$1.50 Sofa Makeover

Maybe you remember this sofa...or maybe you chose to forget it. It used to look like this:

Well, maybe I should back up even farther...

This is what I spied at the thrift store one day. I removed the cushions right then and there, and noticed this pretty detail:

I paid the nice man $60 and called my uncle Robert to help move it to my house. From that point, KyAnne made it her dog bed. I covered it with a plastic drop cloth to deter her, but that didn't last long.

I had plans to cover it with drop cloth - upholstered back and removable cushion covers...after Ky and Mason moved away. Well...that happened a week and a half ago.

We'd been working on two garage sales and clearing out my garage since then, or I would have jumped on this project the very next day!

Meanwhile, I looked up a few blog tutorials about painting furniture. The general consensus was that latex paint, thinned down, worked better than the pricier fabric paint.

I had already tried that, and was not happy with the results. The color choices weren't great and it would have cost a fortune to buy enough little bottles to finish this sofa! It WAS a bit softer than the latex paint, but this sofa does not get a ton of use, and it is not a napping sofa!

Though I plan to do the eventual recover project, I have other projects that are more pressing at this point. (Today I plan to paint my future bedroom!)

But for now, I LOVE it! I no longer have to cringe when I see it, or avoid that side of the room in photographs. 

I did it while watching TV last night, using three little mismatch sample pots of latex paint from Lowe's - .50c each.
It's a nice greige, a little darker than my walls.

Next, I plan to get some cuter pillows to put across the back, or maybe sew some. But for $1.50 and an evening of Netflix, I'm pleased!

I'm officially an empty nester. Mason and Ky are gone, and Hannah left yesterday for job interviews in Houston. I KNOW she will not return to live here. I have a big mess, moving furniture around from all over the house, so Mason's room can be my room, my larger room can be an office/art room/Etsy room, and Hannah's room can be a guest room. (Today, it's full of garage furniture she wants for her apartment!)

I have a TON of work in front of me, but, that's a good thing!
Painting and decorating is fun for me. Organizing and simplifying will make me happy. Making my home totally cohesive and ME will be rewarding. I'll be able to entertain again! It's quiet...sometimes TOO quiet, but once I get things straightened, I'll work on that.

Word for the Day:
Isaiah 32:18

My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

Possibly Linking With:
Sunday
http://www.twiggstudios.com	Sunday Show-off Link Party
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/	Nifty Thrifty Sunday
http://www.bystephanielynn.com	Sunday Showcase Party
Monday
http://betweennapsontheporch.net	Metamorphosis Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
http://westfurniturerevival.blogspot.com	Revival Monday
http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/	Masterpiece Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://www.cedarhill-ranch.com/	The Scoop
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/	The Scoop
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/	Inspire Me Tuesday
http://cityfarmhouse.com/	Inspiration Exchange Linky Party
Wednesday
http://www.timewashed.com	Blissfully White Wednesday
http://restoreinteriors.blogspot.com/	Restored it Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/	Show Me What Ya Got
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com	Cottage Style Party
http://www.greenwillowpond.com/	What We Accomplished Wednesday
http://www.thethriftyhome.com/	Penny Pinching Party
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Under $100 Link Party
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/	Transformation Thursday
http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com/	Inspired Creations
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/	Thursday Open House Party
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/	Time Travel Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com/	Furniture Feature Friday
http://redoux.blogspot.com/	Friday Redoux Link Party
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com	Vintage Inspiration Friday
http://homespunhappenings-tammy.blogspot.com	Rustic Restorations Weekend
http://www.remodelaholic.com/	Fridays on Remodelaholic
http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/	Fabulously Creative Friday
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/	Flaunt it Friday
http://www.shakentogetherlife.com/	What’s Shakin’ Link Party
http://vintageinteriorblogs.blogspot.com/	Weekend
Saturday
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/	Saturday Nite Special
http://too-much-time.com	Get Schooled Saturday
http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/	Show and Tell Saturday

One Reason I've Been Away for a Week...

I know you've heard this before, but while I've been away, I have MISSED YOU! I did take a bit of time to peruse your blogs here and there...

I tried to keep up with email...

But this week, we have had several things going on!
Last Saturday, Hannah, Mason and I went into the abyss.
We pulled everything out of the garage and sorted it.
And we put the stuff I was keeping in the very back.

Have I told you before about my quirky garage? I can't remember. You see, in 1945, my house was a 2 bedroom, 1 bath, 1 car garage home with a living room and dining room.

At some point, a large bedroom and 3/4 bath were added, as well as a large den and a utility room. Probably at the same time, a second garage was added - in front of the old one. SO, I have a two-car DEEP garage. The back one has always been filled with my junk - furniture I'm not using but want to keep, art supplies, tools, paint supplies, etc. 

You can see the front garage in this photo, just a bit.
Now, my windows are painted gray, too.

Anyway, today was the day to see what of our junk would be attractive to other people at a garage sale.

We use old hollow core doors on top of the boxes the junk was in to put the stuff out. It works really well. A friend gave them to me years ago, and I love them for garage sales!

So, we had 3 doors of junk out, some furniture, old kids toys, a nice rug, more junk, furniture I never got around to fixing up...you know the kind of stuff. All the things you've been given by people who don't know you, or you've won them at white elephant parties, or you bought them at garage sales and now you don't want them anymore.

                   

Have you ever seen a chair with a drawer in it? I bought it years ago, and my daughter used it in her room. We opened the drawer and there were notes and old chocolate Easter eggs in side. Yuck.

Mason and I made this queen size picket head board from old fencing. I used it for a while, then stuck it in the garage.

Both of these chairs have problems, but the cane from one could be switched with the other, and you'd have a great single chair. Someone should do it, but not me. I have two more, which will be painted and used in my art room/office!

Yes...that's another development since last week. Mason and Ky moved on Wednesday! He's supposed to come pick up another load of his stuff this weekend. When Hannah goes to move out of her apartment, she'll take another load. 

Meanwhile, I'm planning to relocate my bedroom to Mason's old room. It is a bit smaller, but I don't mind. My large bedroom will become an art room/office! 

The twin bed in there will go into the guest room for now if Hannah takes the iron bed that has been there. If not, I may make it a "sofa" type thing in my art room!

This was going to be turned into an ottoman - with thick foam over a plywood base. Oh, well. The woman who bought it wanted to do the same thing!

I bought some white paint last night...and am itching to paint the walls! They'll be another custom off-white mix of oops paints.

I have lots of projects planned - furniture painting, headboard constructing, and such. And once I get that one done, I'll start working in my art room and the guest room - both at the same time. My goal is to have everything painted and in place by Thanksgiving. BONUS - I want to actually use the front garage as a garage again!

This week, we'll be going through more things in the house, and deciding what other furniture pieces can go out to the sale. Craig's List is another option here - we sold a couple of things from listing them there today. Around here, you only find ratty old 80s sofas that were ugly to begin with - and they want $250 for them! So our junk looked good. :)

Garage sales are a lot of work, but not altogether un-enjoyable. I met a new neighbor today! I love that.

Word for the Day:
Psalm 104:23

Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening.