Wednesday, June 25, 2014

BEFORE & AFTER: A Chair Makeover

Before picture
I mentioned the other day that I had some leftover fabric from my sofa makeover.  At the last minute, I decided to give this chair a makeover.  The upholsterer gave me a great deal on the labor cost, so I took my chair in to be reupholstered. 

Before Picture
 The chair has changed a lot over the years.  I inherited it from my mom.  It's been in my possession for over 16 years.  

Of course it didn't look that terrible when I received it!  Long story short, my old cat used it as her scratching post.  After that it accumulated some mold and mildew after being stored in the garage. 

Before Picture: 1st Attempt
  Then I recovered it using some inexpensive fabric that I didn't love.

It was my first time and I did a horrible job, but I'm glad I tried!

Before Picture: 2nd Attempt
The second time around I was so frustrated I almost gave up.  What a job!  The backrest and the arms were so complicated.  I've come to realize how much I dislike reupholstering.  

But since then I outgrew the fabric and wanted a change... 

 As often as I like to redecorate, a neutral fabric was the way to go.

I'm very happy with my new chair!

They did an awesome job!

Lately I've been decorating with neutrals and adding in texture and a hint of color.

With the changes my house feels lighter and airier.

My style has evolved over the years and I finally found my groove.



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Monday, June 23, 2014

Sofa Reupholstery Reveal

Before picture
I feel like this post should begin with theme music.  Who knew deciding to have the sofa reupholstered would be such a dramatic event.

Before picture
I inherited this sofa from my mom who passed away.  You can read more about the sofa's back story here.

Before picture
Although updating the sofa with pillows gave it a new look; my taste has changed.  I knew it was a temporary solution until I could afford to have it professionally reupholstered.

Before picture
The raised pattern was beautiful, but difficult to clean.  After all these years the sofa had begun to show its age.

Deciding on fabric for the sofa was a difficult decision.  It's important to choose fabric that is upholstery weight to provide durability to withstand daily use.  We don't eat on our living room sofa and we set a no-furniture rule for the dogs.  So choosing a light-colored fabric was suitable for our family.

The sofa required 20 yards(I ordered 22 and had enough for small makeover which I'll share later).  Upholstery fabric can be expensive.  Cost was a big factor in making my decision.  So when I came upon this quality Robert Allen fabric for under $20 a yard it was a done deal!  I love the texture of the linen.  I prefer neutral colors for a casual yet classic look.  I can always bring in color with pillows.

Now that you have all the details, I'm excited to share with you the finished sofa!



I removed the larger pillows to improve the look of the sofa.  The small change makes the sofa appear larger.  For now they're stored away.  I couldn't part with them for sentimental reasons.

The pillows are temporary until I finish updating the room. 


But I love this Thibaut fabric, so it's likely to stay.

I absolutely love the new fabric on the sofa.  It looks brand new and professionally done.  Reupholstering was worth the cost to update the look of my mom's beloved sofa.



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Thursday, June 5, 2014

Patio Makeover and Reveal

WooHoo, we finished our patio project!  Feels so good to finally have it done.

Everything was a mess!


We had some help clearing out the area and laying the pavers down; which I shared in this post.

A big improvement, but there was still a lot to do.

Better, right?!

I painted the house, then gave the door a fresh-new look with a can of exterior-oops paint from Home Depot.  We also gave the retaining wall bricks a good cleaning with the pressure washer. 

I added few potted plants to add life to the patio.

I have a love/hate relationship with ivy on the back of the house.  It can be very aggressive, so we've kept it contained to this small area.

The chairs are from Lowe's and the table and ottomans were purchased online from Home Decorators Collection.


I purchased another fiddle leaf fig.  During the summer I keep them outdoors.

They're doing really well and seem to be healthy.


I purchased the candle from Target.
 
It's even prettier when lit.




I enjoy sitting out here with a few magazines and enjoying the breeze.







I love the look of the steps with a few potted plants.


I couldn't find a pattern that I liked, so I made a my own outdoor pillows.




I love azaleas, I just wish their flowers lasted all summer.

So, I swapped the three in the middle for hostas.  Hostas are lush, easy to grow and require minimal care.

We have a deck outside of our living/dining room, but this area is cozy and relaxed.


It's where we have our morning coffee.


And it's a great place to sit and relax with a glass of wine.

Now that the weather is starting to warm up, we’re going to be spending a lot more time out here!


Thanks so much for visiting!  I hope you enjoyed my small patio space.



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Tatertots and Jello
Make It Love It
By Stephanie Lynn