Sunday, August 12, 2012

Frenchy Upholstered Bench


I would like to begin with a disclaimer. I am not an upholsterer. I have recovered some chair seats in the past, but that is my limit.



Because of the reasons listed above, I avoid buying furniture that needs to be upholstered. I have a few pieces that have been sitting around for months and months. I think I have a chair that has been sitting, dust covered, for a year. I accidentally bid on this piece at an auction, I brushed some hair out of my face and won a bench. Oops!



Determined not to have another piece in the furniture graveyard that is my basement, I decided to give this one a whirl. I am so glad I did!

I didn't take many in process pictures, I didn't have much confidence in the result.  I removed the fabric on the seat back, this was a lot less than fun! The fabric was tacked in with approximately 4 million upholstery tacks, which hurt when you kneel on them. In case you were wondering. I had heard that it was best to use this piece as a pattern for your new fabric so I did. 



I did not do that on the back of the bench. The fabric was very intact on the back so in order to preserve my fingers and knees from puncture wounds, I just covered it with new fabric. 



Before attaching the new fabric, I painted the entire bench with ASCP in Paris Grey and used lots of dark wax. Very Frenchy. I love how the dark wax settled in the oak grain.

After the fabric was stapled and trimmed, I used a hot glue gun to attach the creme gimp trim. After burning my fingerprints off with hot glue, I considered that this would be a great time to commit a crime. I did not actually do this. Crime is bad.



This piece turned out so much better than I thought it might. I am sort of excited, I feel like I have learned a little bit of new skill. 



Now for the other dust covered pieces in my basement...
What are your best upholstery secrets?




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11 comments:

  1. Chrystal, You did a fabulous job!! I know what you mean about removing the upholstery tacks and staples! I have done that twice...It is hard!
    Great job! It looks wonderful...are you keeping it? or selling it??
    Nancy
    http://wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks Nancy!
      I tried to find the right place for this in my house, but could not. So, it went to Restoration Emporium and sold quickly :-)

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  2. Beautiful job!
    I am not a upholsterer at all - and yet took on a restaurant job once of decorating the place AND reupholstering all the seating in the place - 160 chairs - and 10 banquettes - destroyed one finger completely lol - seriously it's crooked and deformed because of that job -
    Not my favorite thing to do anymore.
    AT ALL!
    Hugs,
    Suzan

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    1. Holy cow! That's a GIANT job! You totally have my respect!!

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  3. The bench looks great! You give me renewed hope--I have a chair that has been waiting for me to reupholster it and I just haven't gotten brave enough yet!

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    1. Oh Sandy! Just try it! Is not nearly as scary as I thought it was. I am sure it will be the same for you! Good luck!

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  4. You did a great job! Glad to see you are back. :)

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    1. Stephanie, this summer has been crazy! My kids have had me running every which way! I am soooo glad to be back!

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  5. I think you did a fantastic job on the bench. I am the person who bought your china cabinet at the Emporium in the west bottoms a few months ago. I get so many compliments on it when people come into my house. It's the first large piece of furniture you see once you step in and it makes a statement. I was in love with it when I saw it on your blog intially. I was almost floored when I saw it at Emporium and just had to have it. I have been very pleased with my purchase.

    You mentioned that you used dark wax on the piece in the recent blog I was wondering where do you find dark wax? I have been looking locally without any success. Most folks have never heard of it at the chains like Home Depot and Lowes.

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    1. Tracy! I am so happy that you are loving the china cabinet! It is, hands down, my favorite piece of furniture that I have painted. It makes ME happy to know it makes YOU happy!
      We actually sell all of the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint line, including the dark wax at Restoration Emporium. You can get other brands of dark wax in other places (woodworking stores, online etc.) but Restoration Emporium is the most fun :) Hope to see you there!

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  6. I love this!!! What fabric is that?

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