Thursday, October 22, 2009

A Reading Chair Redo!

If you read my blog a couple of days ago, I talked about being inspired by Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage to complete 10 Tasks in 10 Days. If you missed it, you can click here so you won't be lost.

Well. So far I have completed 2 tasks and started 3 others. I'm pretty happy with that so far. I am a little worried though because tomorrow is my last day of nice weather for the next 4 days and I have more painting to do! Oh, I can't think about this now! I'll go crazy if I do! I'll think about it tomorrow. After all, tomorrow is another day. Oops! Sorry! I got carried away there!

Anyway. Here is the first completed task/project of my 10 Tasks in 10 Days challenge. I'm linking up with Gina for her Transformation Thursday so after you are done here, head on over there to see what other creative souls have transformed and while you are there grab yourself some inspiration too!

Edited to add: One of my favorite furniture re-doers is having her first linky party. She's a real furniture artist so I'm linking up with her too! Be sure to check her out at Miss Mustard Seed!

Edited Again to add: Another one of my favorite furniture re-doers is having a Before and After Party too so I'm linking up to Jen at Sanctuary Arts at Home too. When you are over there, take the time to look around. She does some amazing stuff!

Oh, and I'm also linking up for DIY Day at Kimba's A Soft Place to Land. There's lots of fun to be had over there but be warned...you'll get sucked in to all the inspiration and wonder where your day went!

Okay, let's get started here. This is the before of the chair. I picked her up at a resale shop that just opened a few months ago. She was asking $30 but considering I had to redo the whole thing, I offered less and we settled on $23. It's a very solid chair so I felt it was a fair price. Isn't she lovely????

Here. Let me give you a close-up! See. She's in sad, sad shape! The pink paint didn't cover the green paint underneath it, the fabric was hot glued down with a few staples and the gimp trim was lifting up. She needed some TLC!

Yum! Red vinyl under all of that!

After sanding and sanding and sanding, I painted her wood the lovely color of Rustoleum's Key Lime Green! Don't judge me here! This chair is for my 8 year old! What do you call and 8 year old? Is she considered a "tween" yet?

Let me take you in for a closer look but you better get your sunglasses on!

Next I put a layer of batting on stapling it every couple of inches to tack it down.

Then I trimmed the batting.

I didn't take pictures of the steps here but I followed the same steps as the batting. Actually, I just lied to you. I used a spray adhesive on top of the batting to help hold the fabric in place. I was afraid that if I didn't stick it to the batting then it would slide every time Allison sat on it and put pressure on the fabric at the staples. I didn't want it to tear because as you can see, this is not upholstering fabric. I took a chance here but I wanted this fabric because it was the perfect color and softer than you can imagine. I used a bazillion staples to make sure this fabric isn't going to move!

Here are the steps for covering the seat. It's basically what I did with the back.

Sprayed a light layer of adhesive on the seat.

I placed the batting on top of the seat. After it was secure on the top, sides and corners, I trimmed the bottom flush with the lines of the seat.

Then I sprayed the batting with adhesive and added the fabric. Again, I used a bazillion staples to be sure the fabric wasn't going to move!

Ta Da! Wait! It's not done yet!

What am I going to do about all these staples???? Wait! I know! I'll cover them with twisted cording in the third color of Allison's room! Grape!

Oh no! No one local sells it in grape and I'm too impatient to wait for it to come in the mail from an online source. So. What's a girl to do? Dye her own! I found this really awesome dye that I used for the first time. I LOVE it! It's made by Dylon and you can use it on cotton/polyester. The color is amazing! I used "intense violet" and it came out exactly how I wanted it to!

Now isn't this much better?

Here she is done! This is in full sunlight so she's a little bright.

Here she is in Allison's room. She doesn't look so good in this pic because she is a HARD color to photograph! The Key Lime comes out NEON! This pic was taken with a flash and the pic at the top of this entry was taken without one. I like the top one better. It's more realistic.

Thanks Gina for your inspiration! I didn't think I was going to get this done until spring. It's because of you that I threw caution to the wind and got my hiney in gear!

Now I've got to run and get moving on another task!


Have Fun!

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18 comments:

erin@my little creative outlet said...

oh wow! GENIUS! I have always been so intimidated by reupholstering (sp?). after this, i feel like i might be able to take it on! thanks so much for the inspiration!

Anonymous said...

Are you kidding! WOW -- That is so amazing. I love your creativity, as well as your bravery. I turned out fabulous! Well done!
Jan

Delightful Dwelling said...

What a great makeover, it looks very fun and cheerful for your daughter's room.

Fawn said...

That is such a cute chair! And to think what it started as... It looks bright, cheerful, and well-done.

Darlene said...

I LOVE that chair....what a FABULOUS make-over!!! I think the bright colors are wonderful!

Unknown said...

YAY! You're getting your list done! I really need to get back on track... and I'll do it tomorrow, lol.

Sandy said...

Wow that is sooooo cute, what a woman and a great idea, Allison will love it and the cats will too.

Miss Mustard Seed said...

Woowee...what a fun chair! The colors are wild, but it's prefect for the room you've put it in. You did some great work. I don't think I would've seenthe potential in that one!

Sarah @ Hennessey House said...

holy cow, that guy really got a makeover! super fun :)

Amy said...

Really nice!

Anonymous said...

You are amazing. I wouldn't have even taken a second look at the before chair. It it fabulous!!!!

susan c.

Free Art Printables said...

You did a FANTASTIC job reupholstering that chair! Those colors are perfect for a tween room! Thanks for joining in on the party! Jen

Tamera said...

Wow! I have been seeing a lot of chair makeovers lately....maybe it's time to have a go at it! Your chair looks amazing!

Tamera@doubledelight

Cheryl said...

that after shot looks fabulous. Any young girl would love to have a chair like that in her room. That fabric you used really gives it that little bit of glam.

Kasey at Thrifty Little Blog said...

What a fun chair update! I love that you went all-out with the colors, perfect for an almost-teen :).

Brittany at Mommy Words said...

It is absoltely awesome! I love the bright colors and the chiar now looks super chic!

Anonymous said...

Reupholstery is VERY intimidating to me, but you've inspired me! Good job!

pk @ Room Remix

Katherine @ Grass Stains said...

I have three boys, so this color scheme wouldn't work in my house, but I LOVE IT! Great job on the makeover!

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