Sofa after new pillows

An easy way to really freshen a room is to update a few decorative pillows.  I always encourage investing in quality pieces of furniture that will stand the test of time.  When it comes to upholstery, I want to use materials that will be durable as well as beautiful.  Our den sofa was custom built for us about 17 years ago.  It is a classic English arm sofa with small turned legs on the front edge, and upholstered in black suede.  Through the years….with daily use….the suede has softened into a buttery leather with suedey areas still visible.  It has a great patina, and is still in perfect condition.  The decorative pillows were not so well for the wear.  We added a new rug to the den a couple of years ago, and never updated the pillows.  The ones we had worked, but they weren’t great.  We had a pair of pillows made from an old Turkish rug, and a pair of pillows in a Kirk Brummel velvet plaid with tassel trim.  The colors were dark on the black sofa, and it really needed brightening up.  My solution, Christopher Hyland’s silk tiger velvet on two giant pillows and a pair of kidney pillows in Brunschwig and Fils Savonnerie Velvet fabric with a Lee Jofa tassel fringe.  We did a simple construction on the pillows so they didn’t get too fancy.  Just pleated corners and no trim on the tiger velvet; and the same pleated corner detail on the others, combined with the simple gold tassel fringe.  The gold of the tiger velvet pops the gold in the Oushak carpet right out.  This was a great update to the room, gave a fresh look, and was quick and easy to do. 

Sofa before new pillows