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French Settee Makeover

Alright, all of you Francophiles out there…sit down, take a deep breath and look at this baby…
Remember what she looked like a few days ago?  Things don’t look too bad in this picture, but the fabric was worn and the finish was a dated blonde/pickled sort of wood.
I removed all of the upholstery except for the seat.  I knew I wanted to slipcover that, so it would be washable and durable.  
The frame received a thin coat of creamy paint, which was then sanded off. The result is a soft, aged and imperfect finish.

 

The back and arms were reupholstered in durable canvas drop cloth with a bright white trim.  I took my new pneumatic upholstery staple gun for a spin and that gadget is worth every single stinkin’ penny I spent on it.  About 80% of the frustration experienced during my last upholstery job was alleviated with this staple gun. 

I know I would want to be able to wash the seat cover, so I chose a slipcover over upholstery, even though it meant a little more work.  I know whoever buys it would feel relieved they could throw it in the washing machine after their toddler does a face plant on it after eating an Oreo, which inevitably happens with white furniture.  I love the knife pleats on the mini skirt.  This girl’s got great legs and I want to show them off.
Since the pleating was short, I could take it all the way around the legs and back and I love the flirty detail it adds.  The skirt is tied on with bright white grosgrain ribbon with some no-fray applied to the edges.

Oh, French settee, why do I have to sell you?

(Can you tell how much I love this settee?) This may be one of my favorites pieces ever.
To recap, before…
…and after.

Sigh.
Miss Mustard Seed

Thanks so much to all who have voted to win me a bathroom makeover.  Please keep it up! 

Marian Parsons 

Paint Enthusiast | Writer | Artist | Designer

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86 Responses

  2. Ohhh, I LOVE this settee! She is adorable. I love the color, and the little flirty trim. I am not even a francophile and I would be sorely tempted to keep this one instead of selling it. Beautiful job!

  4. Normally I would find a settee a little fussy for my rowdy kids/house, but that is just lovely. I adore how the drop cloth is juxtaposed against the bright whites and ruffles…and those legs!

  15. Wow, you whipped that up quickly. I like the short pleats that work around the wood. (I have pickled wood, but I reupholstered the chairs a few years ago.) 🙁 There must be a way…

  20. I think that is one of my favorite pieces that you've done, Marian! She is beautiful! I wish I lived closer. I would snatch her up. I have been looking for a settee for a long time.

  25. OK. I am now living in sin. I am coveting that settee big time. I am not kidding! What is the price of that beauty? I may have to drive there to buy it, you know, so I won't be living in sin and all!

  29. Oh, it looks lovely! And fast! Man, you're fast! 🙂 I especially love this finish and I've been thinking of doing something similar to my bed (which is oak). So here's my question — did you deglaze or sand or liquid sand the original finish at all before you painted? Or did you just go for it? And did you topcoat it with poly or wax or anything afterwards?
    Thank you so much for all you do and share with all of us. You are an inspiration!
    ~Angela 🙂

  30. Oh this is without a doubt my favorite thing I've seen from you so far. Absolutely stunning job on the slip cover, too!

  31. If you need anymore convincing that you should keep it I suggest you let it hang out in your house until the next time you get desperate and have to raid your house again. It is fantastic, I couldn't let it go! And that has to be a record time turnaround!!!

  34. Be still my beating heart! If I didn't live in the midwest, I would be there today to buy it. You are simply one of the most talented gals around. You have been soooooo inspiring to me!! Love it, love it, love it!

  39. She looks so pretty in your home…
    you're Miss Mustard Seed… you don't HAVE to sell her!

    Is it terribly impolite to ask what you might GET for her up there though?

  40. This is really pretty Marian. I used to have a pneumatic stapler too, and it was fabulous! I thought you had made all the knife pleating by hand but realize it is a ready made trim, how much easier is that? I was thinking, where on earth does this girl find the time to do mini pleats by hand??? I may use this trim idea myself! Thx!

  47. Are you kidding??? It is absolutely breathtaking!! I really, really would purchase it if I lived near you (or if shipping wouldn't be outrageous)…and that's coming from a furniture refinisher…it would be wonderful to buy a piece so lovely and not have to touch a single thing. REALLY beautiful, Marian! And good call on the oreo face. -shaunna 🙂

  52. Fantastic job Marian. It looks so nice with your draperies, and since your house has been emptied with recent sells, I think you should keep it! It is the perfect height for your little ones to sit on.

  57. LOVE IT!! Just beautiful! I think that was really clever to make a slipcover for her…I can see why this will be so hard to give her up! I couldn't agree more on a pneumatic stapler…I just did a sofa makeover…I would have been lost without it! It makes the job so much easier. Always love to see what amazing thing you have done…great job!

    Hugs,
    Victoria

  58. Beautiful makeover. I'd love to know what kind of pneumatic stapler you bought. I'm sure I can speak for all your readers collectively that we'd love a short tutorial. Great job.
    April @ HomeHinges.com

  60. You just made me wish for a magic wallet (it fills up the way my magic laundry hamper does!)….I've got the PERFECT spot for that lovely lady right here in my she-cave. We could while away many happy hours chatting and doing embroidery, having tea & reading Bronte….*sigh*
    ♥hugs♥

  62. Marian,

    What a fabulous makeover. Was the little ruffle on the slip cover seat pre-made or did you have to make that tiny pleat? It really did turn out to be a beautiful piece–bet that will be bought as soon as it hits the booth.

    Karen at Garden, Home and Party

  66. Turned out just lovely! If only I had room for more furniture. And yes, that air gun/stapler is a MUST. Had to cover a chair in muslin before slipping it…took NO time to do that with the air gun stapler. Redoing dining chairs with that is easy, too!

    xox
    Nancy

  73. Simply in awe. Please feature THIS next FFF! 🙂

    Every square inch is so heavenly and so you. I had a tough time seeing you sell that last one with the matching pillows. And now this! Oy. This is killing me. LOL

    Donna

  74. Oh, my! This is gooorgeous!!! A piece worthy of passing down in your family! Oh-la-la!!

    I love that you did a slipcover for the seat, and what a lovely slipcover!!

  79. Oh Marian! She is just a stunner, to be sure!

    Love the slipcover cushion, especially for those of us with kids who are always "fighting the battle" of the spills, etc. How I love taking the slipcover off my sofa and washing them!

    I can see why this one is one of your fvoirtes…

    Cori

  82. That may be the most gorgeous piece of furniture I have ever seen. The slipcover absolutely makes it! I love the ruffles it creates around the arms. I have to keep this project in mind…it is fabulous!

  85. I love this, it’s absolutely beautiful. I would like to try and make one myself, what was the ruffle trim (the white pleats) made out of? You are truly talented nada wonderful inspiration!

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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