Above is my couch and coffee table in August 2009. I went through my photos this morning out of curiosity. It seems that my couch has multiple personalities.
Here is my couch in November 2009. Notice that the quilts and pillows are different. And the coffee table has been changed to a bench that I bought about that time at the antique mall.
(No, one of the personalities is not Sybil. That would be Nola with her newly acquired menopausal symptoms. That I myself have been dealing with for five years. Nice, Nola. Here I thought you understood what I was going through. And you thought your symptoms were merely of a milder nature and duration. Dear Reader, if you think that is too much information, just wait until you hit 50. Bless your poor little naive heart.)
Here is my couch on Christmas Eve of 2009. All dressed up with yet another quilt.
And then presto change-o, the very next month it looks different. With the addition of more pillows. (Around then I bought the red and beige shams at Penneys. And it is obvious I really like them. Because they seem to have “staying” power in these photos.)
I’m showing you all this, because you don’t have to own slipcovers to make your couch look different when you get bored with it. You can simply “dress it up with quilts.”
March of 2010: I’ve taken the quilt off the seat cushions. And changed the quilt on the wall behind it.
Moving right along… I’ve changed items on the bench. Tucked a black bench underneath. And brought some other pillows back in. Charlie added himself.
And now we’re up to today. May 20, 2010. My mood has changed yet again.
I’ve added the beige quilt to the seat cushions. And brought in yet another red and muslin quilt for the back cushions.
I get bored with the same couch. But of course I’m not going to go out and buy a new one. I can’t afford to do that. So I have many “costumes” to keep me happy. Endless costumes, in fact. The only limit is my imagination and the number of quilts I own.
I do the same thing with this chair I bought at the consignment shop. Add a quilt and some different pillows and you have a whole new look.
It’s highly likely that in a few days I will be back here with things rearranged on the tables. Or there will be some other changes to the scene. Because when I get in the mood for change, it is usually contagious.
And the new Pottery Barn catalog just arrived via mail. Browsing this seems to always make me itch to change something. Does that happen to you?
Brenda,
I have been looking for these kinds of red/white quilts for years! Where do you find these???? Or do you make them???? I need to find someone to help me make a couple for my couch…you have really inspired me here!!!! Mine is a dark olve green and I would love to brighten it up for summer! Same with your pillow!!!! I need red/ white and other colors!!!! Help!
I love all of your changes. Your quilts are all just wonderful and you do such a great job with your colors and accessories. Beautiful and always happy looking. Hugs, marty
I have such an ugly couch. It was a hand-me-down. It’s comfy, but it’s not pretty. Love the quilt idea. Thanks so much!
You’re such a clever girl, Brenda! Love all the faces of your sofa…they all look wonderful!
Hope you have a beautiful weekend!
I love all the many personalities of your couch. I am always trying to change things up around here. If I can’t move it, then I need to dress it up in a different way. Hope you are having a wonderful day. Blessings, Tammy
I started to use quilts on my couch and love seat a month or so ago. I like them much better than slipcovers. Poor quilts were tucked away, for what I don`t know. You are indeed an inspiration. I love primary colors because then the quilts are like my indoor garden.
Holy Cow girl. Ya know there’s a name for this, it’s called ADD! I know, because I have it too! Oh, and there’s a medication for it too! Ha!
xoxo,
Kim
You are so clever! Love the different personalities you have created with your couch and with your quilts, awesome!
Love the couch transformations! I have that Penneys quilt too! All of your quilts are beautiful.
I loved reading about your couch.
I have a big old comfy couch and chair that matches and it’s beige(and I am soo not a beige person). I am always trying to find a way to make myself like it. It has also seen its share of kids and pooches and will continue to do so so I always want to cover it up with blankets and quilts and pillows but nothing so far as *inspired* me to like it. And i *need* to like it.
I’m too busy( and lazy) to make a slipcover myself and it’s not a priority to buy one or buy a new couch.
I LOVED looking at what you did. You have inspired me to try AGAIN with different fabrics and quilts and pillows. Thank you!
And yes when pottery barn catalogs arrive we are inspired to make something or change something, and we even use the catalogs themselves ( difft colors and patterns)in our art!
happy day!
~marcia
I love the different looks you have,I wish I was brave enough to do the same….
Diane
Love your ‘happy :}face’ luggage beneath your end table between couch and chair.
Hugs & ♥♥♥s,
Gerry
Yep, I think that couch has more personalities than me! My fav combo (even though you didn’t ask) is with the red and white quilt on the wall in back (the multi color is too busy) and the red and black benches in front, blue quilt on the couch.
Now if I took a years worth of couch pictures, they’d all look the same!
You know I love everything you do, Brenda, and what I love most is the color. You’ve successfully shown that you can change your look by a quick change and have that need for change sated. I love the red and white quilt the best. It has great graphic style! I also love your painted red bench. Such happy pieces!
I’m ready for major change. Just sitting on my hands, though, till I can make up my mind. LOL!
XO,
Sheila
Yes … i like the last one…. my friend in uk quilts and I tried but I just don’ sit long enough with or without the machine. I tried lessons in uk but here in France they want to hand stitch … oh no I say.. so I don’t go… I think it is a social thing to quilt… maybe hen I have my house to live in and continue to live with my partner at the same time I;ll have the space I long for to quilt or sew or play music for the long nights and days and garden without the wind. My son tells me tonight VdV is special. It is!!!! But I think AsA is also special without the wind … and they both have nightingales, ciuckoos and the sunshine! I love your approach to colour, texture and textiles.
What is the result of the analysis of your question about advertisements on blogs?
Love the looks, and so funny that you have so many photographs of your couch. Byproduct of blogging no doubt.
Envious of your PB catalogue.
You are a smart woman! Your room is so colorful and welcoming. Love the quilts!
Ah, Pottery Barn…my weakness.
Hi Brenda, i love to visit your house!!! All the changes are so pretty and colorful.It goes to show you don’t need alot of money to change the look.The less money i have the more creative i get… kathy
I love how cozy your cozy little house is! I love the idea of split personality couches! It’s amazing how you can change the appearance of a room just by moving the cushions around!
pottery barn has some gorgeous pillows this year.
love what you do – and you make it all seem so easy
This is one of the reasons why I fell in love with your blog, that room! I just adore it. I told my husband when he complains about me rearranging all the time that he is lucky he is not blind because he would be bashing his foot a heck a lot more than he does now when I move stuff around.
What a super idea! One of our sofa cushions is slightly trashed, I’ve been looking for a way to conceal it. A quilt thrown over seems like the perfect solution. Great post!
What beautiful quilts you have! Your home looks so warm and inviting !
I love it! I do the same thing just not quite as often. Quilts are great!! Pillows are easier than anything else!!
Hugs, Lisa
Much less expensive than buying a new sofa – and more fun, I suspect!
xo
Claudia
Hi Brenda! Love your looks and you do have so many pretty quilts! Love your pillows and especially little Charlie Ross! That little red bench is so cute! Love it all!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia
What a good idea! I love the looks….hugs for a great weekend. xoxo
I love all your couch versions–and the chair two. You have such a wonderful way with decorating. So warm and cozy.
i am delighted to have found your very special blog. This post and so many others are so inspiring. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
I have just added you to my blog roll. I invite you to come visit me. And maybe even add me to your links.
THANKS
Dianne
Kitsch n Stuff
Hi Brenda- your quilts are really beautiful…it’s amazing how many different looks you get! Thanks for the link to Nola- her post gave me a great laugh…I’m 56 and I SO get it…in fact, I sat there having a hot flash as I commented on her blog…
it is always so delightful to come visit here, it’s so cheery and colorful. No way you would get seasonal depression disorder here! Now where are my quilts….
Brenda, Do you know I thought I loved the Shabby Chic pastel look and until I started reading your blog and Daisy Cottage? Then I remember how much I loved the cottage look with lots of color! I just love red in a room. It makes it come to life. Every single one of your pictures makes me want to curl up on that sofa with a good book.
Nothing wrong with changing the personality of a room.
I think it’s a brilliant idea. Way cheaper than new couches and I need couch coverings because we let the dogs on the furniture. Easier to just wash the coverings than try to wash the upholstery. Mimi
I am all about changing things around to get a new look so I think it is neat that you do that to your couch. You truly do have a cozy house!
beautiful colours. love the big
starfish you have.
Brenda
I love all the different looks your couch has! So fun, cozy and charming. The playful colors you work with are fantastic. I noticed in picture #2 the picnic basket…I have the exact same one…which was my parents growing up. Must have been a generic brand that every family owned!
Have a wonderful Saturday!
Nancy
I am so glad you took us through the changes of your sofa! I enjoyed watching the transformations, I also enjoyed seeing how you changed up your accessories, too!! Can’t pick a favorite…liked every one!!Yes….Pottery Barn is a great inspiration
Wendy
I’m glad to see I am not the only one with “Change-o-rama”, a horrible affliction that affects the terminally dissatisfied.
I have painted my kitchen 5 different times in the last 4 years and I am about to switch to a new color soon. There is something about kitchens that just “irks” me.
I LOVE all these ‘costume changes’! What a great way to change things up when you’re bored. Since I inherited so many quilts last year I certainly have some possibilities on the shelves of my linen closet.
Brenda-
Love the couch photos…my couch looks the same EVERY.SINGLE.DAY….
I’m gonna take Nola’s cue and name the favorite one of yours.
I like the NOV 09 couch…Why? all the yellows, ginghams, and greens in that picture…I like the red too. But something about the yellow, and that little yellow tea towel on the table! Ah… so Inviting!
Love it…year ’round couch photos.
http://www.corninmycoffee-pot.blogspot.com
I love all the pics of your couch. I am doing the same with mine. Right now I have quilted pillows on it and a quilt on the back. I need to put one on the seat. Our couch has several holes in the seat and I have been sewing them up for a year now. Was hopeing to get a new couch this year, but not so. Now will have to find a quilt to put on the seat.
Willow
Good morning Brenda…just got my new romantic home and girl I loved seeing your beautiful home in it…May you have a Great weekend my friend…hugs and smiles Gl♥ria
I admit it, I often think about your sofa of many personalities..really I do.
I have a wonderful little sofa that I found a few years ago at the Salvation Army for 75 bucks. Perfect size for our tiny space and oh so comfy. Unfortunately it’s seen better days so I bought a slipcover only to discover I’m not a slipcover kinda girl. It slips alright and the cat likes to crawl up inside and sleep under it.
So now I’m looking for the right quilt or combo there of.
Thank you for the inspiration!
Have a great weekend.
What fantastic ideas you have, i like all the different ways you had your couch!! A change is as good as a rest – they say!!
xxxx
I totally agree, pillows and throws can totally change the look of a couch! Your couch always looks great!
Manuela
So cool! Slipcover, with quilts!!!
I think my favorite look is also the one with Staying power in the photos! yes, Pottery Barn makes me itch too, makes Steve itch too, only in a different way! ha ha!
The first post I ever read of yours was about quilts and I fell in love with your home! I was all ready to get rid of a couple of quilts that are ragged but I decided to keep them and someday stack them on a chair the way you did! Thanks for all of your inspiration! ♥