Another Reupholstery Project

When I got the fabric for this chair, I also picked up a Kravet Ikat for a song.

Kravet 31114

With this image blown up, you can see the strie effect of the ground -- green, beigey-yellow, and a dusty blue-green.  Perfection in my scheme of things :).

Here it is, laying over the victim...

So, with the other chair done, time to tackle this baby.   All part of this taking-forever (so it seems) redo of the living room.  Here is what it looked like before I started...

I actually still love this fabric, but it just isn't working.  It has a funky peach tone to it that has never worked with anything I've done.  It was an Ethan Allen clearance find several years ago, and since I knew I could recover it some day, I bought it because I loved the frame.

I've started on the bottom and the arms,  and am working my way to the cushions.  Normally, it's much easier to do the pattern placement on the cushions first, then match up the base and the decking (that center square) last.  But I'm waiting for more fabric to arrive, and frankly, I'm impatient.  When I want to get started, I want to get started.  (Can you relate?)

So, that's part of what's on my DIY agenda for the next week or so.  What's on yours?

Have you checked out my new Design Service, "Ask Me"?

My ROMO Pillow With Trim

I'm not really a name dropper (ROMO, Schumacher etc.), but I'm trying to be better about SEO (oh, the plague of the blogger.)  That said, as yesterday was as rainy,cold and miserable as a June day ought not to be, I decided to make a pillow for my new chair to pick me up.

A close up of the trim...

I'm crazy about this little pillow because it's part of the overall redo of the living room.  And given that this redo will probably take until late fall, it gives me a little burst of energy to see it in the room.

My weekend is mellow and almost boring.  I did go to an estate sale yesterday, but no finds.  Today is probably about weeding as the rain has stopped and the ground is soft. 

What are you up to?

Carol

Need help with fabrics in your home?  Contact me, I'd love to help.

I Stole A Schumacher Chair

Okay, I didn't really steal it, but when I found this Schumacher classic English arm chair at an estate sale back in the fall, I felt like I did!  Yes, it came home with me for a mere $300 dollars.

Schumacher has a line of furniture built like tanks, with a price tag to match.  This was a major score, people.  I am still dancing a jig.  I love classic lines.

I figure the Schumacher linen on it is from the 80's, which cracks me up because the colors are still/now current.  Anyway, as I can never leave well enough alone, I'm in the process of reupholstering it myself.  These are the fabrics I am using for the re-do of my living room...

Don't hate me.  This is actually a current, spring green Highland Court fabric that I scored last week for $60 to do the whole chair.  In person, the hand on this is exquisite.  I am doing my living room all in green, with cream and black drapes (haven't figured out that fabric yet).  Not only did I score this fabric, but this Kravet Ikat (same kind of pricing) is going on my French chair...

Again, in person, these fabrics are perfect together.  My tufted sofa is going a deeper green in velvet.

But I digress from my chair.  I started the reupholstery progress this weekend, pulling out 7 million, 4 hundred and 82 staples.  Okay, an exaggeration, maybe, but if you've done it, you know that's what it feels like.  Here are some shots of my progress over the last three days...

Don't freak -- the old rug is not part of the plan. :)  Anyway, I impatiently took the cushion cover apart and the inside back to use as a pattern.

I've checked and retied a few springs...

This morning, this is what it looks like (bad lighting).  I sewed the inside back with the welt yesterday, and here it is making sure it fits.

I'm beside myself excited with the plan for the living room, and with these crazy scores.  That's what I've been up to lately, in my spare 5 minutes of time.  Have you ever attempted serious reupholstery?

Stay tuned...
Carol


Need help redoing your living room?  Contact me here -- I'd love to help.

Before and After: My Chair Gets a Facelift

To know me is to know that nothing ever stays the same.  The fact that my family lives with this reality on a daily basis is proof that they all have a special spot reserved for them in heaven (where no one is allowed to repaint or reupholster or sew anything).

I knew the fabric for this chair wasn't right when I ordered it, but I had a look in my head, and well, that leads to a search and more ordering.   So, when my new fabric came in the week before Christmas, when everyone needs a good reupholstery project to add to the chaos, I took my four-legged friend to the basement and started on a face lift.  I thought you might like to see the process...

First up, stripping off all the welting, and this little tool is the only thing to use for removing nails and staples.  It saves you from making healthy divots in your fingers (don't ever use a screwdriver -- way dangerous -- trust me, I know this too well).

Here is my girl ready to go.  The color, which doesn't show well here, is a pretty bluegreen, just not the right one, and far too boring.

I decided to use two fabrics for more interest.  I've mentioned before that my personal style is Traditional meets English meets French (tossed with a splash of contemporary).  I wanted the foreigners to sit together comfortably on this chair, so I combined a check and an English floral on a European frame.  Without narrative, let me take you through the steps...

When it comes to reupholstery, I'm a bit anal (okay, I'm anal about this and sewing -- I can't help it.  Can you say OCD?)  See how the welt "stripes" line up with the seat cushion?  Seriously, that's what you should look for in a quality piece of upholstery.  That's one of the differences in the price tags on furniture.

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And here she is, finished and back home in the living room.  All she needs now is a contemporary pillow plopped on her seat and she will be totally me.  Until I decide to change her.
 
If you like to work with your hands, what's your favorite kind of project?

Talk to you soon,
Carol