upholstery « ModHomeEc

Mid Century Modern Metal Chair Makeover

September 2nd, 2011

Few readers may know this, but I write a weekly column for The Indianapolis Star called DIY Journal.
After taking a few months off this summer, I came back with renewed verve to do a whole house makeover. (Don’t even ask me how I’ll be financing this behemoth!)

The first thing you see when you walk in the front door is my front hallway, so that’s where I’ve begun.

Using a photo I found in Canadian House & Home for my inspiration photo, I got to work with some boring door repair and then it was time for the fun stuff. I had to find a modern-ish chair to add color to this 12′ x 12′ entry. As you can see, the lines of the chair are fantastic, the color and cushions, not so much.

To see read the entire Step by Step and photo gallery, click here.

Wild and Wooly Upholstery Bootcamp #3

August 31st, 2011

Six different chairs, six different people and lots of webbing, burlap, foam and dacron all united to make up one wild and wooly upholstery party last weekend. When the last two upholsterers walked out of my studio at 8:00 pm Sunday evening, Bootcamp #3 was officially over.

Whether a bootcamper can finish his/her chair within the three action packed days depends on many things. Every chair has its own distinct characteristics and details. Often there are, I hate to call them mistakes, but there are mistakes or mis-cuts, wrinkled edges, or some mis-set staples that have to be removed and corrected. That’s all part of learning. Bootcampers sometimes have to finish up loose ends (literally) at home. There is only so much that can be introduced, digested and applied in 18 hours. Truth be told, we really need another four hours to complete open armed side chairs.

One of the biggest myths or delusions that needs to be debunked is that reupholstery happens cleanly and neatly in an orderly fashion. There is an order to it, but sometimes it’s not pretty, especially the first time through. It’s not like a paint by numbers project. It takes patience, rethinking, foam and padding manipulation and finally, the hardest part, fabric application. The unfortunate thing about Sunday is that when everyone feels rushed and tired, that’s the time when the most patience and concentration are required.

The goal in taking your first upholstery class should be to learn about how things are done, either DIY friendly so you can quickly revamp a piece, or if you want to get down to the real nitty gritty of spring tying, horsehair stuffing, diamond tufting and such, mastering each technique should be the goal rather than the goal being a perfectly upholstered chair. That will come in time.

So, let me show you how it went down.
Everyone lined up for the BEFORE photo. The sun was blasting in the garage door windows, so everyone’s face got blown out. You’ll see their smiling mugs later on down the post.

Jantina, Mac, Wendy, Kim, Connie and Deborah made up this industrious bunch. Mr. Mod was out of town so I had to play cook. Luckily, there’s a new food blogger from San Diego who came up with the menus for my group. Since I was on kitchen duty, think SIMPLIFIED.

Friday Lunch: Greek Pasta Salad with chicken, blueberry muffins
Afternoon Snack: Red Velvet Woopie Pies
Saturday Lunch: Grilled Marinated Pork Tenderloin Sliders, chips and mixed fruit salad
No time for dessert
Sunday Lunch: Taco Salad
Dessert: Peanut Butter Cheesecake with hot chocolate sauce

Day 1:
Teardown took the entire first day. Word to the wise: When you see a chair that has single welt cord embedded in a groove, run the other way.

We discussed foam and fabric needs and everyone dutifully went out to get their supplies. Consensus: Foam is expensive!!! Buy it when it’s on sale.

Day 2: Now the fun begins. Springs were removed, webbing was replaced, foam was cut and cording was made.

…and as the clock ticks away, it gets a little tense.

Our schedule end time of 3:30 came and went.

Fruits of hard hard labor-an indescribable feeling of accomplishment as well as some pretty darn good looking chairs.

As people start heading out, we have to scurry to get a group shot, unfinished and all.

This was the most fun way to end the summer. I hope everyone of my Bootcampers (#1 through #3) will continue on in their upholstering projects. I know Wendy already signed up for a semester long class in her home town.
For some reason my camera is not producing crisp shots in my studio lighting. That’s my new goal: master photography lighting in my space.

Upholstery Bootcamp Preview

August 29th, 2011

Bootcamp # ran late yesterday and I’ve got an IndyStar deadline, but right after I’m finished with that, you’ll get to see all the Before and Afters. Off to the hardware store.

Upholsterer’s Lock and Load Rolling Workbench

August 19th, 2011

In the waning hours of Bootcamp #2 last month, Chicago Jen mentioned that she was going to build a work table for her at-home upholstery projects. You can imagine how happy it made me that she was taking upholstery this seriously. She liked what I had in my shop, but thought her redesign would include locking wheels so it could be rolled away when not in use. With the help of Paco (remember him from Rope Wall fame?), well, he and I designed the niftiest rolling work bench with locking wheels you ever did see.

We found an aged piece of varnished plywood that Paco cut to size and attached to the MDF for an industrial aged feel. I’ll stain or paint the new wood so it blends.

And it turns into a little nesting table right under my oversized cutting table. I am so happy with how this turned out.

More ideas: If you wanted to, you could make a cushion and pull this out for extra seating when entertaining, make shorter, stockier legs for a rolling coffee table, or make it taller for a rolling bar. The possibilities are endless!

How To Make, Sew and Attach Fabric Covered Welt Cord

August 17th, 2011

During upholstery classes, one request that I hear over and over again is to show students how to make and attach welt cord (piping) to a pillow seam or into cushion seams. A little added bonus is that I used a wool jacket from Goodwill as the fabric for this chartreuse cording. When you have a very specific color in mind, often it’s easier to find wool skirts or jackets in unusual shades rather than fabric on the bolt.

To make fabric covered welt cord for your upholstery projects, you’ll need:

Here’s what you do:

1. Cut the lining out of the jacket and open it up to the largest cutting surface. Use quilting ruler and rotary cutter to cut 1 3/4″ strips.

2. Stitch strips together on the diagonal with the right side of one strip placed horizontally, and the wrong side of the other strip overlapping the end vertically. Stitch from upper left to lower right forming diagonal seams. Clip seams to 1/2″ when finished.

3. Use either a welt cord presser foot or a zipper foot attachment for stitching the cord.

4. Tuck cord into folded strips and stitch close to the cord.

5. Begin at the center bottom or back of the cushion piece and stitch cording around fabric, with cut edges lined up. Be sure and stitch close to the cord. Be the boss of the sewing machine, cushion top and cord to make sure you get crisp corners.

6. Stitch to within 2″-3″ of the other side of the cord. Overlap cord 2″ and cut off excess cording.

7. Open up stitching on both sides of covered cord. Line up cord so that the ends will butt up against each other and cut the cords even. Cut one side of the fabric even with the cord. Leave the other side of fabric about 1 1/2″ longer than the cord.

8. Fold the long end under and wrap it around the other side, the cut end.

9. Neatly arrange the joint so that it can be stitched in place with no raw edges showing.

And there you have it. You can use this for pillows, boxed and corded cushions, window seats, cording around ottomans, skirts, loveseats or sofas, any where you want cording.

Upholstery Copycat: The Godfrey Chair

August 15th, 2011

The Godfrey Chair by Jonathon Adler is one of my favorite little Mid Century inspired lounge chairs. It retails at $1695, a rather large chunk of change I’d say.

Let me show you how you can create it for less. You don’t have to have the exact chair frame to get this look. There are any number of castoff chairs that will suffice. You’ll need three elements:
1.) a modern shape
2.) the right proportions
3.) similar light blue fabric

I found three vintage chairs that would fit the bill for a fraction of the cost.
The first chair is from this morning’s ApartmentTherapy’s Chicago Scavenger. It’s available from Craigslist for $145.00.
A bit heftier than the Adler frame, it would give you the same look as The Godfrey. I particularly like the flared out arms.

The next candidate is a chair in my living room. Purchased at Midland Antique Mall for $35.00, if done in that shade of blue, it would give off a similar vibe as The Godfrey. Its size and proportion are right in line with TG, but the frame is straight, unlike the soft curve of our model chair. With the blue fabric and buttons, it could easily be a stand in.

This Goodwill chair from my garage would come the closest in shape and style. It’s a bit large with the tall back, and sits a bit lower to the ground due to the short legs. The button configuration and blue fabric would make this chair a darn nice facsimile to our goal.

The big question is: How much would it cost to reupholster any three of these chairs to look like The Godfrey?

Craigslist chair: $145.00
Orange chair: $35.00
Vinyl Goodwill chair: $39.00

Assuming each chair will need new foam and dacron batting, we need to factor in these costs:

Seat foam: 3″-4″ thick, approximately 22″ x 22″ $25.00
Back foam: 2″-3″ thick, approximately 22″ x 24″ $25.00
Dacron wrap for both cushions $15.00
Spray adhesive $ 8.00
Button kit or pay to have them made $ 9.00
Cording $ 5.00
Staples $ 4.00
Fabric, approximately 7 yards @$30.00 per yard $210.00

Materials TOTAL: $301.00
Don’t pay more than $40.00 for a chair. 40.00

For a rounded off grand total of about $350.00, you can get this look. That’s a savings of over $1000.00. Not bad, not bad at all!
Granted, you have to have some DIY upholstery know how, as well as suitable tools for the job.
But, if you have the desire and the chair, you can do this, I know you can.

As far as that dreamy light blue or aqua fabric, I found two options for you.

The first find is a light blue or aqua woven polyester available through Mood Fabrics.
It retails for $25.00 a yard and is available online at Mood Fabrics. It’s a flat weave, not very interesting texturally, but it is the right color.

This one is much more interesting, looks to be the right color, but comes with a higher price tag at $49.00 per yard. It’s available to the trade through Camira Fabrics, a UK based company that, surprisingly and miraculously has a warehouse right here in Indianapolis. You can imagine my surprise to discover this little treasure. I’ll be making a sojourn to their warehouse next week.

So, there you go.
And just so you know, if you find yourself in a fit of upholstering self-doubt, email me. I’ve coached many a DIY upholsterers through their projects by email and photographs. It’s what I do and I love it.

As one last bit of inspiration, here’s a photo of the Rocket Chair I did back in 2009 for my Mid Century buddy, Morgen. It’s over the top, but just look at the transformation process.

Twins Spotted in Alabama Wearing Mod Home Ec T-Shirts

August 8th, 2011

Twins Mary and Charlotte were spotted in Alabama sporting the “You Can Recover” Mod Home Ec t-shirts.
One of them should have modeled the back side so you could get the full gist.
Well, you’ll just have to take one of my 3 Day Upholstery Bootcamps so you can get one of your very own.

Learn to Upholster: The Ladies of Weekend Bootcamp

July 25th, 2011

Left to right: Jaime “The Refurbisher”, Cincinnati, “Lounge Chair Pam”, Chicago, Me, “New Jersey Jean”, Alexis “The Knitter”, Chicago, aka “Alexis from Texas”, and Jen “The Concentrator” also from Chicago.

It happened again. Three days of upholstery instruction, home cooked meals, home baked desserts, upholstery instruction, blisters, talking, laughing, making new friends and a strong sense of accomplishment by Sunday afternoon. The campers came from Chicago (3), Cincinnati and New Jersey. Two ladies from Chicago discovered they live within blocks of each other.

There’s a very palpable vibe when like minded, creative people get together. It makes you realize how alone you feel when you’re NOT around kindred spirits.

Five campers arrived with completely different projects. In a perfect world, they would have brought similar chairs and we could plow through them together. However, the objectives are to learn upholstery basics and have fun. By the end of the day Sunday, I would like to think their objectives were met, even though a few left with some unfinished homework. (We may have spent too much time enjoying Mr. Mod’s delicious meals and desserts and not enough nose to the grindstone.) As they walked out the door to my studio, I assured them that I’ll be available to help them through upholstery questions or challenges they have. Well, not forever, but at least until they have the confidence to work through their immediate upholstery issues.

“New Jersey Jean” had to leave early so we had to get our parting photograph prior to a few of these chairs being completed.

I couldn’t do it without he help of my mod mate, Ed. He worked his culinary fingers to the bone and provided all of the delicious sustenance,except for the pizza, so we could work on.

THE MENU

Friday Lunch: Bazbaeux Pizza and salad
Afternoon Snack: Red Velvet Woopie Pies with Cream Cheese Filling

Saturday Lunch: Homemade Chicken Salad on Croissants
Raw Veggies
Chips
Afternoon Snack: Berry Trifle Parfait with Sweet Cream and Homemade Banana Bread

Sunday Brunch: Breakfast Casserole (hashbrowns, cheese, mushrooms,peppers,
onions, and more)
Fruit
Afternoon Snack: Peanut Butter Cheesecake with Hot Fudge

White Hot Headboard Job: Make or Buy?

July 21st, 2011

Photo Image: EthanAllen.com

This subtle and sophisticated headboard has it all. You’ve got the cutout corners, diamond tufting, nickle nailheads and, with my copyrighted “Hanging Headboard” design, it will be easy to ship, hang and move. The creamy white diamond tufted headboard with silver nailheads above is Ethan Allen’s Alison Headboard.
After I get finished with this weekend’s upholstery bootcamp, I’ll be explaining exactly how you price it out to determine whether it’s a better idea to make it or order it.
Specs for Ashley’s headboard:
Full size
Hangable
White
Nickel nailhead trim
Diamond Tufting

Check back to see what we decide. If it’s a better deal to make it, you’ll get the full step by step tutorials (possibly with some short videos thrown in) of how it’s done.

Rachel’s Miraculously Reupholstered Chair

July 19th, 2011

When Rachel opened up the back of her car and showed me this D-O-G, I said, “Sure, we can do that”, while really thinking, “She’s gotta be kidding, this is a mess!”
Turns out Rachel knew best. Right off the bat she told me everything she wanted to change on this $12.00 thrift store eyesore. Again, I just didn’t see it.

Needless to say, she worked her little upholstering fingers to the bone and created one of the best redesigned chairs I’ve ever seen. The taupe and cream houndstooth was a good start.
To update and uplift her chair, she:
1. Removed the skirt
2. Got rid of the sewn pillow back and pouchy arms
3. Created a streamlined inside back pattern
4. Extended the seat cushion to accommodate the sleeker back
5. Added new covered buttons to the inside back for detail
6. Changed the cushion to a boxed cushion
7. Painted the metal, swivel base

This is the frame, stripped down.

She began building it back up by webbing the inside back and giving it a layer of burlap.

The project had a few glitches along the way, but nothing that derailed her. What took the most time was creating a pattern for the newly designed, wrapped back. Three pieces were sewn together to fit perfectly to the inside back. After that, she had to do a similar pattern and assembly for the outside back. Then it was just a matter of upholstering those pieces in place and sewing the seat cushion. Oh, I forgot to mention that the right outside arm section ended up too short to attach under the chair frame. We quickly improvised and nobody’s the wiser.

Seriously, could she be any more photogenic?

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