Showing posts with label Upholstery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Upholstery. Show all posts

March 22, 2012

Ballard Designs Tufted Ottoman Hack

 I am 100% certain that I'm more stoked about this project than anyone else could be! See, Z and I are ottoman people. Some people are ottoman people. Others are coffee tables peeps. In theory I wish I could be the coffee table type- sporting an old railway cart as the centerpiece to my room. But it isn't practicle for the way we live, especially while we're living in a small space.
So- we're ottoman fans cause we like to lounge on our couch and you really need an ottoman for that.
When I sold our couches last June-ish I kept the ottoman. Then it sat in the middle of our room in all it's corduroy and tapestry glory. I am super excited to have  something we use every day look like it belongs in my room!

I kept it because it was the right height for the new couch, it was fairly expensive, and I had plans for this baby! The ottoman I was crushing on was from Ballard Designs- with a nubby oatmeal fabric it would fun me $495- which, I think, is how much we paid for our ottoman in the first place. All the more reason to reuse mine.

 It was pretty easy for me to get from this before pic to my after. I put this project off- forever- because of the sewing issue. See, I can't, and I knew I would need to sew the bottom portion to make this look like something I would buy- not something I made.
I used a drop cloth to make this after happen AND with minimal sewing- if you can sew a button, you can do this project!!

1] To start- flip your ottoman over and use some pliers to pull out the staples, so you can take the fabric off. Don't worry about keeping the original fabric in tact- this can easily be done without it as a template.

2] Once you ottoman is naked- you'll need this stuff to get'er done. If your foam and batting are in good shape, then you can reuse them. I reused mine. I had everything on hand except the button kits, peg board, and upholstery needles- so it was a cheap makeover.

 3] Purchase a drop cloth that is long enough to be wrapped around the entire base of the ottoman. This is a crappy pic- but if you follow the arrow, I wrapped the fabric around the base so it would meet up in one place. Also- make sure the cloth is wrapped inside out!

4] Pin it where the fabric meets up. You should try to pin it in as straight a line as possible. When I got to this point I decided to make it a skirted ottoman, instead of following the inspiration pic 100%. So it is more like a combo of Ballard's slipcovered ottoman and their tufted one.

If you're making one like mine, then make sure you use the finished edge of the drop cloth as the edge that touches the floor- less sewing, you know.

I somewhat followed this tutorial to do the tufting- it is very comprehensive, with lots of photos- so pop over if you need things clarified.
5] Cut the pegboard the same size as cushion. Use the grid to plan out the button spacing.
6] Wrap your foam in batting, then cut holes in the foam where the buttons/tufting will go. I kinda skipped this cutting step- but you should totally do it! ;-)
7] Make your buttons using the directions that come with your kit.

8] Thread your needle with the twine and create the tufting. Make sure the buttons are seated down as far as they will go.
9] Don't forget to manipulate with the fabric to create pretty tufts before you secure the button in place with your staple gun. Here's mine, pre-ironing.
Now- for my Achilles heel- sewing. I know I CAN sew, if I could just LEARN how to!! lol
I spent 2 days playing around with this beast that was given to me 2 weeks ago.
All I ever got was a tangled mess- no sewing. The thread would just bunch in a knot. Is the machine broken? Maybe it's the user!!  Hmmph!
10] Remember how I said if you can sew a button, then you can make this ottoman? Yeah, so I hand sewed it. You'd think it would take a long time- but not compared to the 2 days I spent on the sewing machine! I made sure my pins were straight, marked a straight line with a pen and that kept my stitched straight.


 On the left is my hand sewed seam- then on the right, my drop cloth came with a big fat seam down the middle of it. So I lined that one up the opposite side and opposite corner as my hand sewn one.


11] Make sure you iron the tufting- and well, the whole drop cloth for that matter. But ironing the tufting will just help it stay the way you want it to- and it will look pretty!


If you didn't want a skirted ottoman you could easily wrap the fabric {like a present} under the frame and staple it in place. Then it would look more like the original inspiration. I may do that at some point? Who knows? Z had a strong opinion that is looks better skirted- so this will work.


This makeover cost me maybe 20 bucks. The drop cloth cost me $11 {I bought a 6x9} and I used coupons when I bought all the supplies- this really kept costs down.


Even though I had an ottoman- you could easily do this with a thrifted one or something you found on Craigslist. Funky outta date ottomans are always floating around out there!
What about you? Sewn anything lately? Anybody have any advice for that machine of mine? Has you reused an out of date item, making it new again?

December 5, 2011

✥ Reader Feature: Foyer Makeover {& Bench Reupholser} ✥

Monday, Monday. Da, da, dat, Da dat, da da daa...
Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. Today I'm happy to introduce you to a clever and talented  interior designer, Sherry from Design Indulgence.
She authors a humorous design blog that features projects from her home and from the homes of her clients, as well as beautiful design inspirations.

✧✧✧✧✧
 
My first project in forever!  Seriously.  But this is like 2 in one because I finished the stripes in the foyer and dug out an old bench from my basement.  And believe me when I tell you...it has been down there for at least 5 years or more.  I always knew I would use it eventually because it has great lines.  
So lets see the foyer before.
See that black box on the glass console?  Well that is where we put our keys when we walk in the door.  It is a very important container because if my husband doesn't put his keys there, then they are lost in the bowels of the rest of the house and the search will begin.  By me.  BUT......
I was tired of that look and wanted to try something new.
So the stripes got repainted.
These were cream and kind of a gray with a hint of pink.
To black and white!
Then I moved out the console and this is where the trouble begins.  I wanted to put this bench in it's place.
Pre makeover.
And move this mirror to the foyer.
The big shabby blue one in the background.  But Mr. H said no...he did not want to bend down to get his keys. crickets.  huh.  AYKM.  Lame excuse.  I'm doing it.  The exercise will be good for you.  Remember to use your core when bending.
So here are a few pictures of the bench makeover.  Mind you I really had no idea what I was doing on this one.  Let's start with paint.  Chalk paint in Graphite.  Well that was after I killed the small colony of spiders underneath the sucker....or rather Mr. H did and then took off the welting.....or rather Mr. H did and then took out the bajillion staples....OK...he did that also.  But then he left because he saw where this was going and would rather sit in a cool office then do manual labor.  His parting words were "I think you should take this to a professional".....oh ye of little faith.
Here is a closeup after the paint and wax.  The fabric looks like burlap but it is actually a burlap and linen blend.  Less scratchy.  Also in this picture I wanted to show you that I put 4 staples in to hold it in place before I started hot glueing.
 Then I just folded it and glued small areas at a time right along the edge.  That dang glue is HOT as a MF.  Danger.
There she is glued.  It was a little tricky because she has curves....like me :)
Looking better than I thought.
Then I removed the 4 staples and use small upholstery tacks about an inch apart.
Hung the mirror and here she is!
For some reason it makes the SMALL foyer look larger.  There used to be a closet where the bench is and I took it out.  Who cares about hanging coats.  [Let me know when you get tired of me saying...see those pretty white floors!]
The mirror just fit with about a 1/2 inch on either side!  See my empty pot outside the door?  Yeah had some large ferns there but killed them.
I would clean up all the fuzzy stuff but you really can't see it.  Now I have to figure out a new place for the keys.  It's always something.
Phew....it feels good to have one room done. 
Happy Monday!
Sherika
Sha Ray
Sha Dazzle
or just plain....

✧✧✧✧✧
I'm obsessed with that after. I mean, I commented on it, I pinned it, and I asked if I could feature it. It showcases my favorite mix, old and new looking textiles, the texture, and the color gray. Hmmm, love it. {PS I'm dying for that pillow, I've got it pinned more than once! Christmas?!}

Make sure you check out Sherry's blog, you'll love her style AND her rockin personality!
While you're over there check out how she turned these discount and thrifted items into this AFTER.




I'm also linked up here.

November 7, 2011

✥ Reader Feature: Reupholstered Stripey Chair {& more} ✥

Can I first say, I have the raddest readers! You guys have so many ridiculously gorgeous projects, I am so excited you guys are getting to see each others' projects!
Today Barbara {from hodge:podge } has agreed to share her oh-so-fabulous chair makeover. 
I LOVE her blog and her projects, so I asked her to show you a couple extra pics for some eye candy.
✧✧✧✧✧

Thanks for having me over at your lovely blog Becca! I am thrilled to be here! Let me introduce myself:  I am a caffeine-fueled DIY and design obsessed gal living in Canada's "wet" coast sharing my decorating adventures on my blog, hodge:podge My goal is to create a fabulous home without breaking the bank. Some projects I have tackled around the house:
DIY Diamond Tufted Headboard:
Silver Leaf Ikea Rast Hack:
Pillows Made from Free Chiang Mai Dragon memos:
But today I will show you a first for me, re-upholstering. I tackled this in the spring not knowing what "fun" I was in for! When I was out and about with a few local bloggers, I came across this fabulous chair for $50! But the ugly vinyl had to go. 
It took me forever.
Here is a quick rundown of what was involved. 
Removed the ugly vinyl that was nailed on with a gazillion 1" nails and nail heads. 
That took forever, patience was needed. 
Then removed second layer of dusty fabric that was nailed onto the frame with hand forged nails. Those took forever to remove.
Can I say that again? 
Forever.

Achy hands set in. Took a break. Cursed a bit. 
Found straw stuffing under the upper part of the chair. Sneezed a bit. 
Stapled fabric onto chair. This was by trial and error. Cursed some more. 
Then nailed in 223 nail heads. 
It was too much to make a tutorial
But......
I am happy. The chair is done. 
Want to see?
Before:
After:


Will I ever try something like this again?
 Not sure, after all that work I don't think I would hesitate paying a professional.
It took gads of patience, persistence and it made my hands hurt, really hurt. 
But...
my total cost might make me try again.
Chair: $50
Fabric {from Ikea}: 2 m @ $7.99m = $16
250 nail heads @ $ 0.8 ea = $20
Grand total: $86
Much cheaper than hiring a professional. 
Thanks again for having me Becca.
 Hope my two bits have helped inspire you to create something fabulous!
Later peeps,
Barbara

✧✧✧✧✧
  Barbara is so funny! I knew you guys would love her and her projects.
If she was selling her stuff, I'd be buying. :)
Just looking at her chair makes me want to add some black and white fabric into my home ASAP. 
PS. If you're in love with this fabric, like I am, it's  on final sale at Ikea.