This is an Earth Day inspired project.This project saved a giant sectional from a landfill & made my family happy.  Good for the earth ~ good for my family.  Win win!!

Back story:We had a big red couch with a chaise. The chaise was deemed "the spot". Prime real estate for watching the tube.  One "spot" ~ two girls. That spells trouble...The big red couch arrived in 2000 about the time of our first daughter.  By fall 2012 it had enough kid DNA on it to keep a CSI team busy for years.  It also had faded in the sunny family room.Everyone loved the couch, but mean mommy deemed it time for a new one.  The new couch had to better than the beloved red one...but how could it compete in their eyes? ...Make the chaise twice as big!  The new couch is white, slipcovered & has two "spots".  Perfect!The new couch arrived.  The red one went out to the adjacent patio awaiting a special trash pick up.  Sitting on the new couch I could see the old couch.  I felt badly for the couch that had served us so well. That is weird, but I did.  Moreover, I really liked the way it fit on the patio. Hmmm...an idea hatched!Project:Strip it down to the frame, cover it with wood, stain, varnish & add cushions.  So that is what I did...wanna see?

Ok, so tearing off the fabric, stuffing & lining wasn't easy, but I got it all off using pliers, shears & a few colorful words I won't include here.Decided to cut off the rounded arms to allow for the wood to be attached in the simplest manner.

With the help of a handyman the old couch frame was covered in new wood. (hoping blogging leads me to my own saw someday!)  Did I just say that?

Then I stained it, gave it two coats of marine varnish & added cushions made out of drop cloth material.  Much less expensive than sunbrella, won't fade & washable.Tah dah!!

I hope this DIY, inspires you to reuse, repurpose, recycle, even things that might not be obvious choices for the three R's.Tell us about an earth friendly project you have done or seen.  Do share, I would love to hear your ideas!** Kelly **p.s. since naming this post, "Make my Red Couch Green", I've been humming a song.  You know the one...by Crystal Gayle, ~ remember her?  "Make my Brown Eyes Blue".  You doing it now too, or are you thinking who...? Linking up at my Friends Just a girl & her blog, Rhoda and Beth's 2013 parties. Come by both to see the best of 2013 in blogland!Linking to Savvy Southern Style , Mod Vintage Life & Mom4Real