Crate and Barrel Sketch

So I know I told you in a previous post about the Crate & Barrel chair I designed for the Designer Custom Challenge. This challenge was so much fun- whether I win or not- it was a blast designing my very own chair! The chair I selected was the Essex Chair which is a Lee Industries frame sold at Crate & Barrel. beautiful!

Then I went on the Lee website and into Crate and Barrel and selected my fabrics....my inspiration was to design a chair for a Ladies Library. Imagine a powerhouse, female CEO. Libraries are typically designed with dark woods, leathers and menswear patterns. I decided to give that a little twist with some stripes, hounds tooth and florals...

Then I came home, broke out the old colored pencils and got to sketching...this was my final design....

It might be hard to tell from the sketch but the seat is done in a light ticking stripe, the back seat cushion is a light neutral floral and the back and base of the seat is done in a khaki hounds-tooth fabric. I think they announce winners this month so we'll see what happens! The best part is that anyone can really design their own chair by visiting Crate & Barrel and selecting from their gorgeous frames and fabrics!

I finally took the plunge...with a new SOFA!

So, after much hemming and hawing I finally bought a couch for my living room! I must say I am so excited that I waited because I feel like this couch was meant to be mine. First, before my big reveal...a little background on my living room: it is a mish-mosh of old furniture that I inherited from my husband's apartment in NYC along with some pieces I bought when we first moved in. While the living room is one of the first rooms you see when you enter my home, I wasn't too inclined to buy a new sofa when the kids were young. Now that my babies are 8&6, we are out of the days of bottles, sippy cups and Cheerios so I felt it was time to spruce this room up. We don't use it as a main family room but we do use it when we have company over for holidays or birthdays because it is off the dining room and kitchen. The living room is also my dog, Fergie's, favorite room. The sofa serves as a step into our big bay window where Fergie spends most of her time.

That being said, I assessed my needs & wants in a sofa for our living room as I do for all my clients and this is what I came up with:
NEEDS:
Durable fabric to withstand Fergie
Dark color to withstand stains
About 90" to accommodate three people
Three cushions so the three people will have personal space
Good looking- not just functional since it is visible through the front door

WANTS
a slightly rolled English arm- not too bulky though
No skirt- I wanted exposed legs
Casters- no reason- I just think they are super cool on an exposed leg sofa 
Velvety fabric- I just wanted that sexy velvet feel!

After taking all of these needs and wants into consideration it lead me to this beauty....

It is the #3043 Sofa by Lee Industries. (Sorry for the fuzzy picture)

Lee Industries

Source: leeindustries.com via Joanne on Pinterest

It is upholstered in Carson Sable which is a brown velvety fabric that seems comfy and durable for the dog and kids.

Source: leeindustries.com via Joanne on Pinterest

I love the exposed gorgeous wooden legs with the casters- easy to keep clean and Swiff underneath. I especially love that there are three seat cushions- every hiney has a seat. While I loved many sofas with two larger cushions- the living room is where we most often sit when I entertain and I'd hate to have someone sitting on a crack between cushions. At 91" this sofa can comfortably seat three people so now they can each have their own cushion. It's about personal space people...the good news is- it is being delivered on Saturday so I will have it for Thanksgiving! More photos to come...now I need pillows, table, etc....