Friday 1 June 2012

DIY Upholstery

So, lemme treat you to a before and after story.
This chair was given to me 20 years ago.  By a friend who knew I would enjoy 'doing it up'.  And for 20 years, we've used it as a spare chair, exactly as you see it here.  Grim, huh.  Every time - every time - we've been anywhere that involved fabric and  furniture, I've looked for something that would 'do' for the chair.  You need to understand that it hasn't exactly been very often.  In the last couple of years, I've had a realisation about my marriage, and that is basically that unless he HATES it, Mr Dunnit is mostly ambivalent about furniture, furnishings and house stuff.  He seems happy if I'm happy. I know this is rather lovely actually, but it also frustrates me when I want more than a 'yeah, s'nice' and a shrugged shoulders type of opinion.  Ah well, can't have it all.  And frankly, if he had a strong opinion that was contrary to mine, we'd only argue.  And there would be an impasse, like the time we couldn't agree on tiles for the new bathroom.....oh I digress. So, LLJan posts a picture of one of her craft sale cushion makes and the fabric makes me realise  - that's what I've been waiting for to do the chair!  Cool.  Cue a quick trip to Marlborough and as usual with LLJ, some laughter.  So, then there's the colour of the chair to consider.  I decide to try to match the brown in the pattern, as the chair 'lives' next to a piece of oak furniture against a creamy coloured wall.  (Am I making it sound posh? I hope so!).  I took the fabric to the paint matching people that we use in the business side of our lives and they made up a colour.  Mr Dunnit took the chair to the workshop and sprayed it.  And brought it home.  It looked very thoroughly as if I'd chosen the colour of Poo.  I wasn't distraught so much as put out...after all, a litre of bespoke paint colour isn't quite like the off the shelf can for price....argh.  So I buckled and let him spray the topcoat. And decided it was two things - 
1.the perfect colour match, how clever of the paint people, and
2. going to have to do.  

So then, in my extremely amateur and unprofessional way, I added a new foam seat pad and tacked in 100 upholstery nails....also spray painted the colour of erm, Poo. And the result, as you see here, is  not showing a lot of the brown to which it was all matched.  Shucks. See, told you it was an amateur job.  And those tacks were so much harder to do than I thought!  Now, I know it's an 'on trend' fabric, and you might think I'll tire of it quickly.  But I won't.  I love it. So does Mr Dunnit. I think.  And hey, it took me 20 years to get around to changing the last fabric, and I hated that!

49 comments:

CraftygasheadZo said...

I love it! I think you've done a grand job, your post did make me giggle! Hope alls well your end. Zo xx

Cardarian said...

Well done! I love that fabric too, want a cushion like that from LLJ!
Have a lovely weekend and enjoy your "new" chair!
Hugs,
Cardarian
Did you send me your address already for the ATC, if not please do as they are being posted today and tomorrow!

Annie said...

You've done a fab job of the chair....maybe this is a whole new you and you will be changing things all over the house now :-)
Hugs,
A x

Sarn said...

Fabby fabric and lovely poo colour(!) I am jesting about the colour of course, but took my cue from you!

That's a big fat check off your to-do list eh?

xxx

Angie said...

Fab ...you really are so patriotic ...and talented xx

CLaire said...

I love the POO colour.... its really nice...not poo like at all... and the fabric is lush.... I wouldn't tire of it either....it looks lovely
CLaire x

Carmen said...

It's definitely not like MY poo at the moment. Which is black. But then iron tablets tend to do that ;)

I love the chair and don't think it's a fabric that will ever go out of fashion :)

voodoo vixen said...

You didn't procrastinate... you waited for the correct moment for the perfect material and everyone knows its taken 60 years for that material to become available!! LOL

Unknown said...

I believe you did a great job here!

Di said...

ROFLMAO Julia! What are you like?! The end result is absolutely stunning - well done you. Wanna do my dining room chairs for me? No, I though not :(

Di xx

Hettie said...

Haa Haa! You did make me laugh! I used to have a car which we referred to as SCD colour (s*** coloured drab) which equates to your Poo colour.
I also have one of those chairs which has the same job as yours did - dump everything on it and it is a disgusting pink colour.
Yours however - is now looking fab and the poo perfectly matches the same colour in the fabric. So FABULOUS Darling! Loving it!!
i shall bring mine over for you to alter! It also has a lift up lid for a commode! LOL!

Artyjen said...

You've done a grand job....that sort of thing is not easy!
xoxo Sioux

Monica said...

Husband's hate change and they think all house furniture perfect unless it really falls apart which is why i might get a new kitchen table and chairs.
your cushions are gorgeous. the chair color yuk!

Jacqueline said...

Julia.... Just what are you like? Had me in stitches all the way through that post!!

Absolutely love what you've done with that chair! Yes dahling even the colour, which I have named 'Mocha' and its a lovely colour nay beautiful colour and its the main colour in my living room and I am NOT redecorating just cos you said it looks like poo. !! :p lol

Seriously Julia your chair looks great. Can't believe the difference in it.

Thanks for the giggles

Jackie x

Rita said...

Well Julia, my sides are sore with laughing. I have to say the finished chair does not look anything like you described it. Just as well I hear you say after all your work. You have certainly earned your crown to-day. Enjoy your week-end. Hugs Rita xx

Twiglet said...

That fabric is jubilicious! What a clever bit of revamping! x Jo

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Instead of 'Poo'. how's about 'Khazi Khaki'........ :D

Hugs, LLJ xxxx

PS I need you to come home and have coffee with me now. I'm getting Julia Withdrawal symptoms!!!

SandeeNC said...

I had a giggle, even before you wrote it, that the fabric didn't show very much of the brown "poo" as you call it. Thank goodness the pillow does! I think you did a wonderful job on it and so happy to hear that mr. D. is an amicable sort of man! waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :)

Redanne said...

Oh dear, I had to go away and come back again, you made me laugh so much I couldn't type! You have done a brilliant job on the chair and I agree, it is much more a mocha colour. The only problem, if it was mine, I would want curtains to match too - I would never tire of that fabric. A x

misteejay said...

I think it is fabulous and I love that fabric.

Toni xx

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

I think you did a great job and the fabric is fab. Now if you've got a bit of spare time can you pop over and re-upholster my sofa and chair - I promise homemade cake if you do :-)
Anne x

Princess Judy Palmer said...

That's the color of poo? One of us is eating differently from the other. Just sayin'! I think it is fabulous and if you do get tired of the on trend fabric, just pile a load of stuff onto it-problem solved. My hubby is lot like Mr. Dunnit--no opinion about the furniture except DON'T MOVE IT EVER.

...the yorkshire fox... said...

...funny thing is Julia I bet everyone who reads your posting will have a piece they've been meaning 'to do' for years on end but 20 years is gonna take some beating!...fabby fabric and not just for the Jubilee & it matches your Ipad cover...super makings!...Mel :)

Kirsty.A said...

You're so clever. I have an almost identical chair which badly need reuphostering - it is currently draped in a Power Rangers bedspread (It's in my son'ds room and he loves PRs) because I don't have the courage to attempt it myself

Kathryn said...

That looks great x well done you xx

Helen said...

What a transformation - and so different from 7 shades of wee....Love the fabric though. very now and in the moment!

Sheilagh said...

I love it!

Pixie Moongazer said...

It certainly looks much better than it used to. I hope it will still be used!

Elizabeth said...

Lovely, well, perfect actually. The POO colour is a great match for the material and you've done a great job with those studs too.

Eliza said...

So the big question of the day is it called "THE POO CHAIR" sorry couldn't help myself, maybe the British Poo Chair, see there I go again, i can't help myself. I have to admit it looks like an awesome poo chair. LOL
Seriously it does and it is perfect, well done for 20 years work. LOL

Eliza http://queenartoypia.blogspot.com.au/

Lynn said...

Well done, it looks good and I love the fabric. I have a chair very similar to this that I actually bought with the intention of 'doing it up'. That was about 20 years ago and I've had two goes at it since then. The first time I covered it in foam with the intention of upholstering it but the foam took up too much room and made the inside of the chair too small so that was quickly taken off. Then years later I decided to spray it but after the first coat the nozzle on the paint can was blocked so again the job was abandoned. You've got me thinking about it again now so maybe ... just maybe I'll get it out of the loft and have another go ... maybe.

Lynn x

nerllybird said...

It looks fab, brilliant job! And just think - in another 20 or so years you'll be able to sit in it and have the odd accident and no-one will ever know! Although you might have to change the actual upholstery to something wee-coloured. :D

Deanne said...

loving the poop colour :) that fabric is totally lush too. have a lovely long weekend xx

Anonymous said...

Well I think it looks great, I would never be able to do that, great fabric too, well done, you always make me smile,

BJ said...

Patriotic Chair I LOVE it - I want one! BJ

kay said...

Well it might be poo coloured as you say but the finished chair is flabby, love the material,x

kay said...

Well you might call it poo colour.lol but the finished chair looks fab,loving the material,x

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I personally think you did a marvelous job of matching the fabric to the poo. Oops, I guess that should be the other way around!!

Have a lovely Diamond Jubilee weekend, dear friend. You could always take your spare cushion with you to any of the ceremonies to have something to sit on AND show your patriotism (grin).

Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

Hats off to you..Love the new look.
Enjoy and Have a great weekend.

fairy thoughts said...

See some things are worth waiting for. Great job and I love the fabric too. Maybe you should find a bear to sit in the chair. . . one with a suitable name.
Then it could be the poo bear chair
janet

505whimsygirl said...

Oh Julia, you made coffee come out of my nose..... here at Starbuck's no less! ;-)

The chair does look lovely though. Browns are tough, as I have a spot on my wall that I "tested" a paint and decided against it. The chair with the fabric looks great though so I'm sure the color will grow on you.

Can you please email me your mailing address? I'd like to send you one of my WOYWW anniversary ATCs. My email is 505whimsygirl@gmail.com

Hugs,
Kay

Erica said...

Thats awesome!

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

ha ha Julia as usual your posts have given us all a chuckle - thanks for sharing and yes have such a chair in two rooms which are dumping spots - but not as nicely covered as yours, Shaz in oz.x

May said...

I had a good chuckle at your post Julia.. I love your new chair cover.. F-a-b-u-l-o-u-s!!

Sarah said...

I think it looks just dandy.... and it's your chair and your handiwork. If you are going to do um, poo - then let it be in celebratory patriotic style with a 20 year build-up. I would say 'Mink' (which my Belgian hubby confuses with the term minging...) Sigh, maybe urban taupe then.

akilli melek said...

I love the fabric, and the colour reminds me more of a potters wheel, dont you think? lol.

famfa said...

I think it is fabulous. Poo or not, love the fabric and it does go!!!!

C said...

Wow...who would guess that was the same chair?!! Awesome job.

Anonymous said...

Love it - the poo color and the fabric... as well as the laughs I got in reading your post. Love your blog!
Carrie C