Calling all home decor lovers who seek cozy and pretty but don’t want to spend a fortune! If you are like me, and love to change things up, I have great news for you! I am delighted to feature an amazing artist that transformed my worn out love seat into what looks like a brand new piece. Allow me to share how I happened upon this gal.

Wine night is a favorite past time of mine to share with friends and family. Last fall, a group of girlfriends got together for the premier of Downton Abbey. I am naturally drawn to pretty things, so I quick snatched what looked to be the comfiest seat in the living room. While chatting throughout the evening, I couldn’t help but swoon over the chair I was seated in. It was exactly the shabby chic style I was looking for. I had a chair picked out in Crate and Barrel for a year or so, and just didn’t want to splurge. You see, we didn’t really need that extra chair, but with the new sectional attired in neutrals I purchased the year before, this new chair I had ear-marked would fit in perfectly. So at the end of the evening, I casually commented on the chair, and my friend told me it was her sister’s old chair with a custom slip cover! I was in awe!

Ellen Phillippe, Mahomet, IL. That’s right, practically right down the road is a magnificent seamstress. I called her up and after a brief conversation, sent her some quick pictures of the piece of furniture I wanted slip covered and she responded shortly after with instructions of how much material to purchase and where to purchase it from!

Natural Cotton Duck is the fabric of choice, highly durable and affordable. Reminded me of painter’s drop cloth. This is not a tutorial on how to make slip covers, this is simply featuring an artist who is willing to share her talent with you all.

I had so much fun getting to know Ellen. Naturally I asked her how she came about custom fitting people’s beloved old furniture. She told me she loves custom fit slipcovers….. so much that she had to teach herself how to make them. After spending several years fabricating window treatments for a living, it was time to try something new and shabby chic slipcovers quickly became her main focus. When she’s not making slipcovers she’s in her garden and flower beds, trying new vegan dishes or sewing bags, up-cycled clothing, pillows and the list goes on. She has custom designed and fabricated pieces of furniture for years and people from states away have left their pieces with her to work her magic. So without further adieu, enjoy some photos taken during the process.

Here’s a pretty good before picture.

Blech…. let’s just leave it at that.

Ok… a little better with a few new light neutral decor items, but I still wasn’t satisfied. Still boggles my mind looking back at these before pictures.. it’s hard to believe it’s the same couch!

Ellen spent approximately 4 hours cutting and pinning and sewing while at our home.

We spent quite a bit of time chatting and getting to know each other that day. I learned of a life quite fascinating. The movie, Consumed, was filmed at her house!! Small world, huh?! It was so interesting to hear about the crew that stayed over and the changes she allowed them make in her home. Crazy I tell ya!

Back to the task at hand, this is the cording she lined the edges of my love seat with. She set her sewing machine up in my kitchen and went to town attaching a few pieces.

After she finished piecing most of the material together, she loaded up and took it all home with her. Two weeks later, she returned with the most beautiful hand made, custom fit slip cover, and it’s machine washable! We literally slipped it over the top and tucked in the corners tight. The custom cushion covers fit like a glove. I couldn’t be happier with the results and am happy to share her with you all 🙂 .

I LOVE how every single piece is custom tailored, it’s not just one big sheet draped and tucked.

These next 2 pictures are the back of the couch, and I am sorry to admit that the lighting wasn’t great while photographing this area, but I wanted to highlight it, because she took time in coming up with a clever and stylish way to fasten it together in the back. When you come into our house using the front door, the back of the sofa is what you see first, so it was important to her that she make that look custom as well <3 .

I have had so much fun styling our “new” piece and using it as a backdrop for featuring vignettes as well!

Here are a few more items she has been working on.

I can’t wait to hear what you all think! Have you tried slip covers? Do you have a piece of furniture that comes to mind immediately that could be new again? I would love to hear your comments. I will share Ellen’s info below.

Custom Slipcovers – Ellen Phillippe (217) 586-5821

Author – Martha Knake

Chief Editor – Emily Schunke