Pages

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Chair Makeover

This could also be called "Seat Recovering 101".

Here's a pretty chair that has made the rounds.

Photobucket

It was originally part of a set that my mom bought for our dining room when I was a young teenager. She found them in the classifieds section of our local paper.

They served us find for years. My mom eventually bought a new dining set right around the time that I got my first apartment, so the old dining set (a 70s table and 5 redone antique chairs) came with me. Shabby Chic was just become the thing at the time, so I remade the chairs with distressed minty green paint and softly colored plaid seats.

Eventually I bought a new dining set, so the table and 4 of the chairs went in a garage sale. But I kept this captains chair (the other 4 were armless). I use it primarily at my crafting/sewing work table. It still sports the paint scheme I gave it 13ish years ago.

Photobucket

I gotta say, I'm pleased it's not that out-of-date. It still looks ok to me. But my tastes are changing slightly. I still like time-worn finishes, but I like bolder and more modern things too. So it's time for a makeover.

True confessions time. I bought too much black and white fabric.

Photobucket

I only needed 3 1/3 yards for my ottoman makeover. I was nervous about that project and bought 5 yards. Normally I'd pick out a new fabric for this chair, but the cheap side of me is just going to use what I already have. I'm sure it will be fine, it will just be a little more matchy-matchy than I originally wanted.

(channeling my kids' whiney voice) But I don't like match-matchy.

I'm trying to get over it.

Have you ever recovered a chair with a fabric seat? Don't be intimidated. It's super easy. Flip the chair over. You'll see 4 screws.

Photobucket
See the black dots in the cross braces? Those are the screws.

Take out the screws, and the seat will pop right out.

Cut out a piece of fabric large enough to wrap around the back.

Photobucket

You'll be wrapping the fabric around the back and stapling it.

Photobucket

I alternate opposite sides when stapling. For instance, I'll do a row of staples across the top, then I'll staple the bottom (while holding the fabric taught). Then a row across the left side, then the right (stretching fabric taught again).

Photobucket
Alternate sides when stapling.

Leave corners for last.

Photobucket

Photobucket

When you're finished, just screw the seat back in. A couple coats of white semi gloss finish off this chair makeover.

Photobucket

Before:

Photobucket

After:

Photobucket

Did you notice my work table got a makeover too? More on that tomorrow.

In the meantime, linking to some of these great parties.

Now go make something!

14 comments:

  1. your chair turned out darling! I love your fabric choice! So cute!!!
    -emily
    nestnestingnested.blogspot

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love the chair!
    Can I ask you a question? What kind of staple gun is that? I've been considering getting one. Is it just an "everyday" staple gun or something special for fabric, etc.?
    Thanks!
    Tammy : )

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love teh black and white print. It looks so elegant and chic.

    megan
    craftycpa.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great tutorial. I love the fabric. I am your latest follower. I would love for you to come and check out my blog and follow me back at www.diybydesign.blogspot.com. Thanks so much.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sure Tammy. The staple gun is a regular, run of the mill staple gun. It's a Stanley TRE500. http://www.stanleytools.com/default.asp?TYPE=PRODUCT&CATEGORY=HT_CONS_FAST&PARTNUMBER=TRE500

    ReplyDelete
  6. I was going to add, we have some non-electric staple guns too. They work just fine also, except it's a little bit harder to pull the "trigger".

    ReplyDelete
  7. Looks great! Thanks for the tips on recovering the chair~I'm doing my first tomorrow!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love a good chaiR!!
    great job

    visit me
    chickhardware.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your chair turned out great
    I love the black and white fabric

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love the material, you did a great job!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am working on a black and white room right now, so I definitely approve your choice of fabric. Good work!

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a great makeover. The fabric is perfect. Just amazing what fabric and paint can do.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...