I have been inspired. I have always wanted to learn to reupholster. I have read many blogs about it and I was ready to give it a try. I grabbed the first chair I saw on Craigslist for $20. Our thrift stores are not so great. They seem really high priced. I am not so sure it was an awesome deal. My husband went to pick it up for me at an orphanage. People donate things for them to sell. He said he heard the lady in charge of selling the chair yelling yah whooooo as he walked away with my “bargain”. He could hear her through the closed door. He thinks she was dancing too. I am so grateful that not only did he pick it up for me, but he also helped me remove most of the staples. He has strong hands. It is a tough job. He used a screwdriver that he filed thinner on the end so it could slide under the staples and then he used pliers to pull out the ones that stayed stuck.
So here is the “bargain” chair and here is my nice husband helping me out.
Doesn’t he look so happy!?!?!
So apparently the upholstery fabric isn’t the original. The lovely maroon was professionally done. A cat did some handy work on the front of the chair by the legs.
Here is the original fabric.
So I was feeling intimidated and scared. Just look at it. Doesn’t it scare you too? I bought a drop cloth to use for the fabric because I didn’t want to invest much into my experiment. I don’t think I would use it again. It is kinda scratchy. So the chair sat and sat and sat for 2 months. Taunting me. Making me feel like I should list it back on Craigslist for free. I couldn’t stand looking at it anymore and I had a little time off during Spring break. We had another blizzard in Texas. So it was time to tackle the chair. I did it! It isn’t beautiful, but it looks better than it did. I am very proud of myself. I learned a lot and I can now say that I know how to reupholster. Here she is.
I don’t really have room for it so we are going to try it in my son’s room. It sits in front of his armoire that has his television and video games in it.
I am regretting using the taupe cording. I should have used off white. My husband likes it. It is staying for now. My hands are very sore and tired. I am not touching this chair for a long time.
Here are some other views.
I think I am the most proud of sewing the cushion cover. I can whip up a pillow, but sewing a perfect fit for a cushion is not easy and takes a lot of thought. I can’t even explain how I did it. I just know I did. Here is a close up.
And just to see what it would look like with a different throw pillow….
Thanks for sharing my proud moment with me.
Linking up at
Making it for Monday @ Cottage Instinct
Motivate me Monday @ Keeping it Simple
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative
DIY Day @ A Soft Place to Land
Trash To Treasure Tuesday @ Reinvented
Get Your Craft On @ Today’s Creative Blog
Show and Share Day @ Just a Girl
Whatever goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts
Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage
A Few of My Favorite Things Party
Feature Yourself Friday @ Fingerprints on the Fridge
Show and Tell @ The Romantic Home
Saturday Night Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Weekend Wrap Up Party @ Tatertots and Jello
Best DIY Projects of March @ Beneath My Heart
My Chair was featured at:
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You did a fantastic job! I am so intimidated by this and don't think I have the guts to try it! The chair looks amazing - I love it with the toile pillow - gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWow I love it! It looks so much better. I love the color, so white and clean!
ReplyDeleteVery nice job Tracy! I am so impressed!
ReplyDeleteWow, you are brave. It turned out great. I have wanted to try that and I am just too chicken.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and commenting on my blog. I appreciate the tip on using old suitcases and making them look like a trunk. I looked at the ones you did. Love them.
Anyway, thanks for the tip.
Brooke
Terrific job. That's one thing I have yet to tackle. I've always been afraid to upholster.. but you've given me the courage to at least TRY it on something! lol
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Girl, you did an awesome job!! I don't think I'd ever be able to tackel rehapulstering (see, I can't even spell it!). You did a great job. Way to go!
ReplyDeletewow! you did a great job! I'm going to tackle a slipcover soon... drop cloth. I already have a drop cloth that I use as a throw. After several washings it's getting softer.
ReplyDeletethanks for commenting on my corner bench!
have a great week!
gail
Looks great Tracy!
ReplyDeleteGood job! I've been intimidated by reupholstering as well. Glad you went for it.
ReplyDeleteWow, next to repainting cabinets, this is very intimidating! You did a beautiful job!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
wow! phenomenal job! it's gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteyes, i would have been scared as well. i have a rocker sitting, taunting me. you did a fab job. it's a winner and i would gladly have it in my house. well done!
ReplyDeleteThis came out great! Love the accent pillow too.
ReplyDeleteFantastic job!
ReplyDeleteholy crap, it turned out incredible! that chair has some great lines. i am impressed :)
ReplyDeleteTracy it looks beautiful! I love the contrast of the cording. I wish you could tell me how you did the seat cushion. That is one thing I need to learn to do.
ReplyDeleteYou have inspired me now! Amazing.
good job! looks great!
ReplyDeleteYou aren't giving yourself nearly enough credit. I can't believe you tackled that! It looks spectacular, and I love the pillow you have on it! SO well done!
ReplyDeleteThat is really good. You should be proud. I think that's the way to do it the first time. Not too much $$$ invested in the fabric. Now that you know how to do it, you can do another chair in another fabric. Do you have to take the old fabric off? Just wondering if it would be easier to upholster over the fabric that is already on there?
ReplyDeleteI have a bright orange chair that is taunting me every time I walk by it! It has a matching footstool that calls me chicken as well. I have yet to touch it but know that I will eventually get around to it.
ReplyDeleteI love the chair, especially with the 2nd pillow. It looks great!
You did a fabulous job. I'm sister of the girl w/the orange chair above in the comments. : ) I love the neutral and the pillows are so different, but I love both looks.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on taking a chance on upholstery. You should be very proud. Now I should start on one of my many chairs.
That looks great. I have two chairs that I got from Craigslist that are in need of reupholstering. Thanks for the inspiration! I'll have to send over a pic. of my after sometime.
ReplyDeleteI'll be coming back to see all that you have done!
Thanks,
Laura
Wow! what a great Job! I bet he has a happier face when he sees how much cheaper it is to DIY! Lezlee
ReplyDeleteWow! You did a great job with the chair! I've been wanting to recover something but I'm just too scared!
ReplyDeletewow... there is no way I could do that... you should be proud!
ReplyDeletegreat job!
AMAZING! I just recently finished a chair upholstery project myself...Using a drop cloth! Great minds think alike. I made sure that I washed the drop cloth about 6 times and dried it before I finally started the project because I thought it was scratchy too. You did a fabulous job!!!
ReplyDeleteWow! I am so impressed at the end result. Good work!
ReplyDeleteAlison
http://oopsey-daisy.blogspot.com/
I bet if the lady at the shop saw it now she'd be crying! Looks great. I like the contrast of the taupe cording too...I think it looks good with the pillow in the chair. Either way, it's great and you did a super job!
ReplyDeleteYou should be so proud of yourelf! It looks great! So, is the drop cloth fabric just too scrtchy to sit on comfortably? Did you wash it? Was it stiff and difficult to work with? I'm asking, cause I may give it a try. You are an inspiration!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful transformation! And yes, your hubby looks delighted. LOL
ReplyDeleteLove how it changes so much depending on what cushion is used. You're going to have a blast with this one!
Thanks for linking up to SNS!
FJ Donna
Wow great job. I am thinking of doing a chair in drop cloth fabric this week. You should be proud reupholstering is no easy task.
ReplyDeleteWow! Awesome! You did such a great job, especially since you've never done it before. Reupholstering scares me too. Now I know it probably won't be so bad. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic! I am going to include a link to this post in my Inspire My Saturday Post today. Thanks so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteXO*Tricia
Looks sooo good! Love it!
ReplyDeleteThat looks great! You did a good job! Thanks so much for linking to Favorite Things Friday!
ReplyDeletetracy,
ReplyDeleteyou did a fantastic job! i have been sewing for over 40 years and i'm not so sure i would have tackled that project.
i think the two tone w/cording makes a statement and gives it a more classic look. love the pillows too.
i've read on other blogs that if you wash and dry the drop cloth before using it softens it up. but i still think the way you used it works well too.
~judi ;)
Wow, I'm so impressed!!! That looks great! That photo of your husband made me laugh out loud. He sure looks thrilled! haha!
ReplyDeleteVery impressive! You are so brave to tackle that and the results are spectacular - well done!
ReplyDeleteNicole
I need you to come to my house for the motivation to reupholster.
ReplyDeleteFantastic!!! WOW! What a project!! Stopping over from Traci's party!
ReplyDeleteI love working on projects with my hubby... so nice of them to help us! :) I love your chair... it looks gorgeous!
ReplyDeletei have one of these chairs to reupholster myself! your pictures have motivated me to get it done! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThat looks fabulous! I can't believe it's your first one! I've got two chairs downstairs that are taunting me too. You may have just inspired me to finally tackle them.
ReplyDeleteAutumn
TheFickleHobbyist.com
You're a brave girl! I've upholstered ONE chair (and it was just the cane backing and the seat) and I don't think I'll ever do it again.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I love it with the toile pillow the best! ;)
So great! I saw it earlier and I just love what you did. You made that chair so current. Love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up.
Blessings,
Traci
Looks great! You are much braver than I am!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. You guys are so smart.
ReplyDeleteLove it! cheers