Reupholstering a Chair

I've reupholstered a desk chair before, so I was up for a more challenging reupholstering job the second time around. I needed another one for the guest bedroom/study. I checked out Craigslist for a few days and found this beauty for $10.

Pic of the back (couldn't find a photo of the front).

It had seen better days - it was made in the late 70's after all (I found the date and manufacturer on its underbelly). It also wasn't the right colored fabric. But it had good bones, which is what attracted me to it.

Here is a tutorial that I wrote before about my last reupholstering job. I have one more little tip about how to get the corners taut, which is especially important when you don't have a plastic cover to tuck the corners into.

First, staple the fabric to one or two sides of the chair. Then, gather the fabric around corner and pinch it such that there are layers folding on one another.

I'd also recommend turning it over while you're pinching the fabric to make sure everything looks right on the front. Then, staple it and admire your work!

Here is the final product! By the way, I got the fabric from IKEA for around $4 or so per yard. I think I used half a yard. That means this desk chair cost me a total of $12!! Not bad at all, if I do say so myself.  :-)

The front

The back

What have you reupholstered lately? Please comment with a link! I'd love to see your project!

I'm linking to...

PS - Dear Dad, I already spoke with you today, but just wanted to say again happy Father's Day! 

Love, 

Me & your little granddoggers, Heidi and Jini  :)

Blog Love + Sharing a Reader's Chevron Painted Table

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Lately, I have been feeling the love from fellow DIY bloggers. Robin, from Rasz Art, wrote a very flattering post about my blog and my projects. Totally made my day!! She is so sweet, and a talented blogger and DIYer to boot. Thank you, Robin!

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Also, to those who leave me comments, thank you so much! The fact that you would take time out of your busy day to send some love my way speaks volumes about the kind of people you are - wonderful and kindhearted people, that's what you are.  :) Your comments are so encouraging and flattering that it knocks my socks off! It's like opening a present every time Blogger notifies me of a new one. 

I also want to thank those of you who have recently or in the past sent me a blog award. It means so much to be recognized by talented DIYers like yourselves. 

In addition to all that crazy awesome blog love, it seems like every week I've been gaining new people who are following along. [As a side note, I try to follow each and every one of you back. If I missed your blog somehow, please know it was not intentional and resend me your blog link in a comment.]

Thanks so much, my blog and DIY colleagues! It has been great--and will continue to be great--connecting with you and getting to share project ideas with each other.

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On a similar note, I want to feature Tara's project now. She wrote me to say that she used my Chevron template to paint her Ikea end table. Here is a picture:

Click here to see the picture on Tara's Pinterest board, where she initially posted it. 

[Click the picture or this text to follow her inspirational boards on Pinterest.]


Isn't it stunning?! I love the colors she chose, and this table seems to be the ideal piece of furniture to paint a pattern onto the top. Perfection! Thank you, Tara, for using my template and for sharing the pic with me! 


When I created the Chevron template initially, I used it on a thrifted tray. Now, I'm looking around the room to see what else I can use it on. Ha ha! Here is the free, printable Chevron pattern template in case anyone else wants to use it. And if you do, please send me pics or a link like Tara did so that I can see your creation! :) I may show it off here with your permission. 

Thrifty find: Replacing Outdated Shades on a Light Fixture

I hate outdated light fixtures with a passion  And as a renter, I never seem to be able to escape horrific ones. (Perhaps, I'm being a wee bit dramatic. hehe)

Now that we have that out of the way, let me show you this beaut (said in a facetious tone) that is in our living room. We've been looking at this everyday for the past 2 years. 

Please excuse dustiness & popcorn ceiling

Yikes! Right? 


Also, check out how the bulbs extend past the shades. The new energy-saving bulbs are too long for these old fashioned shades. 

Here's how I fixed that little problemo: 

I spent months searching for the perfect chic & inexpensive shades. Yesterday, I decided I would try Lowes again, and low and behold I found these modern shades for $3.60 or something like that under $4. My heart skipped a beat when I spotted them. I even had a cashier double check that they were indeed under $4 like the sign said. It's just that <$4 is a much better price than similar shades that run $8 to $15 a pop. 

The particular Lowes I went to only had 2 in stock, so I asked a lovely employee to tell me what locations it was in stock. I trekked across the Research Triangle in NC (okay, it was like 5 miles away, but there was traffic, people!), and I bought another 2. 

Here is the exact same light fixture with new shades! 

This pic doesn't do it justice. In real life, it looks like a whole new fan! I love love love it!

Now some folks may wonder why I would spend money to update the homeowner's light fixture. To them I say...

Yes, I know I'm a renter.

Yes, I know that I'm adding value to a house that I do not own.

Yes, I know that's money I will never get back.

But if happiness could be measured in terms of dollars and cents, then I think I have already gotten a 200% return on my investment. I've been staring up at the new shades and swooning all day. Totally worth the $16 I paid and the time it took to drive around town to find them. 

Do any of you DIYers agree with me that sometimes it's worth putting a little money and a little blood, sweat, and tears into a rental? I mean we do have to live in them after all.  :)

Another Spray Paint Transformation

Hello! Sorry to have been away for so long. I recently got back from a trip back home to OK. (It was a lovely visit - wish I was still there.) Although I've been absent from blog world, I have actually been working on several DIY projects (yay!!). I'm not sure they are all worth sharing because some are small and easy, but what the heck, I'm going to anyway.  :)

The point of this post is to share with you another project involving a spray paint transformation. It's not a cute and darling project, but it is quite useful and frugal! Maybe it will inspire someone out there to look beyond the pattern or color of items discovered at a discount store. I firmly believe that almost anything can be transformed with a can of spray paint - who's with me?! 

So, I was checking out my local Big Lots store when I came across this little trash can.

Dislike: The fact that it looks like it belongs in a preteen girls bedroom. 

Like: That it has a flip top cover (which is especially useful when I have two dogsters that can access the bathroom trashcan).

Since it was only $6, I brought it home, taped off the black areas, and gave the rest a coat of Krylon metallic silver, which was leftover from a knob makeover. 

15 minutes later and we have a brand new, dog-proof and trash-hiding garbage can!

At Walmart, a small aluminum or stainless steel trash can costs upwards of fifteen or twenty bucks. I like my $6 version much better.  :)

Linking to Finding Fabulous