I hate(ed) these chairs

Mr. Mel and I, in all of our youthful wisdom, bought this table and chair set twelve-ish years ago when we moved in together. At the time, it was quite the stylish set, let me tell you! Now...not so  much. The thing is, I pretty much regretted this purchase the first time we used it. The chairs are not the most comfortable, the table frame is designed in such a way that it touches the top of your legs when seated at the table, and don't *even* get me started on the impracticality of a glass-topped kitchen table!

Soon, the cats started using the chairs as a jungle gym. They would climb up the backs and soon there were awful scratches on them from their claws. The seats got dirty and stained from my darling nephews. And the glass got scratched from everyday use.

When we moved into the new house, we brought the set with us. I figured we could always use it in the basement, if not, we'd sell it.

I have decided to do neither. I have decided that these chairs are just what I needed to use in our bonus room at our game/activity table that currently has just one sad chair at it! I figured I have nothing to lose, since I already hated them, how much worse could it get?! Let me say for the record that Mr.Mel wanted no part of this project. He was sure it was going to go horribly horribly wrong.

I removed the seats and then sanded, primed, and painted the chairs with Rustoleum Painter's Touch in Apple Green (eeeek, I don't think I'd use this brand again...so much overspray and lots of wasted paint!).

Now for the seats. I found an awwwwwwe-some deal on fabric that was exactly what I was looking for (when does that ever happen?!). This stuff was regularily priced at $23/yd, on clearance for $3/yd...and with my discount card I got it for $1.50/yd!!! Can you imagine?!

I didn't bother pulling the old fabric off...too lazy. I measured the seats, and cut the fabric about 4 inches larger than that measurement. I used an elecric staple gun to attach it, then trimmed the excess.

 

 

 

Awww, now I love these chairs! And my little Butter loves them too! I can't wait to show you what else I have been busy with in the bonus room!

Cost breakdown for this project:
$13 for fabric (I still have a ton of this leftover)
$0 for the chairs
$6 for paint
$0 for primer
Total cost  = $18

My Just-for-Show Bench

The idea of having a decor item for its sheer decorative value is a concept completely lost on Mr. Mel. In a perfect world, every item in a room would have a purpose but, let’s face it, sometimes we just like things to be pretty.

This piece started its life as a coffee table. But I didn’t need a coffee table. I needed a bench. So, now it’s a bench. Yeh, it’s that easy. Mr. Mel doesn’t understand this. He is confused and I am tired of trying to explain it to him. Moving on...

This was actually part of a set of three tables, two of which I used to make night stands for our bedroom.

I figured I’d stick with the same idea here. I removed the glass then primed it with Kilz (this piece also had brass corners so I made sure to prime these with a metal primer I had leftover from my night stand project).

I gave it two coats of CIL Lovely Lisa leftover from my night stand project.

Then glazed it with leftovers (CIL Black Mica and faux glaze) from the night stand project and topped it with a coat of Varethane.

To make the bench seat, I cut a piece of mdf to the size I needed (18" x 54"). I covered it in 2” high density foam, batting, and fabric. Note to self: do not buy foam by guesstimating the size you need or you *will not* buy enough - not that I would know from experience!

To make the fabric cover for the seat, I cut 4 pieces of fabric 1" wider and 2 1/2" longer than the sides of the foam. I cut the top piece of fabric 1" wider and 1" longer than the foam.  These measurements will allow me a 1/2" seam allowance and enough fabric to wrap around the bottom of the seat. I pinned and sewed the side pieces together, end to end, creating a big loop. Then I ironed open my seams.

Mr. Mel thinks it's pretty funny that I insist on a bare foot to work the sewing machine pedal. It's an odd habit I started back in grade 8 home ec, and now I can't seem to get past it! (Yes, that is an iguana tattoo on my foot. Perhaps not the smartest thing I've ever done...)

With right sides facing, I pinned the loop I just made to the top piece I cut out earlier.

When  got to the corners, I pinned on each side of the corner, then pinned the fabric at the 45 degree angle where the fabric met. Then I folded the corner down (so it kinda resembled a cone shape), and pinned across all layers of fabric. When you sew this, you will sew diagonally across the corner.

Once it was all sewn together, I trimmed the excess fabric from my corners, and ironed the seams open. I fit the seat cover over the foam and batting and stapled the excess fabric to the bottom of the seat (just like I did for my headboard project). I attached the seat to the frame from the underside using small L-brackets leftover from my closet organizer install.

All done! Do I think we will ever use this bench? Maybe not. But it will look great at the foot of my bed!

Cost breakdown for this project:
$25 for the table
$0 for paint
$0 for glaze
$12 for fabric
$57 for batting and foam (I opted for the really dense foam so it cost a bit more)
$0 for mdf (I found this in my garage. Where it came from, I have no clue)
Total cost $94

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Headboard Tufting 101

Have you ever started a project and thought, "This is gonna be so easy it should be a crime"? Then got halfway through it and thought, "Why, oh why, did I think I could do this?!". Yeh, me too. Luckily, this project started off easy and ended easy. It really made me feel like a superstar!

I give you, the making of a button tufted headboard...

The time has come to tackle my master bedroom. I am big believer that the bedroom is a place of refuge, and should be plush, relaxing, and comfortable. My bedroom was none of those things. So let's start with the bed.

Our bed is currently a queen size. Eventually, Mr. Mel would like to upgrade to a king, so I made the headboard big enough to accommodate that size. I started off by cutting a piece of plywood to 76" x 48". I wanted 6 buttons, so I measured out their locations (every 19" horizontally, and 12" vertically) and used a small bit to drill holes through the board.

I ironed my fabric and laid it (right side down) on the floor. I laid my batting over that. Then 1" foam, that I covered in spray adhesive. On top of that I laid my board. **I made sure that each material extended about 2" beyond the edge of the board so it could be wrapped around the edge of the board to create a soft edge**

Using a staple gun (an electric staple gun is a life saver on a project like this), I stapled the fabric to the back of the board starting at the centres of each side then working your way around. When you get to the corners, fold them like you would wrap a present and staple them in place. Make sure that you get the fabric nice and taut while you're doing this. When you're done, trim the excess fabric and padding.

Next up...tufting! I bought a button kit so I could cover my buttons in the same fabric as my headboard. Just follow the 'sructions on the package to make these. Using a fine wire (or upholstery thread), and an upholstery needle, thread it through the holes drilled in the board (start at the back of the headboard) making sure to leave a few inches of wire at the back. Once it's through the front, thread your button on and feed the needle through the front where the button will sit, back through the hole. Using pliers, give the wire a good tug. Be careful not to use bare fingers...the wire can easily slice and no good can come of that! Loop or tie the wire to a nail or washer to hold it in place.

Now you're done! To hang the headboard, I plan to use d-rings. They are super strong and not bulky. You can pick them up at any home centre.

Cost breakdown for this project:
$12 for plywood
$3 for d-rings
$75 for fabric
$4 for button kit
$40 for batting and foam
Total cost = $124

Cutie Patootie Chair

I. Love. This. Chair. I want a whole bunch of 'em! Unfortunately, the seller only had one available. That's ok, I took it and ran...giggling all the way home.

Here's the charming 1950's chair when I brought it home...isn't it adorable?

My little Butter loves it too!

Here it is after a coat of primer and a coat of Rustoleum Winter Grey, some fabric, and about a kagillion staples (I lie, it was more like a zillion staples, but who's counting?) ::shudder:: The original seat and padding were on the chair when I bought it, talk about nasty. I wish I had taken photos...it was stuffed with straw!

Here is the cost breakdown for this project:
$40 for the chair
$6 for paint
$13 for foam padding
$7 for fabric and trim
Total cost = $66

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