How To Upholster A Chair
We’re back with another handy dandy tutorial, and this time it’s an exciting lesson in chair covering. The main takeaway should be that this is a super simple way to completely reinvent a chair. Seriously. It’s a snap. So let’s get stapled, er started.
The white fabric on this antique chair was a little yellowed and stained from years of use. So Emily (John’s frequently mentioned sister in law) and I hit up a local fabric store to grab something funky and fun to update this family hand-me-down of hers.
After we scored two yards of sateen & chenille fabric with a fun and dramatic oversized damask pattern (for just $18!) we whipped out a pair of scissors, a screwdriver, and our $12 staple gun and we were in business.
Step 1: Remove the chair’s seat bottom with the screwdriver, and strategically lay the cushion upside-down on the upside-down fabric so that the pattern is straight and centered. Then get to work stapling the new fabric right over the old stuff. Be sure to pull the fabric tight and keep it straight as you work your way around the seat, adding a staple every two inches or so for a secure hold and a pucker-free result. It also helps to periodically check that the front of the cushion looks tight, centered, and wrinkle free by peeking under the cushion as you go (so there’s no big surprise when you flip it over 40 staples later). Also remember that if you think it looks loose or crooked, it’s easy to pop out a few staples with a screwdriver and re-do ‘em. So there’s really no possible way to screw this step up. Promise.
Step 2: Take special care when stapling the corners. It’s the only semi-challenging part of the process (and when I say semi-challenging I don’t mean hard, I just mean that you can’t totally be on auto-pilot). This chair was particularly angular (most dining room chair cushions are square or rectangular) but it was still pretty simple. Just pretend you’re wrapping a present. Tuck the fabric to create folds that are hidden under the seat so that the front of the cushion is snugly wrapped and wrinkle free. It also helps to flip the cushion over as you hold the fabric (before stapling it into place) to be sure that you like how everything looks in front before you pull the trigger.
Step 3: Continue to staple the perimeter until you’re left with a securely covered seat cushion that looks something like this. You can trim the excess fabric if you’d like, but I usually just leave it alone since it’s hidden once the seat’s in place.
Step 4: Screw the cushion back into the chair and do a spirited victory dance as you admire your handiwork. We just love how the patterned fabric is perfectly centered- it looks like a professional upholstery job and it took ten minutes! The total chair transformation will truly be complete with the addition of a few plush tan and green pillows to cozy up the wooden back of the chair and complement our new patterned cushion.
Oh and for an even bigger presto-change-o, you can also paint the chair when you remove the cushion. How cool would this baby look with a coat of crisp white paint, glossy black paint- or even pale sage green paint to play off the patterned fabric? The possibilities are endless. So go ahead and get stapling- and don’t forget to send us your before and after pictures! We’re total suckers for a fabulous chair.
Amanda’s Design Dilemma
When Amanda wrote to us for design advice, we couldn’t wait to cozy up her stunning and spacious new home. Here’s her letter:
Love your house. Love your style. You almost inspired me to sell my house and start looking for a rancher of my own. =) My husband and I have just finished a house and now that we’ve started moving furniture in, I’m realizing that we need some help making our first house feel like a real home! This big open room so reflects our life (the kitchen, dining room and living room are all open to each other) but right now it feels staged and not as comfy as I’d like. I want people to just feel like falling onto my couch and staying for a while when they walk through the door. That is why I chose the darker color for the walls. I’d probably call my style “rustic modern” but I also like the look of Pottery Barn and Pier 1. The wall color has to stay as well as the couches (but if the color is off I’m open to slipcovering). I would also like for the dining set to stay. Some of the main things I need help on are throw pillows, curtain ideas, accessories and accent colors. Thanks so much in advance for your help. No pressure, but I am counting on you guys! - Amanda
The soaring beams, rich wall color, and wide open space have so much potential, but we can definitely see the challenge that such an expansive space can pose. Without further ado, our handy dandy rustic modern moodboard:
1. Our warm and cozy color scheme will complement the mocha wall color and deep brown beams with some tangerine and golden colored accessories. We’ll also bring in some lighter tan tones for contrast and depth.
2. Amanda will be blown away by the huge difference some soft curtains will make in the space. They’ll warm things up and soften the harsh rectangular windows throughout the space. Since these textured curtains come in a color that’s similar to the wall tone they’ll immediately feel cozy and at home in the space- as if they were always supposed to be there. Nothing jarring, just pure softness, interest, and texture. And hanging them a bit higher and wider than the windows ensures that they won’t block any of the light.
3. This jawdropping faux antler chandelier will inject a major dose of rustic sophistication to the space, and at 20 inches high and 41 inches wide, it’ll definitely have presence over the existing dining table (while the current chandelier looks a bit small for such an expansive space). It’s definitely a splurge but it’s hundreds of dollars cheaper than similar chandeliers that we found of its size. *Designer tip: a dining room chandelier should be hung so that the bottom of the fixture is 30 inches above the tabletop to keep things comfortable, cozy and romantic.
4. Injecting a splash of goldish-yellow onto the dining table in the form of a cheerful table runner from Target will break up all the wood tones in the chairs, the table, and the beams up above. Such a simple solution to dress up a dining space in a snap.
5. We think two of these fun and warm cork trays on the ottoman (filled with everything from books and magazines to candles and keepsakes) will lighten up the big dark rectangle of leather while adding some texture and interest to the space. And Amanda will be amazed to see how quickly a few personal touches (some books, a pile of postcards, some old family pictures in a bowl, etc) will make the space feel like home.
6. The stunning stone fireplace is flatscreen ready, but we think adding some rustic charm to the actual fireplace opening would cozy things up and look oh so warm and inviting. A woven basket (check out Michael’s, Target, or Linens N’ Things) full of some logs for the fire would look great tucked right inside the fireplace opening- and they’ll be at the ready for a crackling fire when the colder months roll around.
7. Amanda’s current living room rug looks a bit small in such an open room, so we’d suggest switching it out for a 9×12 area rug in a light tan tone (being sure that it’s substantially lighter than the couches for depth and contrast). On the moodboard we’ve shown a cozy textured jute rug from Overstock.com (a real steal for the size) and we also think a second rug of this sort (maybe even a matching one to keep the spaces cohesive) would look great under the dining area to define that space as well. We know some people aren’t fans of carpeted dining areas, but a natural jute rug is so easy to care for (it literally deflects dropped food and spilled drinks) so we think it’s a great choice for both spaces. And if Amanda would like a bit of variety, a fluffy flokati rug in the living area would perfectly complement the jute rug we’ve suggested for the dining room. Designer tip: In a dining space, the rug should be large enough for all four legs of each chair to remain on the rug even when they’re pulled out and in use.
8. For that touch of modern rustic, we love this updated take on a deer head (it’s sculpted out of resin!) and think it will draw the eye up once it’s hung above the flat screen on the fireplace. With such a vertical feature in the room (the fireplace) and so much detail near the ceiling (those beams) it’s nice to add some interest at varying heights to keep things looking balanced.
9. Sometimes the simplest things make the biggest impact. For a genuine “homey” feeling, a sweet bowl of oranges on the island in the kitchen will bring our color scheme around to that corner of the room. And a nice golden colored bowl would allow Amanda to inject both of her accent colors into that corner.
10. We also think some glass containers (full of everything from cherry tomatoes or cereal to pasta or flour) will dress up the kitchen countertop and add interest to the backsplash while obscuring all the outlet plugs.
11. A few fun mix & match pillows will add some plushness to the seating area and gussy up those couches. If Amanda just brought in four orange pillows (one in each corner of the couch) to room would continue to look staged, but by bringing in a few different textures, patterns and colors, it keeps things looking warm and personal instead of predictable.
12. And lastly, a chunky textured throw in a modern hue (our fun tangerine accent color) tossed over the arm of one of those couches will thoroughly complete this rustic modern makeover.
Well, what do you guys think? Any ideas of your own you’d like to add to the mix? Feel free to fire away. And if you’re in desperate need of a room makeover, click here to score a custom moodboard of your very own.
Abundance, Redefined.
This quote from Claire Donohue- a decorator in July’s House Beautiful- really inspired us:
Get rid of stuff. Choose one set of dishes for all occasions, one saute pan, and one set of glasses- those stemless wine glasses work for juice, cocktails, wine, milk. Live only with what you love and use daily. Think of it as a different kind of abundance.
It’s easy to get caught up with wanting more than you need (and buying things you’ll never use), so even though we’re always posting about steals & deals or swoonworthy stuff, it’s nice to sit back and remember that the most peaceful places and spaces always demonstrate that less really is more.
Here’s to living light!
Lost In The Woods
We’ve got another burning question for ya- and this time it comes from Susan, a reader with a kitchen floor conundrum. Here’s her question:
Should a kitchen’s hardwood floor match the wood cabinets? I’m reading online that it shouldn’t, but a lot of design magazines & books feature rooms where they match. Help!
So let’s give Susan a hand. Is the same tone on your kitchen cabinets and flooring a recipe for wood overload? Or are they the perfect ingredients for a cohesive and consistent kitchen design? Do tell.
(Image courtesy of the 2007 HGTV Dream Home)
Chris & Caitlin’s Spring Wedding
When this adorable couple wrote to us in search of some natural, spring-y ideas for their nuptials next April, we couldn’t wait to brainstorm some fresh and memorable wedding details. Here’s their letter:
Woohoo!! I am so excited that you guys have started doing wedding consultations! We’ll be getting married next April a church and then holding the reception at a luxury hotel called the Westin. It’s gorgeous and fancy, but in a modern casual elegance type of way. We don’t want it to feel super stuffy or formal, that would be so far from our personalities. We actually wanted to do a themed but not themed “green” wedding. Like sending people home with seeds since it’s a spring wedding. I love the favors at your wedding, so perfect. Chris thought that we could also plant a tree in honor of each of our guests or send them home with a potted plant. Useful and eco-friendly. With the flowers, I pretty much know that I want greens and whites (peonies, hydrangeas, and white tulips are my favorites). Also, we’re are both very Irish, so I was trying to find a way to incorporate our heritage in there, too. Thank you so much! Can’t wait to see what you come up with! - Caitlin & Chris
We love C & C’s idea of a green and white color scheme along with some spring-like touches that are natural and elegant (with a splash of Irish). So without further ado, our wedding moodboard chock fulla fresh ideas:
1. Our proposed color palate features a gorgeous and subtle ivory paired with a leafy green and a rich chocolate brown. Elegant, timeless, and oh-so-spring.
2. Here’s a bouquet similar to the one that Caitlin described. We love the idea of a subtle green and white color scheme and the natural romantic look of peonies, hydrangeas, and white tulips. We also think centerpieces with the same low and round arrangements would make each table soft, romantic, and picture perfect.
3. We’re huge fans of personalized paper products, and a save-the-date like this would set the scene for a cheerful spring wedding in a major way. Attaching cut out numerals to an ivory ribbon and slipping the whole thing into a green envelope might seem time-consuming, but doing it together over a few days will go faster than you think, and they’re sure to make a big impression. So worth the effort.
4. Again tying in with our ivory and green color scheme, a casually elegant invitation like this would strike the perfect balance. Fun and memorable yet effortlessly chic, these invitations would definitely leave people excited about the big day. You can try your hand at designing your own and printing them on quality paper, or just use the above image as inspiration for whoever will be designing your invites.
5. As soon as Caitlin mentioned the whole natural/spring/green idea, our wheels started turning. How charming would an old garden wagon filled with favors (or even champagne) be? The possibilities are endless- Caitlin and Chris could even place it on a table with old pictures of their parents and grandparents on their wedding day for a touch of nostalgia.
6. We’re huge fans of bringing the outdoors in, and for this spring wedding we think these adorable grass filled platers would be the perfect place for everything from menu cards to seating cards (see #13). The best thing is that they’re super easy (and cheap!) to make. Just a bag of grass seed and some sun along with some terracotta pots (painted white or even pale green) is all it takes to make a few of these for each table so the menu’s in plan view for all to see.
7. Making the day memorable is all about signature touches. And a cake like this would look just smashing with all the other green spring-like touches. Your baker could even use real leaves and simply remove them before serving (and a lot of bakers these days actually serve a sheet cake from the back anyway, so the leaves might be no problemo at all).
8. Speaking of signature touches, nothing says “Caitlin & Chris” like a fun signature drink that references their Irish heritage. How about a gin & tonic with a splash of lime called a “Blarney Tonic” or a whiskey sour apple medley called a “Four Leaf Clover”?
9. And speaking of clovers, how about placing a little four leaf clover on each guest’s napkin? Not only a nod to their Irish heritage, this tiny detail would also remind guests how lucky the couple feels to have found each other.
10. When it comes to the favors we love Caitlin & Chris’ seed idea, and simple white boxes (available everywhere from Michael’s to Target) wrapped in green ribbon with a green tag would be super cute. They can all be presented on a table near the exit (even in the adorable wagon from #5) or could be waiting at each guest’s plate to greet them (while adding another personalized detail to the table).
11. Another way to create an über memorable day is to mix and match colors and textures to add dimension and personality. We think the groom and his groomsmen would look amazing with mixed & matched ties in complementary shades of green. And the bride and groom can even purchase them all at once (try a department store like Macy’s for a variety of patterns and tones) to ensure that they all look great together (they can be groomsmen gifts as well as their selected attire for the big day).
12. A charming ring pillow embellished with four leaf clovers will inject another touch of their Irish heritage into the mix. And small clover iron-on patches can be affixed to a regular ring pillow (found in the wedding aisle at Michael’s) super easily. A clover stamp and some fabric paint is another easy way to gussy up a ring pillow sans patches.
14. Caitlin and Chris aren’t stuffy and formal, and they really seem to want their guests to feel comfortable and have fun. So we thought a playful basket of comfy green flip flops would ensure that every guest can kick off their heels and dance the night away (tip: hit up a few dollar stores before fall rolls around to score them for as cheap as 99 cents each- and it’s cute to mix and match different shades and patterns of green).
15. As for the bridesmaid dresses, we actually were torn. Rich chocolate brown strapless tea-length dressed like these would definitely look classy and elegant (and actually get worn after the wedding thanks to the timeless cut and color)…
16. …but there’s also something so fresh and “now” about mix & matched bridesmaid dresses in a variety of green shades (and they’d look fabulous with the groomsmens’ mix & matched ties). So we’ll leave the tough decision up to C & C.
17. Possibly our most “outside the box” idea, we found plantable paper embedded with actual wildflower seeds that can be used as thank you cards (you can stamp them, run them through a printer or handwrite a note to each guest) and then your family and friends can plant ‘em in their garden for a gorgeous flower display to remind them of that special day. How amazing and original is that?!
18. We also love the idea of creating two giant cards that say “thank” and “you” to hold while posing for pics on your wedding day. The photo can then be slipped into the plantable thank you cards for an adorable portrait that demonstrates just how much you love each other (and your guests!).
Whew. So there’s our brian-dump. What do you guys think? Have you used (or seen) other playful spring wedding ideas that you’d love to throw into the mix? How about some Irish heritage ideas? Any Irish poems for the ceremony or Irish traditions to tie into the reception? Oh and if you’re in need of a custom wedding moodboard of your very own, click here to get the ball rolling.
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