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Thursday, November 8, 2012

DINING ROOM HOST CHAIRS: TA-DA!


I'm SO happy to finally be showing you my new dining room chairs today!




I've posted about these chairs at least *8* times since I got them over a year ago...I counted! (But I have a feeling I may have still missed a few.)

When I showed you the last little preview, my friend Pam said she was surprised that I went neutral.  She knows my love of color well.  Well Pam,


here's another surprise!  You know I had to get some color on these chairs!


After much investigating and hemming and hawing (is that a word??), I finally decided on this fabric for the back.  I ordered from fabric.com but since then they have started carrying it in stock at Hobby Lobby.  It is fun, bright, and has all of the colors I'm wanting to incorporate in the space. 

 

I love how it adds a burst of color to the neutral room and houndstooth drapes.



All the while that these have been waiting to be re-done, I've spotted them here and there around the web.  Erin and Layla have the same chair, and I've seen them made over and listed on Craig's list.  I think it's so interesting to see the same chair that has survived over the years in different parts of the country.



These wingbacks are a little different than most since they have the wood wing and arm rather that an upholstered one.  That was a big bonus to me since they will be used at the dining room table-no food swiped on the arms!  I've done somewhat of a tutorial, but I got off easy because I didn't have to deal with those arms.  I tried to group these photos up so there wouldn't be so many.

With the frame stripped clean, I used Rustoleum Metallic Gold spray paint for two or three coats.  I sprayed a couple of light coats of polyurethane on top also.

 

The seat unscrewed from the bottom, so it was easy to remove and wrap just like you would recover a regular chair seat.  I kept the original foam but beefed up the seats a bit by adding a 2" layer of padding (sold by the yard at Hobby Lobby).  I did not want the seat to be tufted like the original, so I turned the foam upside down and filled in the holes with scraps of foam and batting. Then, I wrapped all of the layers in a sheet of high-loft batting, stapling around the edges.  Finally the dropcloth was wrapped around and stapled tightly, and excess was trimmed.




This was my first time to make custom cording, and it could not have been easier!  Fold about a 2" strip over around plain cording (once again, purchased at Hobby Lobby) and sew very close to the cording with your zipper foot on.  I stapled the cording along the bottom front edge.  It added such a finishing touch.
    


I also wanted to cut back on the number of tufts on the back cushion.  After stuffing the holes I didn't want, I layered more batting on top of the original foam.




Tip:  If you have an upholstery shop accessible, they should be able to make your buttons for you.  These are GREAT because they are machine pressed and won't come apart.  I chose the prong-type back to make the process more simple, and the shop I used charged .50 for each button.  If you've ever wrapped covered buttons, you know that's totally worth it!  All I had to do was push the prongs through the fabric and layers, pull it tight, and open up the prongs to secure.  Don't worry about the bunching around the tufts, that will smooth out when the fabric is wrapped and stapled.




At this point, with all of the pieces finished but not attached, I took them outside and gave them several coats of Scotchguard.




With the seat removed, put the back cushion in place and wrap around the top and sides.  Pull tightly in every direction, checking to see what the front looks like, to pull all of the folds and wrinkles out from around the tufting.  Staple along edges and trim excess fabric.  Pull tightly towards the bottom and staple.


 


I wanted the back to have a bit of padding, so I stapled on a layer of high-loft batting.  The back is the part I was worried the most about, so after looking at several similar chairs, I decided to make it easy and staple the backing on all the way around and cover the staples with cording.  I folded all of the edges under and then stapled to give a little extra stability to the fabric.




To cover the staples I made a double welt cording using this tutorial.  This fabric frayed terribly, so after trimming the seam I used some fray-check to seal it.




Last step-hot glue the cording around all of the edges.  I started at the bottom close to the edge.  When connecting the two ends, I made a straight clean cut on both so they would meet perfectly and matched them up tightly.  The seam in the picture has some fray check on it that isn't dry yet, but once it dried the seam was almost undetectable.




I wanted to add wheels to my chairs for two reasons: to ease scooting them in and out at the table, and to add a little more height.  These chairs were originally too low for the table, but with the extra padding on the seat and the wheels they turned out just fine. I found some cup casters that were a great deal and the right size on eBay, but the wrong color.  I roughed them up with a medium sandpaper and sprayed them the same color as the chair frame.  I searched for some metal wheels for the back legs, but couldn't find the right wheel for the right price.  These wheels with a screw on plate from Lowe's were almost the right size, but the edges hung off slightly and the holes were too close to the edge-we were afraid of splintering the leg.  So, my Dad came to the rescue again, used his grinder to shave down the edges, and then drilled two new holes in the center.  The wheels are attached with only 2 screws rather than 4, but they seem very sturdy.
 
 

Certainly not perfect, but I'm happy with the result of my first real upholstery attempt!


Let's just see how far these little beauties have come...


From so, so sad-


 

to Sensational!




Piece by piece, the dining room is coming together.  Still to do: new table that the carpenter is almost finished making a leaf for (then I need to refinish), china cabinet or sideboard on the big wall, and artwork.  I can almost see the end in sight!


(P.S. You can see the latest version of the dining room here!)

*UPDATE: I changed the fabric on the backs of the chairs to a long time favorite.  Click here to read the details!





Linking up with

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  1. Wow that is an amazing transformation! You did such a great job! I am not going to be on the lookout for some of those chairs!

    -Sarah {tuckerup.blogspot.com}

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  2. LOVE the print on the back!! What a great surprise!! Awesome job as always Jennifer!

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  3. That looks so great!!! The gold is beautiful and you did such an amazing job on the upholstery. Great job!

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  4. They look absolutely AMAZING! You did an awesome job on the upholstery! I love everything about them; the paint color, the drop cloth and the fabric for the backs. The double welt trim is the icing on the cake. The are just beautiful and perfect!

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  5. What a beautiful job. Love the splash of color. I have a rocker that was my husbands great-grandmother. Anxious to try my hand hand at reupholstering it.

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  6. Jennifer! You never cease to amaze me with your creativity! You have such a great eye for seeing the potential in things!!! That back is AMAZING and totally inspiring me for a project I have. The colors are so pretty and fun. What a cheerful and beautiful home you are creating….makes me happy just to see it!!

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  7. You are so talented Jennifer! The chairs are stunning!

    Monica

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  8. Wow, you are brave!!!! So talented and do worth it!!!!!!! Looks fab!!!

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  9. Yay! I've been patiently waiting, and they are more beautiful than I imagined ~ you have such a way mixing lively, vibrant patterns with classic pieces to give it a one-of-a-kind look! Love those stylish pillows, too! Btw, can you see the backs when you walk in your front door? :)

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  10. P.S. Thanks for the sweet shout-out! :)

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  11. That is SO cool! Love how you added that gorgouse print to the backs - wonderful idea!

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  12. Love the added fun and color! Beatiful.

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  13. OMG, they are fabulous. That bold fabric on the back just makes them. Well done.

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  14. Beautifully done! I love the unexpected punch of color and pattern you've added. Gorgeous!

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  15. Just amazing!! And I love the fabric you chose for the back, the pop of colour and pattern is beautiful

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  16. I love to see color! and to see someone step away from all white ....love the details, the effort and think the color will add a lot of fun conversations...

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  17. Fabulous! I was eyeing the back of chair material at Hobby Lobby the other day, thinking" hmm, what could i do with this" :) You did awesome . Love those chairs!

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  18. Great job! I love the splash of color on the back too!

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  19. LOVE these! I am a huge fan of caned chairs and the way you have made this one over is just stunning. From the gold paint to the bold Suzani fabric on the backs, the chairs are just brilliant!!!
    Cathy @ Room Rx

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  20. First..you are one talented girl! I love the job you did and your chairs are gorgeous, I totally love the neutral front and the colorful avant garde back of them...stunning! Thank you for your sweet and kind visit.
    FABBY

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  21. oh my gosh, i LOVE those! they're like the mullets of chairs, but in a totally good way! business in the front, party in the back!

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    1. Hahaha! Never thought of it that way! But so funny! I love these chairs. I plan on doing something similar to one of the chairs in my home.

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  22. I HAVE THESE EXACT CHAIRS!!!!! I love how different people are styling them, so glad to see your version!! You can peek at mine here http://www.mccallmanor.com/home-improvements/the-story-of-the-twins/

    Enjoy,
    Holly

    McCall Manor

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  23. Jennifer, you are so talented! They turned out beyond gorgeous, and I love how you were able to get rid of the tufting in some places, and keep some in others. The fabric you chose s splendid, honestly, what a great job well done!

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  24. Oh so pretty! I love the great fabric you chose :)

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  25. Seriously, anything you can't do, Jennifer? SO FABULOUS! ;) I laughed at your pop of color on the back. That is so YOU! Lol. Looks soooo pretty in your dining room. It's a great feeling when the pieces of the puzzle come together.

    And yes, "hawing" is definitely a word.

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  26. All I can say is wow!!!! I love them....what a transformation!

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  27. Stunning! I absolutely love them and so very glad you chose the color for the backs...and the black & white cording. :) Perfection ~

    You did such a fabulous job...would you come down and help me do an antique sofa? I think there may be 4,049 nail heads around the wood part. Can you imagine???

    xo
    Pat

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  28. Wow! I love this idea! The bright fabric was a great choice.

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  29. Beautiful! I'm not usually a gold fan, but you really made it work with those chairs. Fantastic :)

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  30. these are just SPECTACULAR!!!!
    love every single detail - what a beautiful job!

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  31. I have never been more excited by a post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I have these chairs in my storage unit!!!!!!!!!
    So glad my husband didn't get rid if them!!!!!!!
    I inherited them with red velvet. I PAID to have them reupholstered in a floral tapestry (did I just admit that?)
    Now I'm going to make them over myself!
    THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  32. you did an awesome job! love the bold farbric on the back!

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  33. You have absolutely beautiful taste, I'm your newest follower.

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  34. your chairs give me the courage to do mine! I have a whole dining set I'm sitting on because the chairs are scary. And because I'm 8 months pregnant ;) but still. They look wonderful!

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  35. I love these chairs and your instructions are really clear. How many yards of fabric did you need for each chair and for each section?
    Thank you

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  36. Wow! conrats on not only one but two features this week over at Better After! Well deserved, your makeovers are beautiful!
    Tami @ Curb Alert!

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  37. Love the chairs! You are so talented! What kind of fabric did you use for the front of the chairs and where did you get it? I have a chair I want to reupholster and I love the look of yours!

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  38. Oh my goodness, these are too fabulous for words! You are brilliant!

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  39. These are gorgeous and speak to my houndstooth loving soul! Nice work!!

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  40. These are amazing and I still cannot believe they are DIY. Well done! My socks are officially knocked off.

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  41. I have been wanting to do my office for quite some time now, but could never decide what I wanted.......until I saw your chairs! I love this fabric and thanks to this post I am in the middle of my office makeover now.

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    1. Oh, wow! I'm the same way, I have to wait for one big piece of inspiration to hit me and then the rest of the room comes together fast! Be sure and let me know when you're finished, I'd love to see it! Thanks for visiting, Lisa.

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  42. Very shortly this site will be famous amid all blogging people, due to it's good articles

    Here is my page ... life coach in Johannesburg

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  43. What fabulous upholstery inspiration! I love the contrast welt with that fabric!

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  44. GORGEOUS! I love every single thing about these chairs! Hard to believe they're the same as those chairs in that before photo. Thanks so much for linking up to Ditto DIY!

    Kelly @ View Along the Way

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  45. Did you prime the chairs before painting? How are they holding up?

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  46. I just got one of these chairs on the side of the road! I'm so happy to see these transformed into something beautiful!

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  47. Jennifer,
    I recently bought one of the same chairs from an estate sale that my boyfriend's company was hosting. He was very confused because of how hideous it is but his opinion will change once he sees what I had in mind. Mine is much worse than what yours originally looked like (they are this awful orange color). Anyway, I am wondering if you could please tell me roughly how much fabric you used? Thank you!

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    1. Yep, I've recently seen the orange too! I used a dropcloth, but I'm guessing you would need about a yard for the seat and 2-3 yards for the back. It would depend on how you cut your fabric, too. The back isn't very wide so there's lots of extra once you cut that out. So, I'm guessing around 4 yards to be safe.

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  48. I'm SO happy to finally be showing you my new dining room chairs today! I've posted about these chairs at least *8* times since I got them over ... roomchairs.blogspot.com

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  49. Did the fabric on the front of your chairs match the almost beige/khaki color of the printed fabric you used on the back of one of you chairs? I love the fabric you used on the back of your chair in the "cording step" of this tutorial and I found the fabric online, but the swatch came in and the base color is not off-white like I expected, it has almost more of a khaki colored base and I am trying to find a solid to go with it for the front of my chairs.

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  50. Jennifer, your chairs are gorgeous!!! I've got a set of ugly gold upholstered cane chairs and I'm looking for a solution. I love how clean your chairs look from one angle and how bright and vivid from another. Thanks for sharing.

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