Make both a white and a tan slipcover. So for parties or company you can use the white one but for everyday use the tan one. There you go!

How brilliant! Can I borrow your some $$ for that :-) LOL

Dirty khaki colored linen is going to look only marginally better than dirty white linen. I say get what you love, as long as it is washable.

I think the Khaki would be great -- Better even than the off-white, since your leather sofa is darker and your walls are light taupe.
What about lots of off-white throw pillows as a compromise?

How will the khaki work with the wall color? And will you be painting?

I think that the white might feel too light and airy next to the leather sofa. These inspiration pics you are drooling over....do they show leather and white slips combined in the same room? I'm sure it can be done, but I just don't see it in my mind's eye. Can you mess around with this look in a different room?

How about C.? Not helpful, I know, when you offered A. and B., but instead of white linen what about white canvas or white denim? I'm thinking those textiles might be a bit more resilient and perhaps hold up better to repeated washes / bleaching. ???

Otherwise (and if you hadn't already purchased the fabric), I'd lean toward the white linen and this is why: it's your home, and the white linen is what is making your heart sing. When my partner and I first started living together he brought his black leather sofa -- I hated it. First of all, I'm a vegan, so it just hurt me on a primal level. Second, it wasn't even an interesting sofa shape (you know, architectural or whatever). I lusted after another sofa (the Shabby Chic sofa I told you about in a different post of yours) but couldn't afford it then, and rather than buying a middling sofa I decided to wait and save up for The One. I think of it that I can only afford to do it once, so I may as well do it right! By that I mean I'd prefer to wait to get what I really want than settle and get a so-so.

Now, having said that you did already purchase the tan fabric, and I'm going to assume you cannot return it (as it's a cut fabric). So maybe you just go ahead and make the slipcovers from that and once your youngest is a bit older, past the toilet-training stage and the tan fabric has lived a good life, you indulge your white linen dream.

3grad: sorry if that comes off as snarky :-D didn't mean to.

graywings: it's heavy linen and it's going to be pre washed for shrinkage. so I can wash it -- but cannot bleach it.

sweeby: My designer friend said the same thing. Get the white throw pillows ..

amy: the khaki is very close to the wall color. It's almost the same color, except couple shades lighter. I've seen leather combined with white (white sofas, leather ottoman as coffee table, white sofas, leather armchair, etc.) and I always thought they look great. White looks good w/ everything.

rmkitchen: You are so much like me! I've been after a white slipcover sofa for the last 10 years(!) and many sofas later, I'm still pining after one. :-D Anyhow, the fabric is so incredibly cheap at where we went yesterday. I got heavywt upholstery linen for 5$/yrd! The cream one is the same price. So for a sofa, it would cost 100$ for fabric. If I don't use the khaki linen fabric, I can always save it to reupholster my paisley sofa (another post) later.

I also look at denim but the weave isn't as nice as linen, and the hand isn't as soft. This khaki linen has a beautiful weave and very soft. In fact, this linen is used by a lot of designer stores for their antique furniture because the color & weave has that antique finish to it.

I hate leather too -- but that leather sofa is my DH's pride & joy! And as leather sofa goes, it's more beautiful than most. I'm just glad it's not one of those beefy black beast.

I probably should listen to Magnaverde. Decorate for the life you lives, and not the life you wish to live *sigh* ;-(

I say go for the white. I made a white slipcover for our living room about a year ago now and I've only had to wash it twice in that time. I've got a 4 yr old and a 9 yr old and this is in our main living space - and we often have a load of neighbourhood kids over.

I won't kid you though, it is definately more work. I do worry about it in a way I never did when it was dark green chenille. I watch the kids a bit more and don't let them eat on it - which they used to be allowed to do. But for me, it is worth it to have the look I love.

I am so jealous of that deal on linen. I used cotton duck and it was about twice that price. Love the look of linen and it is a hard wearing fabric. Also agree with previous poster who said that khaki is not going to be much easier to take care of than white.

No probelm, bella. Well, make the khaki now and later when can afford to get white material, make the white. I think you would really like to have both, even to change out for the seasons. Get all cotton, preshrunk. It can be woven to look like a linen. Real linen wrinkles terribly, much worse than cotton. The white at least you could bleach, if needed.

They have some good deals on slipcovers on Ebay right now.
See if you can find a white on for cheap.
I envy your sewing skills, by the way, I can't make stuff like that.

I am not a practical person and have paid a price for that in some cases, not all. I say go for the off white beauty.

I think you should wait on the linen. Not because it's white, but because after 3 kids get through with it, it'll pill and crease, and won't look anything like the sofa you see in your head.

I'm not so crazy about the leather sofa, with or without the white, as it's so dark and heavy in that room. If you chose white or khaki, the sofa will be the first thing the eye goes to in the room.

I think what you bought will be beautiful with your walls and leather sofa...and hey, we have the same coffee table! :)

I think you should get what you like as long as its washable. Is the linen washable?

What a pretty space! I like your brown leather couch (of course, I'm biased, having brown leather couches myself). I think an off-white linen would look very pretty with the couches and provide more contrast with your walls and carpet. Is the linen washable?

Well, Bella, I'm going to say the same thing that I say to people splotching a little bit of paint on their wall and trying to decide if the color is right........pour that quart into the roller tray and paint it on your wall!! You already bought it, give it a Real try! Oh wait. You don't have paint. But you DO have yards of khaki linen. Unroll that bad-boy and drape it over the sofa, tucking in around the cushions. Now, take a photo of that and put it online so we can compare apples to apples, and YOU can really see what you need to see--whether your purchase will be worth spending more money on to make your slipcovers, or if you need to head back to the store.

Practicality is a huge consideration with children. But if your fabric is washable, it will clean up and work anyway. Your home is lovely. I like your leather, your blinds, even your shag rug! Let me see your linen!

Red

I took the plunge a few years ago and bought white slipcovered sofas for my FR. I recently had an extra set of white slipcovers made and love them even more then the original. I have 3 very messy kids, 1 sloppy DH and a dog who thinks our pool is her personal spa. My family and friends thought I was insane to get white slipcovered sofas (especially for my FR) but now they're on the hunt for white slipcovered sofas.LOL Living in Southern California you know how much time is spent outdoors and the constant stream of children running in and out year round and how messy that can get. I would suggest going with a true white if you go this route for the bleach factor. I choose a true white fabric so that I could bleach it if necessary, and it has been necessary. I washed my fabric in hot water and threw it in the dryer prior to giving to my seamstress (her suggesstion). I tend to wash my slipcovers more in the summer months (pool, dogs, kids, neighborhood kids etc.) but it's really been a breeze and I love how fresh they smell coming out of the dryer. I say go for it!! Are you sewing the slipcovers yourself? If not, I know of a really good seamstress who's very reasonable and I can email you her name and number.

Can you take some pics of the Khaki fabric you purchased laid out on your sofa? I think that would help for people to visualize.

My kids are 5yrs, 2yrs and a 6mo. old, 2 cats, 1 dog. I can't even begin to fathom having white linen slipcovers and I don't know why because I wouldn't hesitate to get white matelesse' slipcovers. I guess I have this 'durability' fear w/ linen. I would have to wash it at least every other week. I wash my white bed quilt weekly w/ bleach and that's only w/ primarly my 2 cats sleeping on it. If something is supposed to be white it just drives me crazy when it isn't white ALL of the time. I become obsessive about it.

My oldest is very neat but even he has his 'oops' moments. Did you know that Crayola Washable markers really are washable? I cleaned purple off my sofa Thursday. My sofa is olive & 11yrs old. I was pretty cool about it when I saw it. If my slipcover were white Linen though and I found purple marker on it, washable or not, someone would have to call 911 becuase I would have a freakin' heart attack!

I couldn't find my camera (kids were using over the weekend) but pics will follow.

I took Red's advice and lay out the fabric & immediately my heart fell to the floor because I don't love it. The khaki & leather combo would be more desert/adobe hills kinda look if you know what I mean (khaki/burlap colored linen, brown leather, wrought iron/rustic woods, white accent, woven rattan, modern rustic kinda look). I would need one of those cowhide rug :-D

On the other hand, I bought couple yards of various creamy linen print fabric for throw pillows and I tried it on the sofa and I absolutely LOVE it! I should've followed my instinct & let practicality be damned. :-D

I don't think pure white would work -- but a shell color off white linen would be fantastic.

I will post pics of the fabric once I find that drat camera!
Sometimes I can be very stuck in a vision which makes it difficult for me to see possibilities. Over the weekend, I went to one of my favorite local store Garland and they have a burlap/khaki colored slipcover sofa and it looks great!

I'm so confused. :-D

Bella, do you have another room in your home that you could make all your own?

You have such beautiful taste and I find myself getting ticked off at your DH every time he tries to stifle it, lol.
Too many cooks...

Could you put the Ralph Lauren paisley (yeah, I know, he hates that, too) in this room and create a special 'Bella' room, with all of your favorite colors and fabrics in that?

parma: DH now LOVEs the paisley -- go figure. My upholsterer said he will take less if we do both sofas (slipcover the green and reupholster the paisley) and DH said, "what's wrong w/ the paisley?" LOL

Anyhow, I got some pics. My little 2yo is helping me taking the pics so they are not perfect.

let me see what you think...

The creamy linen would be the same as the background of the printed linen (which I pretend as a throw pillows== I probably have to use darker throw pillows on a light sofa

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

sorry a/b the mess in the background.

Bella, I love the light linen in the room. I would continue with the white (and brown) accents but I really love the look! (Secret..that is direction I am taking my LR too). I think the linen softens the leather and creates a very soft, organic and relaxed atmostphere.

What do you think of it?

PS. I need to thank you. I finally settled on the papillon linen bedding-- one of the many you suggested for me the other day.

Funkyart: I'm so glad !! Those bedding are very beautiful. I was at the fabric market and there was so many gorgeous linen -- I was thinking how beautiful they would be in your room. Please show us the "after' :-)

Budge: if you ever want white or cream linen. Let me know -- I'll get sample from the fabric market for you. I cannot believe how cheap the fabric is. I was so glad I didn't have my credit card w/ me otw I would've been in serious trouble w/ all the silk draperies they were having on discount!

mldao: Thanks for the offer! my upholsterer quote 300$/slipcover for the sofa. He would take less if I have 2 made. :-D He's going to change the legs out and remove some stuffing from the back to make it less thick & heavy so I'm probably just let him do the job. He has always done a good (and fast) job in the past.

Thanks again for all the input.

Go for it Bella it is gorgeous. I love white and/or off white. It going to be a great room.

You will never be happy if you just settle. Good job!

....Jane

The pics really helped. Love the creamy linen. Agree w/you that the white would not work as well in the room, but the creamy is going to be beautiful. Can't wait to see the finished pics.