Just a heads up. This is not a tutorial post. Not a real one anyway. The reason? Upholstery is HARD. And its different every time you do it, and you have to learn and adapt the entire time.
So this is simply a look at my awesome chair post.
Remember what it looked like just a few short days ago?
I found it at a consignment store and talked them down to $20.00.
I taped off all the edges of the wood so that I could paint
It got a coat of Krylon’s Classic Gray. I mean you can never go wrong with gray, right?
I used white duck cloth as my fabric. It’s a really thick canvas that I love SOOO much. You can buy it at Joanns. I think its $10.99 /yd so you will for sure want to use a coupon.
I used 4 yards on a chair this size.
I started by attaching it to the backside of the chair. I did not take the original fabric off the back and so I didn’t have a template for it. So I just put my huge piece of fabric on and started stapling… then I trimmed off all the excess
The back cushion was a little harder.
I took the old fabric off and used it as a pattern to cut the shapes and seamed the together.
The key to a professional looking upholstery job is to pull the fabric TIGHT. As tight as you can.
Same for the cute little arm cushions. TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT!
I found the coral fabric for the piping in the clearance seciton at Joanns too. I used the backside as the front because the front had this sparkly iridescent crap all over it. It was not awesome…
I used my hot glue gun to attach it and I cant believe how much it used! This chair took 12 yards of cording. Seriously. So my advice is to take the amount you would think and double it and add 2 yards. Cause it used a crapload.
Then as I was cutting out the cushion tragedy struck. I am normally pretty careful when I use my rotary cutter, because duck cloth is pretty thick and my blade was pretty dull (can you tell where this story is going?…)I was having a rough time cutting through the fabric and was pushing really hard and cut a HUGE chunck off of my pointer finger. Like a freakin CHUNK. It was disgusting to see it stuck to the blade. And it bled like a freaker. So there may or may not be some small blood drops on this particualr chair that I couldn’t get off. (If you have a great tip let me know!!)
You can see these other projects from my Master Bedroom. The sweet wall stencil, the coral mirrored dresser and the compass painted sisal rug, the table was first introduced in the 10 secrets from a Thrifting Goddess post and the awesome lamp had a Dr. 90210 experience.
Also I entered a contest with the always amazing True Value and I could use your good vibes to win! (Its also the reason that I signed up for Facebook)Â It is for $2,500 and I already have a houseful of projects to spend it on. Plus hello, its True Value, like the official hardware store of awesome bloggers and the DIY Bog Squad!
Linking up to the sweetness on my sidebar!
Great makeover! Did you try using hydrogen peroxide to get the blood out? Its my go-to for things like that, including my kiddo’s stained shirt and shorts when he split his forehead open two weeks ago. Pour a little HP on and let it sit and bubble for a bit before you dab/rinse with water. Sometimes you have to repeat this process a few times. (FYI: I have never had HP affect the color of a fabric.)
i don’t have any advice for getting blood out (though i will remember the advice above about hp), but i did the exact same thing last week–except it was my middle finger. i was most pissed about cutting off my nail so it’s super short now, though it did hurt like a b*tch. ouch! and–great chair, love the pillow!
I LOVE that chair! I am lusting over the bones of it. I need. to. find. one! I LOVE waht you did with it too. The pop of red is awesome!
Looks fabulous Mandi! I wish I had more time for things like this 🙂 Keep up the amazeballs work xoxo!
No freakin way??? While I was making a quilt in highschool I rotary cut my pointer finger from below my top knuckle all the way up…I think like 18 stitches. This was 10 yeas ago and I am still the poster child story they tell of what NOT to do. I’m totally freaked of touching them again. Soul sistas!!!Now we can compare scars 🙂
I have a story just like April’s and yourself’s! When I was in high school I took a sewing class and decided to make a quilt for my nephew. While cutting the fabric into blocks I cut my finger not once, but TWICE…the second one resulting in some stitches. (Not 18 though, thank goodness) Luckily no fabric got destroyed in the making of the quilt, but I remember the crazy nurse saying she wouldn’t take me to the doctor’s office if I were her kid, but luckily my Mom did.
Anyways, your projects ALWAYS rock! i absolutely love those frames and wish I had an ounce of your luck when I go thrifting. Also, the chair looks AWESOME. Keep up the good work girl. Everything looks the bomb.com! :]
Mandi,
Great job on the chair! I pray your finger is doing better and I understand your pain. I sliced my knuckle with a razor ripping out carpet and let just say it was fleshy. Gross!
Well, you have inspired me to take on and redo my antique chair that I also found for $20. My husband’s keeps telling me I can do it, I guess I did not have Faith in myself. But I can and I am going to go for it. Thanks for the tutorial.
Vanessa
I have 2 chairs that are very similar to this one, and I’ve been so hesitant to re-upholster them. This has been a great help! I will be referring to your (non) tutorial to help me!
Awesomeness! Yes, the gray totally rocks… love to see new life breathed into old pieces. 🙂
Kudos!
Heidi @ Show Some Decor
There are times I see chairs and I pass on them cause I am CHICKEN when it comes to reupholstering them. I’m one big wuss! But you…..you are a master! Good work! Love it! And I think I need one of those pillows…..need to convince myself of that! ha
Growing up, when blood got on anything, my Mum got me to rinse it out with cold water. It was the go-to-blood-removal-method of her generation, and she’s nearing 80:) The chair looks fabulous!!!
I want that pillow. Like, I’m lusting after/coveting it right now. Good thing I’m headed over to Institute; Imma need to talk to the bishop. 😉
I have that same frame, the vertical one!!
Crap, you’re awesome.
My stepmom used to be head of housekeepig at the Timpanogos Temple and they always used Woolite in really cold water for blood stains. She said to get a bowl of cold water, pour in a cap full of Woolite and vigorously stir with your hand to make foamy bubbles. Take the bubbles and put it on the stain. Dab, not wipe, the spot with a WHITE towel or washcloth. Repeat the process until it comes out. She did say it works best if the blood is fresh, but will still work for a not-so-old stain, too. She said this process is used for all the white temple clothes that have an unfortunate meeting with Aunt Flo (which happens more often than you’d think), so it must be tried and true! GOOD LUCK!
Ok I seriously need to know where you find all of your “crap”! I live up in Cedar City and can’t seem to find anything, ever! What places in St. G to you haunt and I might have to browse through the next time I’m in town. I love, love, love that chair and how the whole thing pops!
Sorry about your finger, hope it’s feeling better. Your chair looks fantastic though!
GIRL! The chair looks AWESOME!! you did a great job!!!
Aaaaand, I love the pillow=).
Omg you are amazing! I just spent like 2 hours looking at your blog! Can we be friends?? Haha. Love your style…and you are a great story teller…I laughed out loud a few times!
SALT, SALT, SALT! It breaks down the protein in salt, and works out like a charm. I just do a serious dumpage of table salt on the area, add water, agitate, and wipe it off. My SIL saved me with that little home-spun remedy. And she puts the “Aleen, the Queen of Clean” to shame when it comes to getting out stains! Trust me darling.
Chair’s sawweeet nectar! Lovin it!
Amazing!! I can tackle a miter saw, but am scarded to death of upholstery. BEST PILLOW EVER, too
Stacy
It looks really awesome. Definitely worth the blood, sweat, and tears. I am just guessing there were sweat and tears.
I can’t wait to see the rest!
Hydrogen peroxide!
LOVE the chair makeover. The white duck cloth really made the coral piping pop. I’m also a fan of hanging empty frames on walls and feel like they frame the chair perfectly. Congrats on the new addition, Mandi!
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LOVE the chair Mandi!!! ICE works to get blood out. I don’t know how but it definitely works.
Love the chair!! You really make it look so easy and I always appreciate how adventurous you are with colors! I think it’s time we see a post of your full bedroom in action instead of each of these teasers!
You did such a great job. This chair looks beautiful!
what a HUGE transformation!!!!! LOVE the pillow too! LMAO
The chair looks great! I’m so sorry you cut your finger. That’s awful. Fingers are especially bad since it’s so hard to keep a band aid on while doing things… like washing your hands. But the chair is beautiful!
The chair looks great! Did you make the piping or did you buy it? Also, just because so many others told their stories…I haven’t cut myself with a rotary cutter, but in high school, in a sewing class, (as sterling scholar, nonetheless), I sewed my finger while using a machine. Yep, needle went right through my finger. Luckily not the nail, but the needle broke in there and I had to go to the dr and he fished the rest out. Good times!
Man I have been wating to see more of your room since before the epic makeover reveal! Thanks…Coral is one of my favorite colors! Im lusting the chair makeover, navy, and gold/brass tones. Excellent combo!! U always stay true to being awesome! I love it Mandi!!
Hey Mandi,
Your chair looks great! Re-upholstering intimidates me,:(
But maybe I’ll be brave and try soon. Also, after >20 yrs of nursing, I’ve had a lotta blood on a lotta uniforms (usually white) and hydrogen peroxide always does the trick. Keep dabbing, it shouldn’t discolor the duck cloth. Good Luck! (and love your blog).
I love the chair and the pillow. Upholstering is hard work so kudos to you for getting this done. I just love your style….
Come by my blog for a giveaway…
Awesome tutorial. Thank you for sharing. Love the chair.
http://www.projectqueen.org
I’ve always used Hydrogen Peroxide as well. It works wonders, you just have to have patience. I’ve also used dial bar soap on stuff blood stains. I would use HP, then cold water, HP again, cold water, and a dab of soap, followed by cold water again. Though, I’ve never had to get blood out of furniture, so I am not sure how it would work on something you can’t just run under cold water. GL though!
Wow, it looks amazing!! I have a chair I want to re-upholster, but I’m definitely nervous to give it a go… But your makeover is really inspiring! I will have to give it a go as well.
Great job! I can’t say I’ve ever had ‘fun’ doing reupholstery work. Although, I do stand back and enjoy the end result and that the process is over!
SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! That is so gorgeous!
I would sew myself into the chair!
I love duck cloth!
Kerry at housetalkn.blogspot.com
I know this may sound gross… but your own saliva will take the blood out. It has to be the saline a of whoevers blood it is. Its an old quilting trick. :)I I promise it works!! (Im also a high school sewing teacher. My kids have used this trick and they thought it was great.)
I love all your projects! You’re always so creative!
FAN-FREAKIN-TASTIC makeover Mandi! In spite of the minor accidente (your poor finger! ouch!!) You created yet another stunning vignette! The chair and pillow are fabulous – but what really drew me to your post was how awesome the gold frames look on the graphic B&W wp!! I love mixing in gold pieces into my home and I LOVE this look! You’ve been PINNED! 🙂
and… YOU ROCK!
xo Lynda
you’re adorable! your blog is awesome! where have you been all my life?
Ashley is right – your own SALIVA will get the blood out. I used it to get blood out of 100%, almost white, silk. Literally just spit and dab. Sounds gross, but it works like a charm!
Oh – and your chair looks awesome! Wish I wasn’t afraid to tackle this.
I love this! Love the pillow!!
I just found your blog and am now a new follower! yay for me : )
Sammy ~ Renew Redo
It was the wallpaper that initially caught my eye, but I love the chair makeover as well. You have an eye for design, marrying the light fabric with the red piping and the gray on the wood. It’s fantastic, and the vignette looks really great. I featured your project yesterday as part of my weekly “Get Me Motivated Monday” post! https://www.imbusyprocrastinating.com/2011/09/get-me-motivated-monday.html
Love your stuff! I am now following your blog!!
Check out our blog!
https://babblingsandmore.blogspot.com/
OMG! I would have run the other way if I saw that chair! I wouldn’t have the willpower to deal with the issues that the chair had after the abuse it had taken.
But, seriously, that is an amazing transformation!
Suzy & Ashley are right. There are enzymes in our own saliva that works on a lot of stains. Food and blood. Try it!
Hope you finger heals soon. I did the same thing in college while cutting mats for my senior thesis art show. Ugh.
Brittany
Can you PLEASE tell me where you got that pillow. If you made it, can I buy one from you! Love, love.
Obsessed with this! Needing a “Crap I’m Awesome” pillow, STAT. Did you make it? Great blog find! New follower 🙂
dido to the girl above me! I must have the pillow!
Okay, so there’s like so many girls here who LOVE your pillow…me, too! Did you make the fabric? How?!? I’m so excited about your stuff cuz I think your stuff is perfect for our website…coming soon! I’ll get in touch…clearly, you have a great fan-base and they’d love to get a hold of your “crap”!
Hey would you share with me a tip. After you stapled the fabric, did you glue gun the orange edge on the arms of the chair and the back of the chair.
I have a chair I am redoing and I was stuck on that point and voila found your blog today?
Crystal
from
https://crystalscreations-stillwatersgallery.blogspot.com
That pillow is awesome!!!! Can I ask how big the letters are what fabric you used to make it. Im in love with it!!!! [email protected]
Mandi, we’re begging. We’re pleading.
Crap. We KNOW you’re awesome and we want to be reminded how awesome we are too.
Where, oh where, did you get that pillow?
Peroxide!
Keep a bottle of high volume peroxide handy. You could probably get some at Sally’s beauty supply since they don’t require a cosmetology license for purchases. I use 30 or 40 volume. put some on the blood stain and let it sit. It won’t bleach the fabric,Wash your hands after rubbing it into the fabric, it may make the tips of your finger turn white, but that goes away after a while. Let it sit, you’ll see it foam where the stains are. Then wipe with a damp cloth. I have used it on antique Oriental rugs for pet stains with no damage.
Love your chair!!! The cute pillow is Awesome!!!! Thanks for the info.