :) Your new couch looks super comfy and cozy and stylish too!
ReplyDeleteLots of advice! If it were me, I might do something across the back of it to try to soften the deep brown. It is very dark. I say do what makes you happy! Try different ideas until one strikes you and makes you smile! Maybe quilts across the back, ones that have a little color to draw eyes from the darkness of it. Each person has their own ideas of what works for them. I would never buy leather, especially one so dark, but that is just me. I did not know you could paint leather, as suggested above. Might make sure that would not damage it. Leather damages easily. I have friend who are on their 3rd sectional in less than 10 years! Kids and pets are damaging!
ReplyDeleteKris I think letting it be what it is may be best. I like the idea of the feet. That will make a difference. What if you use some creams and light tan pillows? This would tie the sectional in with the sectional. I'm giving you advice, you are a genius and will get it to work
ReplyDeleteCindy
Kris I think that you did a great job making your new sectional cottage style. I love the brown and the white. I first saw this look on Shabby fufu,Janet has a brown leather sectional in her family room and I loved it so I bought a brown sofa. The ruffle was genius! Have a beautiful day. Jo
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh - love what you did...especially the shabby wood blocks underneath! So cute and inspiring!!! xoox
ReplyDeleteJust not working for me.
ReplyDeleteI am sure you will make it Gorgeous !!
ReplyDeleteI like the old sofa more.
Maybe the leather one I would do but in a much lighter tan color a softer look.
Have fun changing things up.
I would have left the sofa as is, its a gorgeous piece and gives a needed relief from all the white. Not loving the ruffle at, looks like it belongs in the bedroom.
ReplyDeleteOh forgot to add Do not let your dog jump up on the dark leather.
ReplyDeleteTheir nails scratch the leather and it leaves lighter streaks.
From my own experience with a chair we had it only lasted 1 year before it looked bad.
Kris, I always love what you do and it always, always turns out to be so pretty and so you, and as I said in my current post, I am a second-guesser but if you don't mind, I will speak my piece. I love a beautiful leather sofa, I don't think in the right shade it ever looks cold and you have the right shade. I wanted one so badly for our family room but on an old person's retired budget it wasn't in the picture so settled for something else which I think I will like. My advise probably is a little different since it comes from a place of color instead of all white, but with everything that you have around the sofa and all that you have done to your walls and accessories and your beautiful warm wood tone floor, I might try a shag (yes, that horrible carpeting from the 70's which is another thing new again) white area rug. It would look great with your floor and would be another ground for the darker sofa and be more to your liking when you eye picks it up. Just my idea, don't feel obligated to not tell me to take a flying leap!!.Happy Wednesday..Judy
ReplyDeleteAww Kris, I know how much you miss your ruffled white sectional! It was so you and I was surprised when you said you were changing things out. Now you're dealing with the unfamiliar - not an easy thing to do. I say follow your creative instinct until you are happy. It's a beautiful sectional and I love your idea of mixing two decorating styles in one unique one! The barn wood at the bottom looks really cool! Genius idea! I'm sure that once you think about it some more and play with the rest of your décor, the sectional will settle in perfectly. Don't worry about it too much and have fun! Hugs, Leena
ReplyDeletewhat if you took drop cloth and tucked it in where the back meets the seat and then have 2 rows of ruffle on the front,,, so pretty much the seats and front are covered?
ReplyDeletethe barn wood is such a creative idea and you know i love ruffles:) i think you should end up doing what looks best to your eye:) love the idea of changing out the legs!
ReplyDeleteHere I am ~ late to the party again! :) I see that you've decided to remove the ruffles ~ I'm glad. I think that's going too far in trying to change the leather style. You have such a gorgeous home and you're so creative, I know you'll come up with the perfect finishing touches! I like the idea of a soft rug, an old coffee table and your decor of same. Can't wait to see what's next!
ReplyDeletexo
Pat
Hi Kris! Being out of state for a week leaves much to catch up on in the blog world! I like what you've done with your new sofa! I'm sure by the time I am reading this, you've made more changes but it is good for me to see this as I have a brown suede sofa with white shutters and a white barn wood sign above it! I too have struggled to get the right feel with the brown/white combo! But, you'd probably pass out if you saw my Big Black Monster, I think I may need to do a post about it sometime! I'll try to catch up on all of your posts/changes! No matter what you do, you always amaze me! Blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteI am not in love with the ruffle, I must say that the wood at the bottom is pure genius. I am so in love with it. I think why you are not happy with it maybe because the rest of the room has to come together first. Right now the sofa stands out but as you fill the room it will blend in more. I say give it a chance.... jo
ReplyDeleteI found that site very usefull and this survey is very cirious, I ' ve never seen a blog that demand a survey for this actions, very curious... website link; check
ReplyDeletenice post, I really love your concept, keep posting, great day! buy modern sofas for less
ReplyDelete