I had this great idea to use them at the heads of our new dining table but the curvy legs of the chairs were a hair too wide for the table. RATS! I hate when a plan is foiled by bad measuring.
So here they sit waiting for a permanent place to reside. They look a little naked without a throw pillow or blanket…I’m working on a little project right now to remedy that.
Many of you have asked how much it costs to re-upholster a piece of furniture.
To be quite honest, it can be very costly. In fact, sometimes you’re better off buying a brand new piece of furniture. But with re-upholstery you get exactly what you want & you’re potentially saving it from the landfill.
Sometimes you can find a deal by enrolling in a community college class where you bring your own piece and learn to re-upholster it yourself in the class.
Another option is thinking outside the box. Inquire with someone who specializes in automotive upholstery. Many times they are just as talented and will charge a whole lot less.
One option that I’ve been very interested in is taking it to your local prison. Many prisons have programs for inmates that teach them a trade. With the help of a trained professional they work on your chair and gain experience. The turn around time is longer but your final cost is considerably less. In fact I’ve heard that people are suprinsgly pleased with the final result.
If you’re interested in DIY’ing it then Singer Upholstery Basics is a great resource.
Time for my plug. Please friends, I’m getting desperate for help. Because I applied a week behind everyone else I’m about 2000 votes behind in order to make it in to the top 20. Just think, if I get this job then I can afford to bring you more cool projects. Tell your friends, family, Facebook, blog, Twitter. Just one 5 second click everyday for the next week is all it takes.
Click here to vote.
End soap box.
Hey there! I’m Michelle; I’m an Passionate DIY’er and in constant pursuit of how to bring beauty to my house full of men (3 boys + 1 hubby). Stick around and see what I’ve got up my hard-working sleaves!
Ironic, as I just this ver minute unloaded a VERY similar pair of chairs in my garage after saving them from the trash. My husband will DIE when he finds them in his parking space. Off to devise a plan. Yours are beautiful.
I love those chairs, it’s a wonderful when you find something that you’ve been wanting.
they look SO GOOD. i could stare at the black cording for hours. would that be weird??
I wish I knew a good upholsterer… those turned out great
They are beautiful Michelle! We voted!!!
What a great redo! Love the white with the black cording. Now, can you bring them over? I think I have a good place for them.
first time commenter, but frequent visitor. love the transformation. learning to re-upholster furniture myself is among one of my “must learn to do” lists.
& good luck w/ the gig. I’m voting ( you mentioned one week left but the website says voting until today only )
-m.
Those chairs look amazing! Nice photo wall too!
The chairs look great 🙂 I voted for you today, as I do everyday 🙂
the reupholstery looks great! i believe it’s so pricey because of the amount of labor that actually goes into reupholstering. i am (still) reupholstering one of our couches. we purchased it used, and it had a couple of tiny tears in the back, which our dog discovered and made into gaping holes, so it was either reupholster it, or get new ones. A few things I’ve learned: take pictures as you’re “un-upholstering” it so you know how it goes back together; buy upholstery fabric on sale, it can get very pricey; assume it will take a lot longer than you plan; make sure that the padding/stuffing is still good, as it can be pricey to re-do. It’s a fun project to do, but it takes a lot of dedication. There are tons of reupholstery diy websites out there, just google.
these turned out super cute. We have 2 wingbacks in our living room, but I just have slipcovers on them right now, because re-upholstery was just too expensive at the moment.
I’d still really love to know the dollar amount you spent on the chairs. Sometimes good design is “costly.” However, if you think about it your chairs are so much more amazing than a similar chair I found for over $1,000 and I bet together yours didn’t cost $1,000. I got about five estimates for a wing back chair this week, they ranged from $335 (without fabric) to over $600 (still, without fabric). Am I getting a good deal?
I heart your blog… I love the chairs but most of all I love your family picture wall… Can I please post the picture of your wall on my blog? I have been looking for inspiration and found it… Off to Marshalls, TjMaxx and Ross to purchase frames!
I know the perfect spot for those chairs. In my livingroom!!
wow! they are perfectly delicious! i would love to have a pair of matching wing backs.
love the info on reupholstering. it’s so true…reupholstering is NOT cheap, but there is something almost magical about dropping off an ugly chair off at the reupholsters and picking up a beauty.
oh, and just to let you know, i wrote a post at design dazzle today, and used the picture of your boys headboard!
http://designdazzle.blogspot.com/2010/11/designing-kids-rooms-using-color-wheel.html
They look great!
Nice work, Michelle! You have such an eye for divine sophistication.
They look great!
I just voted for you. I think you are very talented and I enjoy your blog immensely. Just an FYI though, you may want to look at the information you provided about yourself on their site. There are several grammar errors. While it wouldn’t keep me from voting for you, I know I have read comments elsewhere by people who get frustrated with that. I just wouldn’t want it to stop people from voting for you. Hope I am being helpful and not obnoxious 🙂
Very nice !!! 🙂
Loooove your blog! I want to know more about the picture wall behind the chairs!!! So beautiful!!
That is so amazing that you found that additional chair. I certainly belive two are better than one. The first one with the throw looked amazing. I cant wait to see how you will styl them together.
hey michelle!
i have an awesome wing back chair like yours that needs to be reupholstered. I too live in Tucson and I was wondering how you reupholstered your chairs, where you got it done, and around the price range it cost! Or, if you yourself recovered them, could I possibly hire you? 🙂 let me know!
kayla
Kayla,
Chavez Leather & Fabric Upholstery Since 67 in Tucson.