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Reader Q: Tufted Ottomans

I started my new blog series, Reader Questions, with a post on how to pick the right frame for artwork.  Although I have privately answered hundreds of reader questions, with topics ranging from help designing a space to suggestions for cleaning hardwood floors, I have yet to answer many on the blog. With a number of projects in a stage of half-completion (including a play kitchen, basement plans and a frame for a DIY painting), I thought I would answer one of my most frequently asked questions: where did I get our ottoman?

 

Our faux leather ottoman was a clearance purchase from The Brick, the same source as the sofa that disintegrated (so much so we could barely give it away, once we snagged a nicer leather sofa from kijiji.ca).  I don’t recommend the brand, but I recommend the item.

A large ottoman in lieu of a coffee table is so comfy and practical.  It’s a cushy place to put your feet up, seat extra guests during a cocktail party and kids are obsessed with it.  Add a couple of trays, and it becomes a handy place to put snacks or drinks during movie night.  Plus, when you walk into it, frantically cleaning before family visits, it won’t hurt like slamming into the edge of a coffee table does (which also makes it desirable for homes with small children, whose soft heads seem to always find the sharpest edges in a home).  The tufting is truly optional, but I like the look.  However, you should be warned that tufted anything seems to attract lint, cookie crumbs and dust better than anything else in this world. 

I rounded up a couple that look a lot like our ottoman:

Pemberly Dark Brown Bonded Leather Ottoman (currently about $250); Amazon (currently less than $100)

But I also found waaaay more stylish versions of the tufted ottoman:

Overstock ($344); Ballard Designs ($399-599, depending on fabric choice)

Ours was very inexpensive, but cost can be prohibitive because some tufted ottomans can be over a $1000.  Wow.  Luckily, there are a ton of fabulous tutorials for DIY tufted ottomans.  I think next time I might try making my own, so I rounded up my favorite projects:

Less-than-perfect-life of Bliss; Five Days Five Ways; Fancy Goods; Sheer Serendipity
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16 Comments

  1. Tiffany @ {Living Savvy}
    March 15, 2012 / 1:55 pm

    I think I am going to like this series! What is Kijiji.ca? I feel like I have seen this site before… I will have to check it out! Still love your sitting area! I look forward to seeing the questions!

  2. Tiffany @ {Living Savvy}
    March 15, 2012 / 1:56 pm

    Oh… of course it is Canadian! HA!

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      March 15, 2012 / 2:25 pm

      Yup, it is our very own craigslist but, I think, kinda better. The layout is really convenient.

  3. Ashley
    March 15, 2012 / 2:32 pm

    It's kind of like Canada's equivalent to Craigslist…because Craigslist in Canada is pretty much terrible. Also, I wanted to point out that I have a scar on my eyebrow from bashing my head into the coffee table when I was 9 months old. I whole heartedly support tufted ottomans!

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      March 15, 2012 / 2:52 pm

      Aww, Ashley, that's so sad! I have a crooked nose from bashing my face on a piano bench as a wee one. That should have been tufted, too, lol.

  4. Chris Loves Julia
    March 15, 2012 / 2:52 pm

    We sold our big, leather, tufted ottoman because it was just TOO big. I am loving some of these lower-profile tufted ones. Maybe I'll try to DIY one soon!

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      March 15, 2012 / 3:22 pm

      Ours is a touch big for our space, too. It worked better in our apartment, before we bought the townhouse. But I love it so! I bet your DIY'd version would be gorgeous!

  5. Melissa
    March 15, 2012 / 3:14 pm

    I totally advocate the "turn an IKEA Klubbo coffee table into an ottoman" route (like the photo from Fancy Goods you linked to). We got our table in the as-is section (so it was super cheap), and the chrome base looks fantastic with an upholstered top. It was incredibly easy, too.

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      March 15, 2012 / 3:21 pm

      Ooo, sounds fun! I'd love to see your version. Do you have a link to a post? Or a photo?

  6. Olga@Stardust-Decor&Style
    March 15, 2012 / 7:39 pm

    I do like this series already! Tell us more Tanya!

  7. Dora
    March 15, 2012 / 10:51 pm

    I love the last one 🙂 I'm actually on the look for something similar so thank you for sharing these great ideas.p.s. just got my pillow from your giveaway. it's gorgeaous 🙂 i'll try to post some photos soon

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      March 16, 2012 / 1:50 am

      Yay!! So excited to see which one you picked 🙂

  8. house no. 2
    March 16, 2012 / 2:20 am

    i'm just crazy about that picture of the chairs on the wall!

    • Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
      March 16, 2012 / 12:44 pm

      Thanks! Funny story: Shannon, from 8Foot6 (you can find her blog in my blogroll, to the right) has a similar painting. It is from a little market in Paris, France. We bought art by the same artist and didn't know each other. What a small world! Sure makes my purchase feel a little less special, lol.

  9. Sheila @SZInteriors
    March 16, 2012 / 2:54 am

    I think your ottoman is great!

  10. fancygoods
    May 29, 2012 / 7:06 pm

    Thanks for the link back! Good luck on your project– your house is fantastic!All the best,Kate

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