CasaSugar

Etsy Finds: Gorgeous Custom Furniture

CasaSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:00:02 -0700

While I've shown you a lot of home accents from Etsy, I've neglected to share the gorgeous, custom-made furniture that the site also showcases. From dining tables made from salvaged barn boards to '60s-era chairs reupholstered in Thomas Paul fabric, Etsy really does have nearly everything you need to furnish and outfit your home. Check out my favorites.

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Before and After: A Tacky Chair Gets an Update

CasaSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:00:05 -0800

The other week, I asked you what projects you were working on, and I've got to say, you are all some busy bees. While some of you are painting rooms, stripping cabinets, and arranging home offices, I told you that I was going to reupholster a chair that I found for $2.50 at a flea market. Here's what the chair looked like before I switched out the fabric.

To see how it looks after I reupholstered it, read more.

I used Amy Butler Nigella fabric for the chair. This project took a little more time than I expected, since the back rest had a ton of staples in it. However, I'd gladly reupholster more flea market chairs in the future. I think the difference is really inspiring, and the monetary investment was so small: between the fabric and chair, I spent less than $10. Now that's certainly a way to go beautiful on a budget.

Before and After: Office Chair Rehab

CasaSugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:30:30 -0700

Craftster member Dink recently took this dingy (in her words, "skanky") office chair from trashy to fantastic with a simple reupholstery project. Here's how it looked beforehand. Dink explains that the missing fabric is due to her "habit of sitting with both my feet up on the office chair, cross-legged in a not-quite-lotus position. This is comfortable for me, but disastrous for the chair."

To see the results, read more.

She says, "Unscrewing the seat was easy. Stapling the fabric to the underside of the seat was easy. Removing the back was not easy. I spent a long time searching on the Internet for instructions on how to get the back off without breaking the chair. All I could find were pictures of reupholstered chairs, and helpful comments like 'take the back off' with no details on how to actually do it. So, for anyone considering reupholstering an office chair, I offer the following advice: to dismantle the back you have to jam a long screwdriver down in between the padded fabric part and the plastic part, then prise the plastic part off with all your strength. After a few seconds, the back will surprise you with a couple of loud 'pop's, and magically it will be in two separate pieces."

Oh, and if you're wondering where the cool fabric came from, Dink says to check an Ikea store.

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Source

How-To: Advice on Chair Reupholstering

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:00:12 -0700

If you were intrigued by my DIY upholstery project, but have an easier time learning things by watching them instead of reading them, then I have just the help you need! The fine folks at ReadyMade created a very helpful video showing you a slightly different technique for reupholstering chairs.

To see the video for yourself, read more.

Source

DIY: Re-Cover a Dining Room Chair

CasaSugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 05:30:56 -0700

If you're a bargain hunter, you've likely come across some beautiful antique dining chairs. Sometimes the actual structure of the chair is in great shape, though the seat's fabric covering is ratty or just poorly upholstered. No worries! Grab that bargain chair and reupholster the seat. It's one of the easiest reupholstery projects out there.

What You'll Need

Fabrics
Measuring tapes
Scissors
Stapling gun
Staples
Screwdrivers (both Phillips and flathead)

To find out how to make it, read more.

Here's how to do it, from eHow.

Measure the surface of the chair seat, side to side and back to front. Add eight inches to each measurement. For example, 18 by 20 becomes 26 by 28.
Choose a fabric that is upholstery weight, since there's going to be a lot of wear and tear (and booties!) on your chair.
Take the chairs apart, which will probably require unscrewing the seats from the frames.
Remove the old fabric or vinyl - you may need pliers if the staples or tacks are old.
Double-check your measurements and then cut out your new chair covers.
Place your new cover on your work surface, wrong side up.
Place your chair seat on the new cover, top side down.
Hold the two together and flip to check that the fabric is pointed in the right direction; adjust if necessary. Place the seat and cover back back down on the work surface, as before.
Pull the fabric up on one side and staple, working from the middle out to the corners.
Pull the fabric up tightly on the opposite side and staple.
Repeat with the remaining two sides.
Reattach the seats to the chair.
Enjoy!

Source

Before and After: A Free Ikea Chair Gets a Facelift

CasaSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:00:45 -0700

Craftster member Minouette recently posted photos of the free Ikea chair she took from dumpster worthy to crave worthy. She writes, "I found this chair. It had a sad little sign saying FREE. It was filthy and had been much abused by a cat. The legs were scuffed and marked, but it looked solid and had potential."

To see the truly remarkable results, read more.

Minouette reveals her process by writing, "I cut off the fabric and used it to make a pattern. I reused the zipper for the cushion and then trashed the rest of the blue canvas as it was neither nice nor clean. I used a combination of new fabric, thrifted fabrics (corduroy, cotton, upholstery, an old pair of pants and a men's shirt etc.), and block-printed fabrics. I used lino block prints of the oudjat eyes, radiolarians, jellyfish, frog and lily pad, koi, seahorse, walrus, dragon, and blue whales. I also used one old screen print of the sun."

Truly inspiring, Minouette! I am in awe.

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Source

Ask Casa: Should I Buy This Furniture?

CasaSugar — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 08:17:07 -0700

Hi Casa,

I saw this chair and sofa on Craigslist today. I love the lines and they would be fun for decorating my first real apartment I got after getting my first job out of ollege. Pink is not my most favorite of colors and I can't afford to have them re-upholstered. Should I tolerate the pink (it's kind of a dusty pink, no?) and maybe re-upholster down the line when I can afford it? If it would help, i live in an apartment in a renovated 1920s hotel. It also has great "bones," with molding, hardwood, and black and white tile in the kitchen. The walls are painted a warm beige/light creamy brown color.

Thanks,
Mindbolt
To see my answer, along with a widget with my suggestions for re-upholstery fabric choices and textiles, just read more

Hi Mindbolt,

Wow, that's beautiful! I'm a big fan of the lines of those pieces as well, and, as the seller indicates, the color is more of a taupe than a pink, which I think you could minimize further by accessorizing with hip, modern throw pillows that bring out the taupe color rather than the pink. The furniture looks a little dated in the photo, but that's because it's surrounded by some kitschy elements and fabrics. Some contemporary touches would make all the difference.

Because this is classic furniture, you know that the bones are going to be solid-this is furniture that's stood the test of time. So re-upholstering it is a good option in the future if you want to spend the money down the line. Here's a link to approximate yardages for re-upholstering furniture, which you can consult when you begin to look for fabric.

What a great Craigslist find! I say go for it! I've added a widget with suggestions for throw pillows and upholstery fabrics, so check them out below.

Cheers,
Casa

Su Casa: Reupholstering a Roadside Chair

CasaSugar — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 07:30:10 -0700

I love to see how people repurpose old furniture, and today's Su Casa is impressive. CasaSugar reader Michelin found this chair on the side of the road, and after making sure the springs and cushions were in good condition, she took it to be reupholstered with fabrics she bought on sale. According to Michelin: "With some luck and a little over $300, I got a one of a kind chair that fits my personality perfectly." Here's what the chair looked like before:

To see the "after" photo, read more

Here's the remade chair, recovered in light blue and green velvet. Says Michelin: "The green is actually brighter than it looks in this picture, it's almost a citrus color."

Want to share your photos? Here's how to join Su Casa.

Casa Link: Reupholstering Chairs

CasaSugar — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:15:44 -0800

The ever-resourceful Danny Seo gives the breakdown for pricing on reupholstering these three chairs. And you know what? It's a lot more reasonable than you might think.

Go to the post to get the whole story. Meanwhile, I'm going to go price some reupholsterers in my neighborhood . . .

Casa Verde: eBay Gets Green With DIYs

CasaSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:13 -0800

eBay, purveyor of thousands of used goods, is pretty green to begin with. But now the online auction house is asking you all to be earth-friendly, too. The eBay Green Team and sustainable style blog Ecofabulous have aligned forces, asking you to turn everyday items into fab must haves for a chance to win a $1,000 "shopping experience" on eBay and a personal consultation from Ecofabulous.

To inspire you, Ecofabulous founder and DIY superstar Zem Joaquin has given new life to a few vintage, used, and discarded furnishings with a little elbow grease and a few eco-friendly supplies. This stripped and refinished cabinet was one of her projects, in addition to a transformed telephone bench and a reupholstered couch. To enter, you need to send in pictures or a video of your eco-DIY project. Considering all of the wonderful before and after projects many of you have submitted to Su Casa, I'm sure you're up to the task!