My latest find: Mid-Century Edward Wormley Dunbar Sofa

In April, my boyfriend and I started talking about moving in together. I had been looking in the new furniture stores for a sofa suitable for my boyfriend's house. I was cheating on my work at another local Antique Shop, when I stumbled upon a hideous lime green sofa that was barely visible under a pile of stuff.


This photo was taken on my phone, which is great to do when your out shopping

I moved things off of the sofa and climbed over some other furniture to sit down. It was surprisingly comfortable. The upholstery was hideous and a little frayed on the corners. The sofa had a great slightly curved shape and was really low.

I checked the price tag and couldn't believe my eyes - $250. A great price! I left the store to think it over. I went to get some lunch because antique shopping makes me faint and I stopped in the nearest fabric store. They happened to be having a 50% sale on all the upholstery fabrics. I found one in a sale bin for $5 per yard, which I loved. I decided to go back and buy the sofa. And then I took a separate trip to the fabric store and got the sale fabric.

A few days later the sofa was delivered to my house. I turned it over and checked under all of the cushions for marking and to see the condition. I found a couple of interesting things:

1. the price tag for the person who bought it before me - $50. An even better price than I paid!
2. the signature Dunbar fabric used under the cushions and a label.

I set to researching the couch online. Turns out this sofa was made sometime during the 1950s and was designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar Furniture Company. It is truly a great specimen of Mid-Century Modern furniture and in great condition. The sofa turns out to be worth a great deal of money as well, so I was extremely happy with my good luck.

Unfortunately after I measured the sofa, I didn't have enough fabric and since I bought the entire remaining roll of the sale fabric, there was no more available. The fabric store was nice enough to let me return it since it was still whole. I ended up visiting another upholstery fabric store on the suggestion of a coworker and I found so many fabrics to choose from. The selection they had was overwhelming. I finally found another fabric I loved. It wasn't as good as the original price, but it was a good price for upholstery fabric at $12.99 per yard.

Now I am all ready to go with the re-upholstering project, but since I am planning to move in 6 weeks, I am going to wait to begin after the move is complete. So, I'm afraid you'll have to check back in a couple months to see how it turns out.