To slipcover or not to slipcover.

I stupidly entered Calico Corners yesterday to get some fabric to for the seats of these chairs that I found the other week.

The next thing I know, I came home with a bag full of fabric samples to try in all different types of lighting (morning, afternoon, evening) for a slipcover for the big red couch that is slowly fading on the vine. 

The beauty of the slipcovers from Calico is that they are in no way reminicent of the overly shabby chic rooms that you mind instantly conjurs up when you hear the word slipcover:

Painful. 

My reason for not immediately ordering the fabric to sign myself up for a new slipcover is the price tag - we're talking I could practically order a new couch for this amount...but then again, not really.  When you add delivery, etc. this would still come out cheaper.  Plus this old couch is just about the most comfortable thing you've ever sat on...

After sampling dozens of fabrics from the take home samples, if I decide to go forward with it, I've settled on a beautiful, subtle and neutral stripe in a tone that matches our new couch that we got in January. 

Ever since we've gotten the new couch, Big Red (aka the old sofa) is looking a little worse for the wear. 

I am so torn.

Image from Your Decorating Hotline.

Where was this in January?

I was reading one of my favorite blogs yesterday, Little Green Notebook and she introduced me to this side that manufactures sofas that look designer but are really affordable.  I am so depressed I didn't know about this in January when we bought our new couch.  The company is called Custom Sofa Design.  If you may or may not be in the market for a new couch, this is worth spending time to check it out.  Even if you aren't, you may suddenly finding yourself needing a new one.  Here is just a sample of some of the ones I love.  Keep in mind, you can change out fabric, colors on all of their pieces.  They all range from $599-$899; most of them are $799.  BARGAIN.

I especially love these last two because not only would they make a good looking sofa but they could also double as a banquette at a dining table. 

New Couch, Old Couch

The day of the new couch us upon us. My very kind neighbor, Whit, came to help us move the red couch to the basement before Pottery Barn delivered the new one. Except the old one didn't fit in the basement. Not even remotely.

Now we have TWO couches in our very tiny living room. It is not aesthetically pleasing but I am consoling myself with the knowledge that

a. We will not live in this rental house forever. (Hopefully the new house wherever we move will have either a larger living room or a den and a living room where we can use two couches.)

b. The new arrangement is more conducive to having guests. The other chairs we had scattered around were beautiful antiques (most thanks to my grandmother) but not super comfy. Now more people can hang out.

c. There is such a thing as a slipcover. I just need to measure things up and can cover the red one and it'll be like new. And so very cottage chic.

d. My search for a new coffee table has escalated since the old one is just way too big. Game on.

New Couch

Old Couch (same tiny living room!)

A side comment: as I sit and write this we are all three (husband, me and dog) sitting on the old couch just looking at the new foreign one. Ridiculous.

T-2 Days Til the New Couch

Barring any unforeseen weather disasters (although they are predicting flurries tonight and tomorrow), my new couch will arrive Tuesday between 3-5pm.

The timing couldn't be better...I think the red one is officially on its last leg. Just look at a typical evening that it has to put up with. I am going to have to initiate some rules for the new couch...

Here is the pup with his new Christmas frog looking innocent and happy.

Let the destruction begin!

Presentation of the aftermath.

Pottery Barn delivery man, please hurry up!

The Sofa Situation

Today was supposed to be the Eve of My NEW Couch Day. Alas, Pottery Barn called to say they needed to reschedule due to the inclement weather (they're calling for about 8-10 inches of snow in DC!). Hopefully we can get it delivered the week after Christmas. So, I've decided to do some before pictures to get myself excited for the impending after pics.

Here is my current/ancient/dog-hair-covered red couch:

We pooled collective wedding gift cards (thank you everyone!) to purchase this:


My two main criteria for the couch were:

1. Timeless/Neutral: This rationale, while obvious, was twofold. First, we live in a rental so the couch will need to fit in with decor for wherever we move. Second, couches aren't cheap. I don't anticipate I'll be getting another new one anytime soon so I better love this one for a while.

2. Repels/Hides Dog Hair: I have a tan dog. My current couch is red with tan hair all over it. My new couch will be made of microsuede which will help repel the tan hair. Whatever isn't repeled will be masked by the color. (My husband was actually pulling pieces of dog hair off of my black fleece jacket to make sure the couch color swatches in the store would match the dog. The sales woman thought this was brilliant. I was slightly humiliated.)

I am gettting excited just thinking about new throw pillows for the new couch.

Oh, and just because I am obsessed with Christmas, here is a picture of our Christmas tree: