Years ago I bookmarked this post that Courtney from Style Court wrote for Design*Sponge, and even today I still love seeing the before and after furniture projects from Ruthie Sommers.
I think they just don’t make furniture like they used to – so why not find a gorgeous (and inexpensive!) antique or vintage piece and then make it totally your own with paint or upholstery?
Some Hump Day inspiration for you…
Before
After
Before
After
Before
After
Before
After
And saving my favorite for last…
Before #1
Before #2
And the lovely After (from Ruthie’s own bedroom)
I have been saving those pictures for awhile now, and I actually just took a look at them the other day. The little sofa in her bedroom is covet worthy.
At one time I was going to try and duplicate it using Ikea's wood frame sofa. You could cut the cross section out of a piece of MDF and install it before upholstery. You could do the same with the scallops on the bottom.
I never used the idea…maybe someone else will.
I am always amazed how revamped and cool some very old pieces can look with a little hard work and creativity!
Your faves are my faves. It gets a "ow ow"!
That last after picture made me swoon!
You are constantly inspiring me to paint: Thank you!
Beautiful work, love, love, love it…
These are so inspiring! Redoing an old piece of furniture is one of my favorite projects…it is so satisfying to see what can be done with a little vision! Janell
Thank you for highlighting these Ruthie Sommers transformations! I've been saving the last photo, of the spectacular loveseat, as inspiration for flea market- and thrift store-hunting
Do you know when her book is coming out? I would love to see more of her work!
I've seen this before and love it!!
I enjoyed seeing you on Nate the other day. You looked great!
those are absolutely amazing. she's such a genius. I'm similarly amazed when I see what you can do to a piece (or a room for that matter).
I’m with you. I can’t think of anything more exhilarating than finding a hidden treasure on Craigslist. (I have a Craigslist addiction, by the way. It’s a serious problem.) Recently we revamped our condo with items like repurposed club chairs from my parents, a couple Paul McCobb tables from CL and the sweetest acrylic bar cart in this history of the world. I couldn’t be happier!
that chest re-do made me heart skip a little…
These are amazing! The coral love seat is especially dreamy! That is my problem at antique stores, I don't have a very good eye for what something could become, I'm too focused on what it is right now.
that last before and after is just stunning! Love the black piping on that last little sofa.
Oh how I adore Ms. Ruthie. This post was such a treat!!
WOW!! I am in love with that last picture of the sofa and dresser. I want those in my house! Thanks so much for sharing. I'm now on the lookout for a couch like that.
I agree—-furniture isn't made like it used to be! Love this post; keeping some of these photos as inspiration as the sis and I head out to the Rose Bowl flea market this weekend. Thank you!
That red chest is unbelievable but my favorites are the pink chairs!
So inspiring! Thanks!
That red dresser is divine. I am crushing right now.
Very inspiring, but great vintage furniture like that is rarely cheap, in my experience. Add an amazing fabric, like she does, and the cost of a great upholsterer, and you are definitely out of the budget category. It does tend to be worth it, its just hard to trust your imagination when you are investing so much money, to do such a dramatic revamp.
Happily ever "afters" – now that is my motto!
Love the afters.
pve
Oh gosh. I love these. All of them.
Yum.
That last one really is GENIUS!
I love the idea of doing one fabric for the front and another for the back. So artistic! Thanks for sharing, Jenny!
I agree with Sherry Hart. It is amazing.
Wow! These transformations are amazing!!!
i'm inspired…i want to makeover something…everything…
http://portlandsunshine.blogspot.com/2010/10/before-and-after-fabulousness.html
love your blog. thanks for being.
Perfectly gorgeous!!!!
what amazing revamps, I love them all but absolutely adore the last one!
I totally love before and afters! Thanks for posting this for us to enjoy.
I particularly love the first sofa.
Amazing transformations! I can't get over the change. Now I'm sorry for things I've given away.
That last chest looks incredible… I'm trying to figure out colors for a couple of campaign dressers and I may have found it! Thanks!
I would love to know where she finds all of those great pieces. My thrift stores aren't that good. But those are a treat to the eye.
I LOVE the two chairs covered in China Seas Lyford and the final image of the white and black piped love seat- gorgeous!!
I'm just about to try redoing a pair of bergere chairs myslef- these images provided lots of inspiration- thanks!
Christine
http://bijouandboheme.blogspot.com/
Great post! Do you know the name of the fabric on Drew's sofa? I love the color and vintage look of it! Let me know. Thank you!
From Bali With Love,
Anna
http://annaelizabethpoole.blogspot.com/
what amazing revamps. Really you have a gorgeous blog which have great design and work.
Yes no doubt this blog can became a gorgeous blog but in my point of view the images of those furniture are the cream of this post which make this blog post so attracting.