Settee makeover...
As you probably know by now, upholstery is one of my least favorite things to do. One, because it requires me to do my VERY least favorite thing...sew.
Second, it hurts. Seriously after a day of pulling old fabric, staples and nails, my hands are killing me. Which is why it usually takes me weeks to complete a project.
A few weeks ago I shared a club chair I reupholstered for my living room.
I hardly had time to recover from that before I started on this Eastlake chair, and then it was time to tackle this camelback settee!
This thing was seriously hideous. But it had really good "bones" and well, it was free!
This little piece is exactly why I have vowed (time and again) to NEVER take on upholstery projects...just too much work. But how could I pass up such a neat little piece. I'm sick I tell ya!
So I decided to pace myself and tackle a bit at a time.
First, a day of stripping stinky old fabric and a few billion staples and nails.
Then I made a few minor repairs. Then I chalk painted and distressed the little bit of wood that was showing. Then I covered the entire thing with fresh new padding and batting. Then I made the cushion covers. Then I spent 2-3 days recovering the frame. All in all, this "simple" little project took me a good week to finish.
AGAIN, I could give you a blow by blow tutorial on upholstery. But AGAIN, there are a billion really good tutorials online and your best bet is to find a piece similar to the one you want recovered.
Then be smart and take it to your local upholstery shop and don't complain about how much they charge you...trust me, it is worth every dime!!!
Course I say this EVERY time I reupholster a piece...and next thing you know I am hauling home another battered and abused couch or chair. This strange illness I have may explain why I keep hauling home abandoned cats...who knows.
I just know that occasionally I see a piece that is so different and my vision for what it COULD be is so clear, I can't help myself.
When it was all said and done, it really was a little gem....
I threw in a few pillows I made several years ago for my den.... it sold the day after I took it to 410 Vintage. The fact that someone will love it and use it makes all the aches and pains worth it!
Fortunately, as much as I love these pieces when they are done, I have a venue to sell them.
The cats...well, that's another story!
