This is a way past due post and a long one. So grab a Diet Coke or a cup of coffee and let me tell you a tale of a pair of chairs...
Back in the Spring, on one of my many Goodwill Hunting extravaganzas, I spotted a pair of chairs that spoke to me. They looked like they should be in a lobby of a Super 8 Motel back in the 1980's but I could see they just needed some love. I checked the price tag - 20 bucks each. Get real Goodwill. My favorite word these days is "pricey" and to me these chairs were pricey.
Here's a pic that I snapped on my crappy B-berry at the Goodwill
Well Lady Luck was on my side. While I was re-considering the $20 a piece investment, a voice came on the overhead speaker announcing that on Saturday everything in the store would be
50% off. It was Thursday so I decided that if it was meant to be I'd come back on Saturday morning and purchase them.
Fast forward to Saturday morning. Here's the scene - me standing in line along with a cast of characters at 7:45 a.m., waiting for the doors to open at 8:00 a.m. I kept looking around and thinking to myself are these people after MY chairs. Should I run once the doors open? Dedication or just pure crazy. You can decide.
Not exactly it but close enough.
Clearly we know what happens next - the chairs are mine and that's when the fun begins. I knew that I was going to paint the chairs white but wasn't sure about the fabric. After popping around to a few spots and sending some swatches to mi familia for advice I landed on this fabric.
From Kathy Ireland's Collection. Weird that she has a fabric line...
Once again luck was on my side because our local JoAnn Fabrics was clearing out all it's inventory to move into a new location so I got this fabric for 70% off. Score!
For this project I was determined to do it all by myself - meaning no help from my very supportive and handy husband. To be sure that happened I decided to tackle this start to finish while Nick was in Florida for a work convention.
Time to roll up my sleeves!
Step 1: Remove skanky cushions
Step 2: Sand, prime and paint
Steps 1 & 2 went very smoothly. The next steps took a lot more time since I have never reupholstering and there were 10 million dirty, disease infected staples to remove.
Step 3: Laugh at dog while I'm researching reupholstery 101
Step 4: Remove fabric with the help of pilers, scissors and utter determination
Step 5: Cut and use staple gun to attach fabric onto the cushion board.
*I took pics of this step but it was also in the midst of the move so I think my brain wasn't operating properly and I erased them. Rats! I used this awesome
site to help me.
Step 6: Reattach cushions to the chair frame.
Drumroll please...
To me, a perfect pair found a perfect spot.
Ok, I'm super proud so I'll share another one.
Here's a close up!
Flying solo on this project was very gratifying and Nick gave me the ultimate compliment when he said, "When you came home with these I had zero hope that they could EVER look good and now they look like they came off a showroom floor." Swoon.
I promise to be a better blogger. So keep stopping by. More projects to share and they hopefully won't be so long winded but it's me so they probably will be. :)
Enjoy your weekend blogosphere! xo