<p>Have any of you had good experiences with getting a sofa recovered? </p>
<p>We’ve had ours for almost four years and the fabric is looking very ratty. It’s the main piece of furniture in the family room which means it gets constant use from people (frequently eating) and dogs. It is from Ethan Allen and cost $2000 at the time. The cushions and back seem fine as does the sleeper bed in it. The EA store is almost an hour away and I imagine they’d rather sell me a new one than recover this one (if they even do that). Opinions?</p>
<p>I have had quality slipcovering done, several times, and been very happy. By “quality” slipcovering, I mean tailored closely to the piece so that you can’t really tell that it is a slipcover versus re-covering. This works if it is a skirted piece, not sure it works so well for exposed legs. The skirt can be very tailored (box pleat, inverted pleat, etc.; doesn’t have to be ruffly). This type of slipcovering job is NOTHING like Surefit etc.</p>
<p>Depending on the fabric and who you get to do it, it should run you several hundred dollars.</p>
<p>My impression is that if you go for reupholstering, you might as well go with a new sofa. Furniture prices have actually gotten better over time, rather than worse.</p>
<p>Slipcovering will run you about half the labor cost of re-upholstery. I do both for clients; if your sofa, cushions, and springs are all in good structural shape, the slipcovering is a great option. For a sofa bed, slipcover needs to be partially removed before bed feature can be used. We do very form fitting slipcovers, with cording at most seams - hard to tell it’s even a slipcover. But both are a dying art and if done poorly can be a disaster. I would call and get referrals from reputable interior designers or ask to see examples of the work and get referrals.</p>
<p>I recently had a chair reupholstered - it was beyond slipcovering, but we loved it and couldn’t find any small rockers like it. It cost as much as getting a new one. So I wouldn’t do it without good reason. If I did it again I’d have a longer conversation about what we wanted it to feel like. I’d like a squishier seat cushion than we ended up with. A good slipcover can look pretty good.</p>
<p>I was very pleased with the slipcovers made for a sectional–I used Calico Corners, which is a regional, not national, chain I think. They seem to have sales a couple of times a year. The slipcovers really did look like uphoslstery–fit beautifully and added at least five years to the life of the furniture. I have also had an antique rocking chair reupholstered at a local, long-established place and was very pleased with that rsult as well. </p>
<p>I think the key is to see examples of the work that has been done and check to be sure the workmanship is still on the level you have seen.</p>
<p>I have a large sectional that deperately needs either slipcovers or reupholstering. thanks for the Calico Corners suggestion. This sofa is huge and would cost a fortune to reupholster but I don’t want to replace it either.</p>
<p>cartera45: FYI, Calico Corners uses local independent slipcover people and REALLY upcharges the labor. Do yourself a favor and ask around, you could save yourself a few hundred bucks and wind up having the exact same person do the work!</p>
<p>Yes, the slipcovering I was referring to was as sewbusy described - cording/welting, fitted by the seamstress in my home to the pieces.</p>
<p>Believe it or not (I can hardly believe it myself :rolleyes:), I took a slipcovering class and slipcovered a chair in toile, with contrast welting. It came out great. I later slipcovered two matching chairs after taking the class. They didn’t come out quite as well, because I didn’t have the teacher looking over my shoulder and helping with the more difficult parts. But, so far, I’m the only one who can see my mistakes :).</p>
<p>I also totally agree with sewbusy about finding local independents to do the work. I have used two different individuals - designers will know them, ask friends, look around at ads/yellow pages and then talk to references/see their work.</p>
<p>They will also help you choose the type of fabric that will look good on your piece.</p>
<p>sewbusy - thanks - I’ll check around. I just have to find someone who works with those of us who are suffer from DDS - domestic disability syndrome. My screen name would be “sew-not.”</p>
<p>cnp55 - yes, my loveseat has had deep issues but has been in recovery for the last 10 years…
which means I learned enough about re-upholstery to do it once, with a simple couch. I don’t need to do it again to know it’s not for even skilled seamstresses.
However, I did a half-way re-upholstery on a bedroom chair that is more decorative than heavily used for under $60. Looks fine. But for family room, spend the money on quality slipcovers or go for new!</p>
<p>I had pieces professionally reupholstered and was very happy with the result. I got a referral from a friend. It was not cheap but…here is my take on it. The furniture you got from EA is good quality. If you like the shape, feel of the furniture it is worth recovering. You cannot go to a cheaper furniture store or Costco and get the same quality.</p>
<p>Mary, I’m not sure in Tennessee where you’re located (I’m in Franklin), but we had a very large sectional reupholstered about three years ago and the man did a wonderful job. When it was returned to us, he said he hadn’t seen a couch made that well in a long time … the frame is solid oak. He said it would last a life time. I told him we would hand it down to our daughter and he replied “Just tell her NEVER to call me to recover it. That’s thing is too heavy!” We had it covered in a heavy denim fabric and it seats 8-9 people comfortably. Although it was not cheap to have it recovered, it was much less than it would have cost to replace a couch of that quality. If you’re anywhere near Franklin and would like the name of this man, I’ll be happy to share it … just PM me.</p>
<p>Another nice thing about recovering is getting to chose fabrics. I used the same fabric on 2 chairs (which were my first ever puchase when starting to earn $) and had seat cushions made with same frabric for the dining room chairs. All my chairs (DR & K) have cane seats. Its far easier to redo a cushion than an upholstered chair.</p>