RIP: Our leather couch. After getting almost four good years of use out of our fabulous Craiglist find, we finally had to put our trusty furniture staple to rest after the wear and tear of being secondhand and serving as a trampoline for an active boy became more than it could bear. As you can see in the picture, the springs totally collapsed on the left side and there's a noticeable sag from one end to the other. We tried to fix it (pictures below), but finally decided it was time to stop life support and and get a new sofa altogether.
Out with the old, in with the new - a green sectional.
A few weeks after Lucy was born, we knew the leather couch was on its last legs so we asked a member of our church to come help us see if we could make it useable for a bit longer, thinking at least another year. We got another good month out of it, when a few energetic teenagers put the final nail in the coffin.
Andy's attempt to save the couch: With experienced guidance, he cut away the bottom cover and folded back the leather to reveal the innards. Here he is using a high-powered staple gun to reinforce the fabric.
He hammered the frame back into place and then rolled the springs to their original position, with the help of my mom. Wood glue and zip ties held the coils to the frame.
Even though the couch is in a sorry state, it will make great seating in our playroom. The matching loveseat is still fine and is now up in our bedroom, which we'll rearrange to create a cozy reading area. The coordinating chair is staying downstairs since it's also in good working condition and looks nice with the couch. Now comes the eternal question: How long can you keep a new piece of furniture looking new? We purposely picked a fabric that wouldn't show dirt or other marks easily, but you never know. When I was four, our family bought a new VW Vanagon and my dad quickly instituted the "no food in the car" rule. With a passel of little kids, that didn't last long. Here's hoping the couch survives our growing brood.
6 comments:
I love the color of your new couch. I wish I had some good advice but Rocky and I couldn't keep a white couch clean and we are adults. We now have a brown microfiber one.
Loved the pictures of Andy working on the couch. And the frame looked really sturdy. But oh, well, who would complain on an occasion to get a new couch!! If Ben's face is a testiment, it must be very comfy.
i love the new couch..and love the pics of andy fixing the old one...i can't believe how much he did!
We have a couch at my parents house that they have refurnished a few time and there is no way it is less than 15 years old! Still looking great!
It's a beautifulcouch. I'm especially fond of the little guy modeling it. If it came treated with Scotchguard, you've got a fighting chance of keeping it clean. If not, it's worth buying the spray and doing it yourself. The only other defenses I know of are to eat only in the kitchen and when you must eat on the couch for movie night, throw a sheet or blanket over it. Buy some spray upholstery cleaner and remember that people are more important than things and people can learn to take care of nice things. Good luck. Can't wait to see you!
very comfy...especially the corner spot
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