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Saturday, August 2, 2014

Reupholstering a chair... Before and After!

Almost 15 years ago my Mom gave me this chair that belonged to my grandmother.
When I received it,  it was a bright orange and totally not my style! Then several years ago I had the opportunity to get it professionally reupholstered with this blue and grey check. (The cushion is missing in this photo but it matched the blue check)  At the time, my style had a lot more color in it and was a little more "country". For the last 5 years or so the chair has been cast off into the storage room never to see the light of day. Until now!!!

I got the wild idea that I was going to attempt to redo the chair myself! I slowly began stripping it down layer by layer. I was hoping that after removing most of layers I would be left with a perfectly lovely 
deconstructed chair like I have pinned on my Pinterest board "Love affair with Chairs"
Alas... that was not to be. :(


I broke out the gloves (really important... trust me) pliers and a flat head screw driver and began removing the thousands of staples that were in this chair. (I am not exaggerating!) It seems that every time this chair was redone (about 4 times I am guessing) they never removed the old staples and only added to them!!


Oh my gosh... there are still so many more to go!!!!

I decided to paint the frame and distress it before I started added fabric back.

Are you ready to see the after???


Ta Da!! 
Holy Moley was it a lot of work, but I'm really happy with results 
and I saved myself about 400 dollars!!

 The back and the bottom under the cushion is all done with a very tight weave upholstery grade burlap fabric.

 I decided I didn't want to spend any money so I patchworked it all together using a different fabric on each of the panels and the cushion. They are all different patterns of matlesse' or  textured tone on tone fabric.

 I didn't have enough burlap gimp of either color to do the whole thing, so used both!! I like the way it looks and I think it adds to patchwork look.


 To help give me a little of the "deconstructed" look I really wanted, I sewed the seams on the cushion inside out so that they showed. I added some burlap colored fringe to them to to bring some of that color to the cushion.

 Here it is in its spot in the room. :)

It's not as well done as a professional could have done it, but I don't care!! I'm really pleased!

And last but not least... this is the pillow I made for it. I saw something similar at a store called Rustic Stuff here in town. I fell in love with it, but at $120.00 it was out of my budget. I used some more of that tight weave burlap I had and sewed layers of lace pieces to it using vertical lines about an inch apart. I left the seams on the outside of this one too. I like the look for stuff like this and it is sooo much easier than turning the seams when you are using heaver or bulky fabric.

Well that's it!! I hope you are inspired and realize that you can do it too!!!!


I'm linking up at Inspire Me Monday this week!!

42 comments:

Amber ~ The French Pressed Home said...

I have to say that is one mighty fine looking chair! I LOVE it, Karen! You should be very proud of it. xo

Unknown said...

So beautiful!!! I luv what you have done to it. Both pillow and chair are both one of a kind and I luv them!!
Hugs, Gee

Country Crow said...

Wow! I love the chair! It looks great now. And the little lacy pillow is very cute. Great job! :)

Debby said...

You did a wonderful job. That chair is beautiful.

Jeanette@Creating a Life Studio said...

Wow Karen, what a great transformation! It's gorgeous!

Lisa Gordon said...

Oh my goodness, this is gorgeous!
You really did an amazing job in it.

Createology said...

Upholstering a complicated antique chair is quite the feat and you have made this one into a treasured heirloom. The lace pillow is uber fabulous! Creative Bliss...

Rhonda said...

Stunning!! I could never accomplish this, you are amazing. It's beautiful and I adore the fabrics.

Foxhollow Studio said...

You did a beautiful job, you should be proud of yourself! And that beautiful pillow just gives it the finishing touch!

Julia @ Vintage with Laces said...

Your chair turned out gorgeous, Karen! You did a fabulous job!!!

Mari Mora said...

Muy buen trabajo de restauración. Los colores que has elegido para las telas son encantadores y el resultado es espectacular.
Un saludo

robótki z myszką said...

Piękny :-)

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

I LOVE it, Karen! You did a fantastic job. Love the different fabrics you used. I was thinking while reading your post that perhaps the matelassé finds at estate/yard sales would be wonderful for this type of project. Love the trim and how you did the back. The pillow is just great, too! I would be walking by and admiring my handiwork for quite awhile! : )

Lin from A {tiny} Cottage In The Woods said...

Incredibly GORGEOUS! I love the way you used different fabrics and turned the seams inside out. Now you have me looking at our sofa. Hmmmmmmmmm... :)
Have a happy one, Karen!
Lin

Shabby Sheshe said...

You did an amazing job! Way more style & interest than a chair picked up from store!
~Michelle~

CYNTHIA CRANE said...

My goodness, what a gift you have for turning a so-so chair into something absolutely fabulous! I absolutely adore it - job well done Karen!

Karen B. said...

Karen ... Wow, wow, wow! It looks stunning! You are so talented girl and I love what you have done to your chair and thank you for giving us the courage to try something like this. I have my Mom' armchair and need to do something with it too, so now I might.
Many hugs,
Karen B. ~ Todolwen

Karen B. said...

Karen ... Wow, wow, wow! It looks stunning! You are so talented girl and I love what you have done to your chair and thank you for giving us the courage to try something like this. I have my Mom' armchair and need to do something with it too, so now I might.
Many hugs,
Karen B. ~ Todolwen

Karen B. said...

Oh dear .. I almost forgot your breathtaking pillow you made .. to die for! Love it!

More hugs,
Karen B. ~ Todolwen

Anonymous said...

Your chair is SO gorgeous! You did an amazing job!

Silvia said...

Wow! That turned out perfect! And yet..it still has the soul of your grandmas chair. Just wonderful

Victorian1885 said...

What a wonderful job you did on your Grandmother's chair! Awesome pillow as well!!

Sandy said...

Fabulous! Love the redo of the special chair. I have a chair in my barn I need to tackle, we call it the "gypsy" chair because it is so unusual and comfortable, although it does not look it, that it is often wandering from place to place as a choice seat. You have inspired me to tackle it.

busyascanbe said...

That is amazing! You have a great eye!

boulderdamcottage said...

Hi there, well did you say you didnt know how to do this! Well, wow, what a treasure you have there now! I covered my Nanas orange vinyl ottoman with dark toile, never thinking I could even attempt to do something as lovely as you have made here! She is a beauty! and what a labour of love! I know that chair will be in the family for many more years and now she is showcased! Great job, I love her as well, and I just might try this, might be 15 years from now though! lol xo kat

This N That said...

Great job! It looks beautiful! Aren't you afraid it's going to fall apart now that you've taken all the staples out? It's probably a lot lighter too. Thanks for sharing.

Judy said...

Your chair is exquisite! I have two mid-century modern cane chairs that need to be reupholstered so badly, but I've been afraid of taking the plunge. You've given me confidence!

Romeo said...

I knew you could do it!!!! I mean really!! Knowing full well that I would be over to test it out when it was complete....well how could you not get it done and done well?!? Thanks so much for making me a lovely chair to lay my little head. I'll start packing as soon as I sign off.

Luff and purrs,

Romeo

Unknown said...

OMG you are my hero!! Did you remake the cushion for the seat? I love the patchwork. It is one of a kind. Wendy from 3 Vintage Chicks!

jeanniemc said...

Absolutely gorgeous...

Deborah Montgomery said...

Looks gorgeous Karen, esp. with all the different fabrics. Pillow is the icing on the cake!

Helena White said...

Well done! The chair is beautiful. I love you made it unique by leaving the seams exposed. Love it Karen

Helena
─ƤєтαƖ & Lαcє Ƈσттαgє ─

Unknown said...

It's awesome Karen.

Hugs cindy@stitches

ImagiMeri said...

As usual, another stunning piece by the amazingly talented Karen! It's truly gorgeous and you did a magnificent job.

Hugs,
Meri

mjmaterazo said...

this looks a-m-a-z-i-n-g!!! love it. great job.

uebibaer said...

That chair is soooo beautiful!!! <3

Hugs, Anita

Danice G said...

Beautiful chair, and re-do that you did. It is so special that the chair was your grandmother's. What a family heirloom treasure :)

Bren Hughes said...

Totally inspirational. Unique and gorgeous! Lurve it!

Jeanie said...

I am filled with admiration. I've a chair with good bones that would cost over $600 to reupholster and since I've no skills in that area, diy isn't an option. You're lucky indeed that you can do this overhaul -- it looks great!

Unknown said...

I'm totally in love with that chair !!! WOW !!! having this kind of furniture in my home will make me THE happiest person on earth :)
Maybe one day ...

XOXO
Kinga

Charlene said...

STUNNING! I love that you used different fabrics! It soooooo WORKS! And now that it's finished it looks perfect! I have just started blogging again as I've missed it & all my bloggy friends. Hope you'll stop by & see the post I did about Andrea's studio. HUGS!

Maureen said...

Holy crapoly... that is amazing!!! What a beautiful transformation - you should be a professional yourself!

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