Terry - If I didn't know better, I would think it was a slipcovered sofa.  It looks pretty good in the photos.  Not a bad effort.  Let us know how it works in practice.

Thanks Kimberly, it actually looks better in person.  Because I padded the seat and back and put batting on the arms, it looks real, that is until you sit on it:-)  I'll keep you posted.

I really like the idea for vacants. Sellers don't like to pay high prices for rentals and this could be a great alternative. Awesome Terry...now can you make about 100 more?

Of course I can Sheron, I'm actually negotiating with the owner of the business to provide covers for his furniture :-)

akee- as in "I found a key"

Cool. Thanks for sharing. I'm glad it worked out for you.

Terry, this looks great.  How long would you say you spent assembling this on-site?  I am assuming the 3 hours you mentioned referred to creating the slipcover.

Angel

Terry, I'm loving it.  My question is - can you take it apart and reassemble and how many times can you do this before it doesn't work anymore?  Betty

Terry, this looks really good!  What's a non- seamstress to do?

Tanya and I actually loved the bed!

My question: Now that it is slipcovered-is it portable and can you flatten it back down? It looks great but I'm a non-sewing person so I'm a little worried about being able to replicate this. Would a store slipcover be able to work? Thanks for the photos...

Terry - Great job.  I was very skeptical and I am now pleasantly surprised!  This will be an alternative for stager's with out a way to transport furniture as well as home seller's on a budget. Win-win.

Lashon, Angel, Betty, Marci and Cheri - the sofa isn't actually slip covered.  Here's my step by step, leaving out the details.  Actually my first choice was a SurFit slip cover, but the sofa doesn't have enough bulk for the cover to fit.  I think though there are some out there that might work.  The three hours I spend included, "thinking" about my next move, which of course meant having a beer!

Assemble each box

Put the three seat boxes side by side then put on the flat cardboard cover that comes with it

Cut the mattress pad to fit on top only, no wrapping around the edges

Take the queen sheet and drape it from the front bottom up, over the seats with about three inches hanging down the back and cut.

Put the three "back" boxes side by side

Cover from where the seat meets the back, and over the top to about 1 foot down the back with the rest of the mattress pad

Take the remaining piece of queen sheet and drape from about two inches below the mattress pad up over the top and all the way down the back

For the two arms I actually slip covered them, first putting a layer of thin batting on the top of each.

Everything is held in place with velcro, so its all removeable.  Actually the first two pictures were taken after I took it all apart.  So, all the boxes fold up and go back into the shipping boxes.

The velcro is still on the boxes and on the fabric so all I have to do is assemble and wrap it all up when I'm ready to use it.

I'm not sure how many times I can reuse this, I guess it would depend on how much of a beating it might take, but with all the padding it should last a good while.  Whew!  That was more than I intended on saying.

Janice, yep win-win as far as I'm concerned.  Total price was a little over 100 bucks!

WOW Terry! Great job!!  It is really great looking and certainly an alternative to actual heavy furniture rentals.  Adding the padding was really smart and adds to its 'authentic' flavor!!  Regards-Kathleen G.

Thanks much Kathleen!  Appreciate your support.

grosella - Cher

Terry - I'm so glad you shared the follow up with us.  I really didn't thing it was going to look good, but it looks great!!!  You did a wonderful job covering it.  Are you planning on getting any more of the furniture?  I'd like to see the table,  I bet if you painted the bottom box dark brown and put a table cloth over it, no one would know it wasn't a real table.  Then you could just use real chairs.  

If you figure out how to use a commercially available slip cover let us know,  the non - sewers are interested.  

Terry the Academy would like to present you with this COOKIE AWARD for your willingness to take a risk and your generosity in sharing the results with us.  You Rule!

Two....Two.....Two blogs in one.

That was meant to sound like the jingle from a minty gum commercial...sorry, Terry!

Okay, they LOOK AWESOME, but I still say that the furniture, in raw white form has a surreal, Andy Warhol, Metropolitan Museum of Art look by itself, and that THAT works in some (not many) places.  

What I don't think I read in this post is:  YOUR take on value.  YOUR take on labor.  YOUR take on result for a fairly "traditional" staging job.  Dish, girl.....DISH!

Cheers, and lots of respect for stickin' your neck out there, from DC!

    Jaynee

"lulita":  I'm not even goin' there.   

Terry - It's definitely better looking than I thought it would be!  And, my heart goes out to you for all the effort it took to get the thing covered!

Jaynee - your post cracked me up!  I needed a laugh.  Thanks

Kathy

Thanks Maureen.  I think this stuff may revolutionize the staging industry :-)  Actually I want to get some better fabric and give it another try.  I used sheets because they were cheap.  I think some upholstery fabric will make it look even better.  One thing I hadn't mentioned is that the sofa could also be used as a love seat by removing one section.  Then you'd have a love seat and a slipper chair.  The possibilities are endless!  Will keep you posted on any further plans.  And yeah I'd like to try another slip cover.  The one I bought was too heavy and too bulky.

abiu - goodbye in French

Hi Terry!  Great info and I am amazed at how good it looks with your cover job!  It will be interesting to see if it takes off in the industry!

OMG Maureen, the cookie award.  I am so speechless.  Cookies are my second favorite food group, after beer of course!  As for taking a risk, thats what its all about.  And sharing with AR.  I've learned so much from all of you, I'm the one that should be giving out awards!

Jaynee, here's my take.  The price is right!  Its very easy to cover, after you figure it out, and it looks like the real thing.  The pictures which I took and characteristically for me SUCK really don't do it justice.  I can see where it could be tweaked to look like individual cushions, get fancy and add cording, etc.  But thats for another time.  I wanted something quick, easy and cheap for the prototype.  For me, taking it apart and storing in skinny boxes, is worth a lot.  I agree about the white, but the boxes without a cover just look like boxes.  Wouldn't work.

Kathy, thanks!  Actually it was a fun project.  Having to use the other side of my brain for a change was a challenge :-)  I'll post the reveal on the next cover I do, something a little more "upholstery" looking.  Should be a snap.

Karen, I can see myself making my fortune in cardboard box furniture slip covers :-)  But I can realistically see these pieces being used in staging.  It just may revolutionize the industry.

ananasnaja - the Tzar's missing daughter

Jaynee -

lulita - a movie with Richard Burton

Terry,

Thanks for doing this amazing job and sharing all the details with us!  I like the idea of being able to split the sofa into a loveseat and slipper chair ~ that is too cool!  I hope the company takes a serious look at your proposal to provide slipcovers for their products....you may have opened up a whole new world for yourself, lady!!  Great job!

Wow. Can it be disassembled to make it easier to move? I'm not totally convinced since it takes so long to upholster... and time is money. I admit the cost is really good and it does look much better covered. The fabric and pillows make a big difference. You are pretty crafty! Well done.

You CRACK ME UP!  Always a bright spot to read your writing.....I don't even CARE what you're writing about; it's ALL GOOD!

Furniture looks great.  I agree the hauling factor is HUGE!  Congratulations, you cute thing!

Cackles, and Cheers, from DC....

'lulita':  an up coming animated Disney release about a young Ocelot named Dolores who has to go away to Camp GiveALot because her mother is ill.  Voices:  Abigail Breslin, Russell Crowe, and the members of Nickelback.

Maureen B. would that I could morph this into a multi million dollar slip cover industry.  I don't think I'm that motivated at the moment, but thats how fortunes are made aren't they?  I decided last night to split the unit and try the loveseat/chair angle.  Now that I know how to do it, should be a snap.

Rachel, yes it all comes apart, in fact the pictures I took of the "before" were actually taken as I took it apart to pack in the shipping boxes.

Jaynee, YOU crack ME up!  I like your daffynition of lulita better than mine.  You're starting to sound like Yvonne! Do you live in Kensington MD?  I used to live in Silver Spring.

manis - is a praying manis that is not in church

Wow, wow, wow!  Alright, I'm choking on the feathers of the crow I just had to eat....those feet are bony!  It looks great - you're a genius, *extremely* talented and dare I say it...probably a trendsetter for the staging industry.

Thanks for not stoning me earlier.

Jackie

Terry I am impressed! Did you have to iron the sheet cause it looks really great. Will you be putting little signs on it so no one sits in it repeatedly at showings?

Thank you for sharing your hard work!

Jackie, I would never stone you.  I myself wondered if it could be done.

Karen, yes I had to iron the sheets.  I'm not sure how to handle the being sat upon problem.  Maybe a nice little sign that says something like "please do not sit on sofa, it is not real"?  Of course then everyone will have to try it out eh?  I think I'll have to cross that bridge when I come to it.  Thanks for all your support!!!!!  And thanks for contacting Bob in advance to let him know what problems I had getting customer service.

Terry, very original! In a photograph, no one would know the difference. Portability sounds good. I hope no one spills any water on it. Moe was right, you deserve a cookie!

Thanks Sue, and actually it looks better in person than in the pictures.  Now about the water thing, something I hadn't thought about.  Can definitely put a layer of plastic under the egg crate.  Thanks for mentioning.

Too funny!!!!  I've actaully heard about the "cardboard furniture" but haven't set eyes on it yet myself.

I have to say I'm pretty darn impressed with all of your efforts Terry.

Nice work!

All the best,

Beth

Thanks Beth!  Appreciate you nice comments.  It actually was not at all hard to do, and definitely something I am anxious to use.  Will be interesting to hear comments by home lookers.

Where have I been?  Cardboard furniture?  This is amazing wonderful super!  The pictures are fabulous, Terry, and the upholstery, color, size options, the price, the portability....incredible.  And, to keep people from sitting...a velvet or satin rope across like in museums, elegant buy prohibitive.  Definitely cookie-worthy post, Maureen.  I've got to go check their site out immediately.  Love this rainy place...learning something new every day!

Excellent Patricia.  I was quite thrilled at how it turned out and can't wait to use it.  I keep wondering how I'm going to explain to my next vacant client "yes I do have a sofa" :-)  I do plan on ordering the beds and decided today to remove one section of the sofa and make a loveseat cover and slipper chair.  Will post that when finished.  Thanks for your nice comments!

Terry:  Just back from my IAHSP World Wide Staging Day, so I've been a bit "out" for the last few days.  Will post about this, or at least send you a personal link, at some point soon.

Patricia (Pat?....not sure):  Isn't Terry FABULICIOUS?  We must get together, as we're neighbors.  See above....will talk more.

I'm interested in the ancillary comments on those who own this furniture.  I think someone in our midst (subliminal message: TERRY TERRY TERRY TERRY) should work on the collateral pieces, which would be standardized padding and slipcovers...(subliminal message: TERRY TERRY TERRY TERRY) in amazing and cutting-edge colors because we stagers are fabulicious too, don't think you're the only one, by the way, deep intake of breath).  This, however, may not be reasonable (subliminal message: TERRY TERRY TERRY TERRY). 

Cheers! from DC...

    Jaynee

"jojoba".  Only because I know how this is pronounced, which is only because my sister invested TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS in this stupid little bean about 30 years ago when it was supposed to be the hottest thing since CALCULATORS and lost EVERYTHING, deep intake of breath, I offer this:  She's walkin' the streets, with her friend who's walking the streets, HOWEVER, they're really female lawyers who lost in the dot.com bubble, and are only raising capital to become the first women to sell Real Estate on Jupiter, deep intake of breath.  Whew. 

Jaynee, huh?  Subliminal message, what cutting edge color would you like to see?  Check out my reply to Patricia.  The task is at hand :-)

Aha.....Terry.....I'm working on a post about color, which should hit tomorrow/Tuesday.  Now I see your comment regarding negotiations with FF owners......you're a smart.....uh.....COOKIE!

Cheers, from DC!

    Jaynee

(World Wide Staging Week is a week dedicated to community service within IAHSP, the non-profit/educational arm of Staged Homes.  Here are photos of the Central Maryland Chapter's project at Ronald McDonald House here in DC, near Children's Hospital.)

"luma":  wool from a long-necked dromedary that glows in the dark

Terry- looks really nice.  Great, lightweight alternative, two looks in one (sofe and loveseat) and makes for easy storage as well.  What more could a stager ask for?

I'm going to order this!  They look great!  If you are sharing your upholstery instructions, I would surely appreciate them!

Jaynee, tomorrow is Monday :-)  What is an FF owner?

Cheryl-Anne, couldn't ask for more than that!

Lisa, when you receive your sofa let me know and I'll send you step by step instructions.

Yeah....should hit tomorrow OR (not slash....sorry) Tuesday.

FF is Fake Furniture.....isn't that the name of the company?  or is that just the name of this amazing post?

Cheers! from DC...

    Jaynee

"buni":  a very very very very very small wabbit
 

Oh duh Jaynee!  Yes the company is fakefurniture.com.  Hey I got buni too last time.  He must be running around the internet.

Interesting... I think putting down some egg crate is a good idea to add some cushion so the sofa doesn't look so rigid. But overall it looks pretty good for cardboard boxes! I don't think people would know unless they flip over the cover. Hmm interesting.... I didn't realize the cardboard is reinforced. I may just order one myself then. 

Cindy, GO FOR IT!  You seem to be a creative person so it should be an easy do for you.  Maybe you'll come up with an even better plan of attack!  Thanks for commenting!

I think the beds are great ideas!  I am going to be doing a couple of trade shows and this will be a heck of alot easier to cart, carry and install.  I will figure out something to soften those corners.  I'm sure I'll think of more uses as time goes by!

I think the beds are great ideas!  I am going to be doing a couple of trade shows and this will be a heck of alot easier to cart, carry and install.  I will figure out something to soften those corners.  I'm sure I'll think of more uses as time goes by!

Cool Lynn, please let us know how it goes.  I think with the beds you may not have to do anything because the headboards look low enough to be covered by the pillows.  If you do soften it try batting, thats what I used on the arms.  Good luck and please post a blog for all to see.

Terry, I don't know where I was when you posted this. Asleep? The only reason I knew it was around was because I saw your reference to it on someone else's blog. That is why I'm so late getting here. I read some of the comments and then gave up. Too many! That is a good thing. Another good thing -- your pictures aren't nearly as bad as YOU think. The last good thing -- these do look pretty interesting. I agree with Jaynee. I think there are some (very few) places this would work without any cover. Way cool, gal! 

Hi Terry, Sorry it's taken so long for me to find and comment, but WOW, what a transformation!  AND now the entreprenaur in your should take that slipcover plan and make a fortune with it!  You go girl!

Yvonne, I know you must have been asleep at the wheel.  10-4 girfriend?  But now you are alert and with the program.  Thanks for your nice comments.

Ginger - of course I'm going to make a fortune in the cardboard box furniture slip covering business!  Not!  Thanks for your nice comments.  I had fun doing it and am scouting out fabric to do a love seat and slipper chair. 

That is wild, I had a realtor just ask me where she could buy cardboard furniture, I thought she was kidding but hey if it works why not? Was it worth all the hard work for you?? YOU have patience and talent

Phyllis Pafumi 

I had heard about this but didn't believe it! You did a wonderful job.  It looks great.  I am afraid though that I don't have the patience!  

When is a company going to come out with lightweight furniture for staging that is in between cardboard and regular furniture : )

Terry..

Well they really do look pretty nice in the pictures, I was worried they would look like rogers stage when he used cardboard for furniture on national television, but not at all.

Looks great, hope you all the best with the slip covers.

Brian Bloom

Terry..

Well they really do look pretty nice in the pictures, I was worried they would look like rogers stage when he used cardboard for furniture on national television, but not at all.

Looks great, hope you all the best with the slip covers.

Brian Bloom

Phyllis - thanks for the compliment!  It didnt really take much patience, nor talent, just a plan of action!

Ah come on Jo, you can do it!

Wendy, I know. Wouldn't it be nice if we could find something that looks nice but is feather light?  There is a company that makes ready to assemble sofas and chairs and the prices are not bad.  But I don't like the look of them.  Too stiff and upright looking.  If you'd like to check out their website shoot me an email and I'll send you the address.

Brian - uncovered they actually look better than Roger's.  But I wouldn't use them that way.

I would be worried about somebody sitting on it.

Do you put a note somewhere about not sitting on it?

What if the owner wants them to convey with the house (joke)

Frank

Hi Frank, thanks for stopping by.  I haven't used it but will put a note on it.  However, both my husband and I sat on it at the same time and had no issues.  The seat boxes are reinforced.  Would be funny if someone wanted the furniture to convey wouldn't it?  They'd be in for a huge surprise!  Where are you in N VA?  I lived in Herndon for 30 years.