We were visiting the Marimekko flagship store in New York last Spring when I saw this fabric. It was upholstery weight and gorgeous and I knew it would be perfect for our old yellow sofa. I had bought a vintage yellow sofa off Craigslist earlier and I loved the shape but the velvet wasn’t in great condition. I knew that it would need to be reupholstered soon.
When we were getting ready to move to our new house I figured it was time to update the yellow sofa too so I ordered a big bolt of the beautiful fabric and sent it off to the upholsterer. When they returned with the sofa a few weeks later I couldn’t believe it! It came out even better than I hoped. The fabric is perfect because it’s a pattern but still feels like a neutral. I topped it with some beautiful Marimekko pillows and voila! It’s done.
My mom always had Marimekko patterns and fabrics in our home so I love that I will continue the tradition. Their patterns are so iconic and classic and fun! I’m also pretty obsessed with their clothing line. The dresses are not only beautiful but the quality is really unbelievable. Did you have Marimekko when you were growing up? Have you been to one of their new stores?
This post is sponsored by Marimekko.
Photos by Ashley Batz for Oh Happy Day
BrookeJ
November 25, 2013
OMG, absolutely gorgeous! Love the couch, and the pillows are so cute!
Franse liebt Meer
November 25, 2013
Fabulous♥! Marimekko is always worth visiting!
Sarah @ 702 Park Project
November 25, 2013
Amazing! This looks just absolutely fabulous!!
Anni
November 25, 2013
Wow, I love that. I’m usually not a fan of patterns on sofas, but that fabric is gorgeous.
Harper Anne
November 25, 2013
I want to sit on that.
Much better than the yellow that was always half falling off because of the broken zipper. Come visit soon!
Erin Girard
November 25, 2013
Would love to know who did the upholstery!
I used Cortland Upholstery in SF. I’ve used them before. They do a good job and their prices have gone up a little in the last 5 years (they used to be really affordable) but they still gave me the lowest quote of all the companies that bid.
Brandyn
November 25, 2013
Wow! What a fantastic and fun fabric for a sofa! Bravo!
Joan
November 25, 2013
Wow. What a great, modern make-over! I don’t see that fabric on the Marimekko website. Where did you get it?
We bought it in the store (we called the store to find who was carrying it.) The fabric is called Pirput Parput.
Noora
November 25, 2013
Wipii! Go Finland! Great sofa;)
maggie
November 25, 2013
That is so lovely! You make me want to start an upholstery project myself!
Sarah
November 25, 2013
Love this! Especially how it works with the dark paint on the walls and the bright colored pillows.
Kate
November 25, 2013
Gorgeous! Can you share how many yards of fabric you need for the reupholstery?
I had the upholsterer tell me how much to order. I think it was about 10 yards.
Kate
November 25, 2013
Ugh. *needed. Thanks!!
Brimful
November 25, 2013
This post couldn’t have come at a better time because I’m just starting to look at fabrics to reupholster an old couch. The current fabric is a khaki canvas…and this fabric you used on your couch would work well. I’m wondering what fabric safeguards you used to help keep stains from settling in. And what have you used to keep it clean?
Leah c
November 25, 2013
I, too, am curious on yardage required and actual cost—both of fabrics and the reupholstery work. I have a couch I love, but the micro suede fabric is in poor shape, and with two small boys —completely ruined. It is badly in need of recovering. However, everyone says it is cheaper to buy new. Please share some insight!!!
It is usually cheaper or close in price to buy new. But I love the shapes of vintage sofas and a lot of times the quality is significantly better in the older sofas. The sofa we bought for $50 off Craigslist. The upholstery job was $700 and the fabric was $600. It was about $1350 total, a little more than a new love seat but the quality is definitely solid and I have a one of a kind sofa. You can save money of course if you find fabric on sale or do some of the upholstery work yourself. One of my goals for 2014 is to take an upholstery class!
brittanyMakes
November 25, 2013
GREAT fabric!!! It looks spectacular on your sofa.
ANNE of "Anne's Scribbles and Doodles"
November 25, 2013
Wooooow! It looked so good a=on that backdrop and the pillow colors complemented the black and white pattern too!
http://annescribblesanddoodles.blogspot.com/
Sarah
November 26, 2013
Swoon…
jule
November 26, 2013
wow, this looks incredible! love marimekko! Personally, I had a marimekko bedsheet phase, …
Carolyn McDonald
November 26, 2013
Yes!, I stretched a panel of a marimekko print on a frame for my babies’ bedroom when we lived in Albuquerque 33 years ago (was there really a Marimekko store in Albuquerque in1979?) Too poor back then to buy more than one yard, it was the centerpiece of their room for years. I credit that print of children of many colors holding hands, with encouraging my own children’s lifelong interest in and love of people of every culture. Design matters.
Sarah
November 26, 2013
This looks really great. I thought that it will be a little too much but you’re right: it is a pattern but looks much more neutral than I expected. I love the Marimekko collection.
bonjourchiara
November 26, 2013
It’s several years that your blog inspires me! thank you very much
bonjourchiara.blogspot.com
Facebook Page Bonjourchiara
Martha
November 26, 2013
it is FABULOUS!
Kristen
November 26, 2013
Oh, wow!
And, yes, LOVE Marimekko fabrics. Awesome choice.
Jeanne
November 26, 2013
Lovely!
I find Marimekko’s prints so joyful! They even inspired my tote bags in my Etsy shop!
Sarah M.
November 27, 2013
What a great investment, I share your view when it comes to vintage furniture, better quality and worth the upholstery job! Thank you for sharing!
Where is the fabulous dress from?
Claire
November 27, 2013
I did grow up with Marimekko! …To the point that my mom’s diaper bag was a Marimekko Olkalaukku (had to look that one up), which both me and my sister re-discovered and bought as adults for ourselves. Love the sofa, it looks almost animal print, but neutral. Marimekko is just happy. (Good match for Oh Happy Day!)
lyndsay // coco cake land
November 28, 2013
ohmigosh jordan, DREAM sponsor! we had marimekko growing up but i never even knew it until i was older.. our mountain cabin has a giant 1970s marimekko fabric stretched on canvas as artwork…. it was always so trippy and cool looking to me growing up. now i covet it and wish i could bring it home to hang in my house!
the sofa looks sooo good too. lucky!! (and i love the photo series – especially that last photo! too cute!)
denise
November 29, 2013
For those of us in SF, would you mind telling us which upholsterer you used?
Cortland Upholstery.
Niina
December 5, 2013
What a great project! As a Finn I have been surrounded my Marimekko all my life in one form or another. It’s fun to see which Marimekko products and fabrics are taken up in other countries and contexts.