This is the story of a chair. It all started two years ago when I bought a chair at a garage sale and was so happy to take it home and give it the makeover it deserved. Then I threw it in the garage because I don’t know the first thing about reupholstering furniture. I called around locally to find a place that would recover it… I was looking at over $400. I didn’t need it that bad, so there it sat collecting sawdust. Then I got a crazy thought… maybe I could do it? I said to myself- you’re crafty, how hard could it be… get out there and recover that chair. So I drug it inside, And I did it! Probably the most challenging DIY to date! It wasn’t that easy… and now I know why people wanted to charge me $400. It’s not perfect but I have a new chair and I’m glad I challenged myself.
Just in case my crazy plan didn’t work I didn’t want to spend a fortune on fabric. When I got the original quotes a few companies told me I would need about 6 yards of fabric, and upholstery aint cheap. I was telling my super smart mom all about my chair and she suggested getting a cheap muslin/canvas and make my own fabric. So that was my first step, props mom :) I got 6 yards of muslin for $2.99 and used my 40% coupon. Then I found a color palette I loved and some small foam pouncers.
The trouble was finding where to hand stamp 6 yards of fabric with two little boys on a rainy day. I left our only table to eat on like this for 3 days, my husband loved it :) Sometimes we have to make sacrifices for creativity, right?
After I took 1 million pictures of the chair “before” to reference, I started ripping it to pieces. I even posted a pic on Instagram about the OTHER fabric I found underneath. That’s right, this was not its first experience with reupholstering. That orange tweed was on the bottom and the whole inside of the chair.
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After my fabric was done my plan was to just lay out each piece on the fabric using that as a template, which worked really well.
What a great transformation and a brilliant idea – loving this fun patterned chair!!!
Hugs,
Suzan
I am very impressed! I know this must have been a huge project. Job well done!
What a great chair! It turned out so good. I haven’t tried reupholstering yet but I am about to start on re-covering an ottoman (tomorrow). P.S. I really love your use of color in your home.
Awesome, Awsome job! I have a chair that is an ugly color….The shape is weird and I am real discouraged about reupholstering it. Thought about painting it…don’t know. Its super comfortable though!
Iris♥
LOVE tis chair!!!!! Thanks for linking up at Monday Funday :)
Such a great transformation! I love that you painted on the fabric so cute! I have yet to reupholster something, but I have thought about it lots! Good job!
so fun! good luck with cwts! i’m hoping for a spot as well:)
Woah! What a huge endeavor. I can tell this was A LOT of worth, but the final product turned out so loverly, you should feel very proud. I LOVE that you designed your own fabric, too. This is the ultimate D.I.Y! Great work.
Warmly,
Lauren
The Thinking Closet
Impressive! I re-covered the seats on my kitchen chairs last year (here), and held it all together with tape. (Yes, tape!) My father-in-law, the upholsterer, took one look at them and brought them to his shop to do the right way, LOL!
LOVE this chair! I have so many pieces I’d love to reupholster but am so scared to even start – don’t think that stops me from buying more pieces thinking I can do them, too. :p I’m obsessed with the dot colors you used and how the whole thing turned out. I’d buy your fabric. :)
Emily
http://accordingtoboyle.com/
Thanks for linking to Take-A-Look Tuesday over at http://www.SugarBeeCrafts.com – – you were featured today!! – Mandy, Sugar Bee Crafts
Love!
it looks amazing! I love your custom fabric. Way to DIY :)
I really love this idea! In fact I have some muslin that I haven’t felt inspired to use up until now! Thanks for sharing such a great idea!!
Fantastic! I’m so glad you just went for it. I too am scared of doing a big upholstery project. Maybe one day…
I’d love if you shared this recipe at my Show & Tell party this week. http://www.gingerlymade.com/2013/02/show-tell-14.html
There are no words for how much I LOVE this chair! Found you on SNAP, new follower.
The chair turned out great! Where did you get your curtains or the fabric to make them? I love them so much!
You did a great job on this!!!!
Great job! I’m in the middle of a re-upholstery job myself and yes, I understand why they charge so dang much!! However, it IS so do-able yourself if you take the time and the photos are KEY!!! I am referring back to them all the time. I love how you created the fabric – what an awesome idea. Your mom is a genius!! I’ve discovered fabric.com and fabricguru.com. Very addictive – makes me want to re-cover anything sitting still!!!
Jaye@justtryintomakecentsofitall.com
Wow, this is an awesome chair now! Love it!
wow! This is amazing Taylor. Well done! holy cow.
I am so impressed — with the fabric & with the upholstery job! The polka dots on the muslin were a great idea and I love the colors you chose. Pinning!
– Lora
Wow! What an amazing makeover for that chair! I wish I had room in my tiny house for projects like this!
Cheers!
Buttons
The Hot Toddies of Washington
What a lovely chair! I love the little colorful polka dots, so pretty!
this chair is amazing! LOVE that fabric! it’s beautiful and fun!
Gorgeous chair! I would never have dreamed that was “cheapo” fabric. I recovered a recliner once, and let me tell you, it’s going to be a long time before I do anything more than a single, flat seat on a beloved wooden chair. :P Lovely job!
oh my goodness! i am so excited to start working on the chair that was sitting outside of my neighbor’s house begging for a new home this week, now that i have seen this. awesome!
oh my goodness! i am so excited to start working on the chair that was sitting outside of my neighbor’s house begging for a new home this week, now that i have seen this. awesome!
I LOVE THIS! I scored two mid century barrel back chairs last year that had spent their entire existence in a house with cats & cigarette smoke. I haven’t been able to justify paying for someone else to reupholster them, and I just can’t talk myself into getting rid of them either! I had started doing some research on reupholstering them myself, but have still been hesitant because fabric is EXPENSIVE & so much of it is just not my style. I am just over the moon with how this muslin turned out – can I ask where you purchased it, and what weight?
Well, not that you need another person to tell you how amazing this chair is…but WOW!!! LOVE IT!! I love that you actually created the design on the fabric too! SO cool! What a great chair!