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 This really could be two posts, but I decided to fit it all into one.  The truth is, after a week of hard work, I have a lot of things to share and I’m getting antsy to get them posted!

First of all, here is another one of our new European colours in the MMS Milk Paint line…

 It’s a rich greige that many of our customers have been requesting and it seemed fitting for the new line of subtle colors.  It’s definitely a chameleon color, as you can see in the collage above.  It looks more beige on the raw wood sample, warm gray on the side table (by Allison of The Golden Sycamore) and a richer gray on the settee frame.

For those who don’t know, Schloss means castle in German.

This color reminded me of the gray and beige variations in the stonework.  (This is the Marienburg Castle in Hanover.)

I immediately pictured Schloss on the frame of a chair or settee, against nubby cream upholstery and I just happened to have a sofa I found on Craig’s List, waiting for a makeover.

I didn’t like how the separate cushions looked on this particular piece, so I decided to make them one, seamless cushion.  I stripped off the old upholstery and removed the covers from the loose cushions.

Foam is reeeeeally expensive and I wanted to keep the resale cost on this piece reasonable, so I decided to use the existing foam.  Obviously, I didn’t want the gaps to show, so I stuffed them with batting and then covered it with two layers of thick, cotton upholstery batting (not just quilt batting.)

While I worked on the stripping, Kriste painted the frame in one coat of Schloss without the bonding agent and we ended up with some really great chipping on the frame.

 

schloss | miss mustard seed

I lightly distressed the frame with a fine sanding sponge and then upholstered the piece in a single antique hemp sheet, imperfections and all.  Cream cotton gimp was hot glued on to hide the staples.

After much discussion, Kriste and I decided to leave the cane natural and I really think that makes this piece.  The honey-colored, woven caning against the chippy, greige paint and the nubby hemp sheet provide a real textural feast for the eyes.

And, I had a blast styling and photographing this piece…

The main thing I was looking at as I styled was texture.  The colors are all very soft, so it needed a lot of texture to make it interesting.

The sign above the sofa is a scrap board painted in Artissimo and my collection of old paint brushes is hung from a piece of a broken table leaf.

We added things like the tea cup and saucer, the flowers and the basket of magazines to bring a bit of life to the space.

I hung the brushes on the table leaf scrap with simple nails and even used the existing hinges to hang the piece on the wall.  I’ve collected the brushes from yard sales, antique stores and a few off of Etsy.  I think all of them were $5.00 or less.

Because the star of this post is really the sofa, I remove the “coffee table” and some accessories, so it can be better seen.

And, because these are so fun, here’s a before and after picture…

This piece is for sale in my studio for $285.

Speaking of the studio, we’ve been doing a lot of work to spruce the place up and get it ready for our first workshops later this week.  I’ll share some pictures along with the address and times of the workshops.  We have some things for sale in addition to the settee (ironstone, a farm table, the old wardrobe from my bedroom, the Arabesque dresser, MMS Milk Paint, including the new European colors, etc.), so if you’re interested in purchasing something or just stopping by to say hello, after the workshops would be a good time.

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    40 Comments

    1. Sharon Hankins

      Lovely! I can’t wait to stock these Euro colours here in Australia. Yummy! Beautiful styling as always, Marion.

    2. Karen

      Gorgeous, so chic! Love both the new paint color and the sofa makeover. I really like the natural cane color with the greige painted frame.

    3. Lin

      The sofa is now tres chic! Love the colors. You girls did a great job. Oh how I love your paint brush art!

    4. Lauren Baxter

      This is a lovely piece! Styled and photographed so well! I love this!

    5. Teresa

      I really love how the sofa turned out…so beautiful! I also agree that making it all one seamless cushion instead of three separate cushions and keeping the cane natural really was a good choice as well.

      BTW…..Your new European colour line is gorgeous!

    6. Karen

      Gorgeous! that is another beautiful color. The sette looks like a whole new piece. I like one cushion much better than the three that was there before. I’m loving the European colors, they are exactly the shades that I love to use, I’m dying to see the the rest.

    7. Karen

      Awesome couch, but I LOVE the collection of paint brushes.

    8. vie de joie

      Marion, it’s beautiful! And just the inspiration I needed for a similar piece I picked up at a thrift store! The lines of mine aren’t nearly as pretty as yours, but I have been stuck on what to do with it for months! Thank you for the inspirational nudge…again=0). Blessings!

    9. Cynthia - Clockwork Interiors

      Beautiful transformation, and boy you weren’t kidding–you do keep your prices low–just wished I lived in Pennsylvania! Take care.

    10. brittanyMakes

      oh man, your brush collection is amazing! and that is a steal for that piece. I really like what you and kriste got going on lately 🙂

    11. mary

      So lovely – the sofa and the new paint color!

      Can you recommend a good source for “thick, cotton upholstery batting”? Would appreciate it very much! Thanks for all your hard work, this is one of my daily visits… 🙂

      • Patty

        I bought great quality batting on-line from DIY Upholstery Supplies. They provide great “how to” videos which is how I found them. I hate paying for postage but Joann’s doesn’t have this kind of batting and most of the other fabric stores are either out of business or no long stock upholstery supplies. Good luck.

    12. Nancy

      I’m SOOOOOO glad that I do not live close to you Marion! I couldn’t afford it! I would buy everything from you!! Beautiful as always 🙂

    13. lisa Bivona

      You always make heart, skip a beat…pitter patter.
      great work.

    14. Diane | An Extraordinary Day

      Beautiful!! The fabric is perfect! Personally I think I might like one full cushion rather than no cushion… but it’s gorgeous this way as well. And certainly a steal!! I cannot believe you have such a low price tag for the work you have into it. If only I didn’t live so far. 😉 Then again….

    15. Jelena

      I am usually not into gray tones, but this sofa looks great with the new paint color and new upholstery!

    16. Roseann D'Elia

      Perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love the Cushion. Now if I could get some images of my place to you. So.o.o.o.o. need help with wall colors.

    17. MaryLisa Noyes

      looks amazing….the paint brushes are my favorite! such character…

    18. Jo @ Simple Pleasures Vintage

      Oh, I have the perfect piece for this new color! When will it be available?
      And I love what your did with the sofa. I’m sure it has sold already. 🙁

    19. Adriana

      Just beautiful!!! Did you post the dimensions? Does this sit high enough for a dining table?

      • marian

        I didn’t post the dimensions, but I can measure it at the studio. I think it would look okay at a dining room table, but would probably be too low when someone sites on it.

    20. Jeanine C.

      I love how the names fit these European colors! Love your paint!

    21. Glenda

      Love, love, love the new European Colours. I’ll have to start junkin’ to find a new piece to work on.

    22. Cynthia

      Way to go girls! I’m not a gray girl~ but this is lovely color : )

    23. Toni LeBlanc

      So how do you buy your new paint colors?

    24. Deb

      Love the new color! Think the sofa turned out well except for the patch job. Think that could have been handled better.

    25. Jessica @ Dear Emmeline

      Such a pretty color! Love the styling on this piece too. Your hanging paintbrush art is so fun and personal.

      We’ve been on the hunt for a wardrobe for my daughters room (we lost 1/2 of her small closet to duct work for central air/heat. You mentioned you have one for sale. Would you mind sending me a link to a pic, dimensions, and price? I’d really appreciate it!

    26. Joanna

      Looks fantastic! How I’d love to buy it… If only I lived in the US! 🙁

    27. MJ

      Imagine my surprise to see a kissing cousin of the sofa taking up space in my garage, between the two cars. Mine has holes in the 3 panels of caning on the back with three wooden carved decorative features on each panels. (We might have twins instead of cousins!!!)

      I was going to cover the back with fabric, but it looks like you replaced damaged cane with a single large piece, which makes the whole project a lot easier to rehab than what I was planning for.

      Thanks for sharing this lovely job, which gives me hope I’ll get mine done before long. I was thinking of mine as a daybed….it’s so Looong and has one looong seating area.! Cost me about $35 at an auction and you have shown me how to finish it without spending a fortune. I hope yours sells soon. It looks great.

    28. Pam

      Marian,
      Perhaps I missed the measurements on this piece for sale?

    29. Loretta

      Oh! I want this piece! Too bad I’m so far away!

    30. Red

      Hi Marian
      I wonder if you can help? I have some chairs with rattan backs like this sofa. I want to paint the wood but leave the rattan work alone. However,the rattan needs to either be cleaned or stained as it’s so uneven (not in a good way). Do you have any suggestions as to how I might do this please?

    31. julie

      I LOVE this piece as well! Really cool. And I’m digging your new color. But I just can’t wrap my head around the “repair” on the cushion cover. In a NEWLY upholstered piece!?! You are the Queen of Makeovers, Marian, but I’m scratching my head over this one??

      • marian

        What you can’t see in the pictures is that there are two seams that run the length of the sofa and then that repair. It is upholstered in an antique hemp sheets, so that comes with imperfections. I honestly like the character! 🙂

    32. Rhonda

      I absolutely love this sofa, imperfect hemp upholstery and all !!! Wish I was closer, I’d be hauling it off as we speak !!! Love the use of the vintage fabric with such character. I am drawn more to the “flawed” fabrics and grain sacks even. Luv the grain sacks with patches. Luv the collection of brushes too !!! Have a blessed day Marian !!!

    33. Lauralee

      My son is studying for a spelling bee. I was just giving him words out of the study booklet – they were words derived from German. Schloss – was on the list! I was able to tell him both the actual meaning and the fact that it was one of your milk paint colors. There may have been an eye roll. 🙂

    34. marian

      LOL! I love it!

    35. Sylvie

      Thank you for the invitation to see and enjoy your talent. Its so awesome to witness another’s creative spark fly. Those once busy brushes sure are a story of imagination of your joyous collection put out to create more imaginings. The seat is warm and as the brushes, talks it’s story of a cozy day every day. Sure enjoyed the process.

    36. Monique DEnoncin

      Very beautiful color that grey, I have something in mind that will be getting that Schloss paint.
      The sofa is so nice this way.

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