Having wrestled for an unnaturally long time with our own chair upholstery project (well, I was more a bystander while my wife played the role of the wrestler), we’re that much more impressed with Erin’s redo of her great aunt’s loveseat. Here’s her letter:
A few months ago I set out to reupholster my great aunt’s old loveseat. I actually planned on hiring someone to reupholster it, as I have never done anything like this before (not even close!). But then I got to thinking “Why not try my hand at it first?” So Project Loveseat was born!
It was definitely a challenge. And one that I just sort of winged. I couldn’t even write up a whole tutorial because I still have no idea what I did. But it goes to show you that projects like this one are doable for the average person (the average person with A LOT of staples). It’s not perfect but it is faaaar better than what I imagined I could do. -Erin
Three cheers for Erin for the great pictures and the encouragement to take on another upholstery project at some point! You can see more photos of the process on her blog Olive Our House. Has anyone else taken on any upholstery projects lately? Or any other furniture, paint, fabric, or full room makeovers for that matter? You know we’re nosy and we love to check that stuff out. Just send any and all projects to [email protected].
Psst- We shared a little “Fair Fun” over on Young House Life yesterday. Check it out here.
Awesome! I actually just picked up a wing back chair at a garage sale that really needs reupholstering….so happy to see this, the result is fantastic!
Wow! The “after” shot is totally pin worthy. :)
Wow- love it! Stripes are probably that much more difficult to do well when DIYing upholstery, huh? I’m that much more impressed.
It is amazing what a little fabric can do! How stunning!
Wow Erin – you’ve never done this before and you not only chose stripes but it has that circled frame section making any pattern more difficult? You are one brave chica.
The result is amazing!
HO-LY SMOKES! That looks AMAZING. I absolutely love the stripes and how it adds to the character of the piece. Amazing job!
Very IMPRESSIVE! I’m always amazed when someone can tackle a project like this on their own. Way to go!
She did a great job, especially using large print stripes. I took an upholstery class a few months ago and have done 2 more chairs since then. So far I have learned that no project is the same and sometime you have to be creative. Her couch looks great!
Stunning! Great job!
It’s gorgeous! That fabric is absolutely stunning!
Loving the reader redesigns!
you had me at black and white stripes….
Go Erin Go!!! Its stunning! =)
xoXOxo
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
Wow, it looks great! I have done some reupholstering but never something as complicated as that.
Fantastic! The black and white stripes but a nice modern twist to a very traditional piece. I’m (slowly) working on a reupholstery project of my own and will send pics your way when/if I finish!
Striking!
Wow! I *love* that you don’t have instructions because you have “no idea” what you did. That’s totally something I would do. Well Erin – for winging it you did amazing! And you also saved yourself at least $500. Woot!
Yay Erin! So glad to see you getting some much-deserved applause :-)
This looks amazing. The stripes are so lovely!
I love this! It is great to see that she kept the original brown wood! I feel like it is very unexpected and most people would have painted it black or white. Nice job!
Ooooo . . . bravo! The stripes are an awesome counterpoint to the curvy, ornate frame, and the nailhead trim (or just nail heads?) is crazy awesome. Hooray Erin!
I am amazed that her stripes are so perfect–especially the stripes down the center, from the circular inset to the seat!! I love it.
INCREDIBLE!
That is gorgeous!!!
Wow that turned out amazing! And striped fabric is probably the hardest to work with since everything has to be very straight. I’m impressed!
just 1 word
FANTASTIC!!!
Love, love, love it!
Woooooow!
Amazing! I love both the sofa AND the lovely gray wall behind it … Erin, any possibility you could share what color that is?
thanks! it’s benjamin moore’s porpoise.
wait no! it’s made by behr, sorry! still porpoise though.
in. awe.
beautiful!
WOW, is all I can say. When I first saw that thing I thought, I don’t think I’m going to like this. Then I saw the fabulous stripes and well…WOW!
Looks amazing!
I guess I did have some things to say after all!
Way to go Erin!
OH MAH LAWD. Just channeled my old lady. Except this thing is not old lady, it’s just awesome.
Beatiful! It’s awesome that she did it all by herself!
Holy speechlessness, Batman! That is incredible!
I love that fabric!!
Yowzah! What a difference!
Sherry, I thought you would appreciate this drawing showing the benefits of hanging curtains “high & wide”.
http://pinterest.com/pin/320859189/
Oh yes I love that! So true!!
xo,
s
Looks great! Is it me or does the picture above the couch look similar in style to the one you guys had done of your old house??
Oh yeah- really similar! So funny.
xo,
s
AMAZING! I am trying to muster up the courage to reupholster our living room couches. I really want the Ektorp sofa and loveseat, but no room for that in the budget. Here is my recent (and extremely simple and not at all fancy)upholstery project http://thiskindaoldhouse.com/2011/10/upholstered-headboard/
Looks great!
xo,
s
thanks so much for all the nice comments!
(and thanks, john and sherry, for posting. definitely made my day!)
You’re very welcome! Thanks for sending it along. You did an amazing job!
xo,
s
Cor, Blimey (as we would say this side of the pond)!!! I’m so impressed, words fail me.
That fabric was a perfect pic for the love seat. I love it!
Holy cow Erin, that is amazing! I love the fabric choice and think you did a great job! These kind of projects definitely intimidate me.
P.S. I cooked this while reading (and watching) today’s posts.. Do you like eggs?
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=771092088716&l=2d7a78a0a6
Mmm, looks awesome!
xo,
s
The loveseat looks amazing!
A few years ago we reupholstered our camel-back claw foot Ethan Allen couch, which was given to us as a hand-me-down because it had turned from white to blackish-grey. We were very lucky to have the help and support of my extremely knowkedgeable MIL, who reupholsters nearly all of the furniture in her living room every few years to change things up a bit. We also bought our fabric and supplies at 50% off at a professional fabric & upholstery store, and the sales people in the store were extremely knowledgeable and helpful.
If there is one piece of advice I can give, it would be to take pictures of everything as you take it apart- to show the order of how things overlap. Take extra photos of complex details like the pleading of fabric and edging on the front of the arms of the sofa. Then reverse the order of the photos, and you will have a good starter guide of what steps to do when. When reupholstering, the order of the steps really does matter, and the details of where to staple each piece of fabric are nearly impossible to remember, so and this is the easiest technique I have found to keep track of what to do when.
I finally got around to taking apart a chair to re-upholster (one of two, the other will need more work as the cats decided it was a suitable scratching post). I discovered that wine and staple guns do not mix; however, the chair is looking quite nice with it’s new duds. I was motivated after seeing your office chair makeover!
WOW! Awesome transformation! I never would have thought to use a bold stripe like that, but it looks great!
No she didn’t!! I don’t know Erin, but she has given me the courage to finally do this myself. I also have *never* done something this big but I’m sure with enough staples and hair pulling I could do it too. Thanks for sharing! VERY inspirational.
Holy cow that’s amazing!
That is one fantastic sofa! I absolutely love the shape of it. I myself have not reupholstered anything lately, but I have spent the last month designing and creating a lamp shade for my interior design studio. It’s more like lighted art…that I made completely out of paper. It was a long journey, and I’m so happy with what I ended up with (and I just found out that it’s going to be put on display in a design gallery in Ohio!)
Here’s my blog post about it (scroll down towards the end to see the final product):
http://krystalwitha-k.blogspot.com/2011/10/krystal-light-designs.html
So. Awesome.
xo,
s
I know this is completely unrelated to the post but it IS still DIY-related AND I remember you previously had a post about Missoni for Target. I found this link for DIY-Missoni shoes! :)
http://www.refinery29.com/who-needs-target-we-ve-got-diy-missoni-shoes
Haha, love it!
xo,
s
Does anyone have a certain brand of staple gun they recommend and staple size?
I reupholstered a chair a few months back and was directed towards electric staple guns (which I imagine is helpful on your hand in the long run). Unfortunately I bought a cheap-o one. Not worth the money I spent on it, but I used it anyway… and then had to hammer in EVERY staple after the gun fired them. Try them out first (if you can), and buy what you can afford.
My tutorial: http://megeletto.blogspot.com/2011/02/reupholstering-wingback-chair.html
Erin did an awesome job! It looks like something about of a chic magazine. :)