Expert: Eileen Cronk - 2/2/2008

Question
We have just bought a new home, which we have been renovating. We love our nutmeg leather sofa and want to use it in our new home but one of the seat tops is cracking. I have seen leather furniture with beautiful fabrics upholstered to the seats and back of the sofa. Is this possible with our sofa? If not what is another option?  Now, I know you don't specialize in brick fireplaces but that is another issue we have in our new home. The brick fireplace is dark and ugly and is actually a WHOLE WALL. Should we paint it a cream color (this is what I have been planning to do)? Any advice?

Answer
Hi Anna
Nice to hear from you.
This question is a bit out of my line Anna but I know its important to you.
I have in the past recovered my own sofa a couple of times but this certainly does not qualify me as an expert LOL.
I can tell you however that what you want to do is possible but it involves stripping a lot of the fabric off or at least removing all the staples holding the leather in place over the entire sofa to accomplish it.
After stripping a sofa of the old fabric, there is a sequence that must be followed to replace it.
The first piece to go back on is the seat or decking. The next is the back followed by the arms. So you see the two areas you wish to replace are the last to be removed when stripping a sofa and the first to be put on in a recover job. Its not easy.
I won't go into any more detail but understand this will be as expensive as a total new recover.
I loved my old sofa and thats why I have recovered it twice so I fully understand you loving yours.
I'm sure you have tried the old "stand by" of a throw to cover the seat and back...a lot of work just keeping it straight LOL
No options but a recover.
About the brick wall/fireplace..you are right this is way out of my line but I am always glad to offer an opinion.
What about hanging floor to ceiling drapery up to a safe distance from the fireplace on either side to conceal some of the brick wall?
The rest could be painted, but I would somehow Create a separation between the drapery and the brick with perhaps small floor to ceiling book units or even a trim work of some kind tied in with some crown molding across the fireplace.
Certainly the entire wall could be painted but it needs something on it as well.
Hope this helps a tiny bit.
Kindest Regards
Eileen