La Recamier

Learning As I Go.....

I am Rather pleased, Dear Readers, with the results of this Tiny furniture experiment! I have wanted to make a Mini version of the Iconic Recamier sofa ever since I can remember! There are many commercial versions you can buy, and I think someday I might even try making one in 1:12 scale, but I just could Not resist attempting one for this Tiny Tree House bedroom! The sofa has many variations in form, some with a low back rest on one side, some with equal height curved ends, and some with a recurved foot like the one I have made. I did not make up this design, I saw a picture somewhere on the Internet and knew at once that I wanted to copy that design! I will confess right away that my version is Not perfect... there are things I would do better if I were starting another one.... But  nonetheless, I started with a Tiny to scale sketch...

Which is Very faintly drawn here.... 

I refined the sketch on the right... and cut out patterns.... 

and started to cut the tiny pieces from thin plywood....

The pieces are Very Tiny.... 

and I used my small files to refine the shape more....

and attached them to the seat.....

I did not file the curved end down enough... 

it ended up getting thicker than I had imagined especially after the upholstery was added.....

But I thought at the time that it matched my drawing well enough... so I kept going....

I added cardboard for the shaping of the curved ends....

and cut tiny legs from the tips of spindles...

 

I Really love the profile.... 

but ultimately think the foot curve should be smaller in proportion to the whole sofa.....

Of course, I had to test it in the Tree House.....

And then it needed painting black.....

And Upholstering!

Which took quite a while!

I have the PERFECT pale green silk.....

But I wanted to have tufting like on the original...

 

I used manilla folders for the paper base..... 

punched a pattern of holes....

I used a layer of felt as the stuffing....

And carefully stitched it together....

And glued it to the outside of the foot of the sofa!

And did the same for the head.....

The seat section is covered with an un-stuffed layer...

because there will be an additional tufted cushion covering it.....

As you can see, the upholstery is making the curved end much thicker than in my drawing....

But it is also because I did not file it down enough...... 

the whole foot should be a bit smaller.... and a little less incurved.

Perfect or not, I also wanted it to have lovely gold trim.... 

which I made by gluing gold thread....

One tiny section at a time....

On both sides.....

It is starting to look Almost as I had Imagined Dear Readers.... 

but what Recamier is finished without a bolster pillow?

You can see the beginnings below.... 

it was the most time consuming part of the entire sofa!

Because I wanted it to have tassels... 

Gold tassels.... 

and the first pair I made with the same gold thread I used for the trim... 

but they were much too coarse and large. 

Fortunately I found some gold sewing thread and made a much smaller pair!

Here you can see I have attached them to the ends before gluing the cloth to the bolster....

And here you can see the completed bolster....

What a lot of trouble just for a bolster!

But I really do think it makes the piece!

And while I might wish the foot was a smaller curve... 

I think it works Just Perfectly in this room!

Talk about a Learning Curve! 

It may not be Perfect, 

but I LOVE my first Recamier!