The biggest cost in making a sofa is the labor/time, thus why recovering one cost almost just as much as a new one.
It is sometimes easier to have furniture made than to find things.
Finding a new couch is a daunting process. New couches are not as soft or deep as you want. I prefer a long, single bench because then it becomes a day bed. These are things that you can buy at a flea market and make exactly what you want.
I've never been tempted to do these hideous furniture shoes.
I'm usually able to reuse at least 50 percent of the clients' furniture. Most times, I'll just clean it up, make it look like new, and that's the best way to save money.
I actually did an upholstery course a little while ago and have a brand-new sewing machine with my name on it, ready to start tearing apart the soft furnishings in my house.
You don't need to rip open walls to transform a space. One of the big things that count is furniture design and painting - things you can do yourself - that alone can transform the space.
My ideal relaxation is working on upholstry. I spend hours in junk shops buying furniture. I do all the upholstery work myself, and it's like therapy.
