A couple of months ago, I stopped by a new-to-me thrift store in town. $10 later, I was loading this into my car…
It had some minor frame damage, but I fell in love with the casters (anyone else swoon when confronted with old furniture on casters?) and curvy lines. Half a dropcloth and several hours later, I had transformed it from it’s mossy-green, seventies velvet to one of my new favorite furniture pieces…
I won’t share a full tutorial here, but will give you some tips if you have plans to tackle something similar yourself.
First, even if you’ve never tackled an upholstery project before and your confidence is low, just give it a try.
There are many, many great tutorials on the web (I’ll link to some below), and I promise you, any question you have has been answered somewhere by someone who knows what they’re talking about. If it’s your first project, stick with something simple, and take it slow.
Choose your fabrics wisely.
Stripes can sometimes be tricky to line up, and woven patterns hold up better than printed ones. There are many other considerations to take into account when choosing your fabric, so take your time and choose wisely! Being my first project, I wanted something inexpensive and durable, so I chose a painters dropcloth (surprise, surprise!) I’ll share a tutorial later this week for painting the stripe down the middle-love how the fabric mimics an antique grain sack, minus the high price tag!
Double welt cording is your friend.
It sounds scary, but it really is so, so easy to make. If you can sew a straight line, you can sew double welt cording. The benefit of the wider width is that it covers your staples (and any other boo-boos) beautifully. Seriously, so easy.
Here are some great tutorials to read if you want to tackle something similar…
centsational girl double welt cording tutorial
design sponge’s series of upholstery basics
dining chair upholstery tutorial from remodelholic
linking to:
The Shabby Chic Cottage
The Shabby Nest
Tatertots and Jello
Miss Mustard Seed
OMG love this! I’ve seen a few old-to-new chair makeovers lately and you’ve now given me the confidence to give it a try! Let me know which places are your favorite thrifting spots!
OMG!!!! This is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!! I love the stripe and how it looks like a grain sack!! I just ordered pillow covers from Pottery Barn that look sooooo much like this!!
I love the lines of this chair….and yes, I love the casters!! I can’t believe you got this chair for only $10!!!!!!
Awesome job!!!!
what a deal! and you did a fantastic job!! LOVE the ‘faux’ grain sack too. Good thinking!
this is soooo beautiful!!!!
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Goodness! This turned out so lovely–wonderful choice of colors! Love it
Love the new upholstery on the chair.
Your chair looks lovely and it was a great bargain! I have a pair of French chairs that I have been nervous to revamp. Thanks for the tips and for making it sound manageable!
This chair is absolutely beautiful! You did an amazing job updating it!
I found you on the link party at shabby creek cottage. I love this chair and I have one I plan to work on (one day). I like your advice on picking fabric and I’ll be waiting for the tutorial on the stripes.
Questions: how do the caster work with the chair? Since the back legs are normal will the chair stay in place when you sit in? Just curious!
Great job! I’m gonna check out the rest of your blog now and I’m SO gonna follow you!
Um yeah, that’s me up above…Forgot to add my info!
I love the cleanness of this! I really think I might have to give this a try… because I’m in love!
I would love for you to share it at Find Your Craft Friday!
What a find! I really like that you left the wood untouched and just updated the fabric. It looks beautiful. Thanks for the inspiration!
Absolutely LOVE this! What a gorgeous chair now!! Would love for you to come share at Feathered Nest Friday at my blog sometime!
First, I LOVE IT! Second, will you come recover my chair that I have that is basically like that, but with swirl side arms??? I’m scared!
You should join me in Handmade 52! http://raisingoranges.blogspot.com/2012/01/handmade-52.html
Great Job….love it
Rasha @ mychampagnetastebeerbudget
Love, love, love the chair make-over. I’m going to try that! You always inspire me! I just started my own blog. Hope I can inspire others as well!
I am stalking a similar chair on Craigslist – am dying to do this to one if I ever get one!! Great redo and new follower!
Great makeover! Gotta love a good find!
So pretty! I’m about to take on my first real re-upholstery job…a bit nervous!
Stunning!! Thanks for the encouragement to give upholstery a try.
What a beautiful transformation, and you got a deal on that chair! I love furniture with casters too, and the curves of your chair go perfectly with your other pieces. How cool that you painted the fabric yourself, very clever! I love your drapes too!
Kat
Love-er-ly job! I’m following you from miss mustard seed-stop by for a visit!