* First remove the arms and reinforce the legs to the frame with carpenter glue and screws. * Carefully remove old fabric piece-by-piece as this will become your pattern. * Rough sand the legs with medium grit sandpaper. * Using high gloss black paint and a foam brush, apply two coats of paint. Ensure paint is completely dry between coats. * Using foam brush, apply 4 coats of satin varathane. Again, ensuring completely dry between each coat. * Remove the old foam and cut (using a bread knife) 6" foam for the seat and 4" foam for the back to fit over frame. * Using spray adhesive attach foam to the frame. * Cover foam with sheets of batting (using a cross pattern) and attach with spray adhesive. * Using old fabric as your pattern, adjusting size to fit the new foam and allowing a minimum 6 inch over hang, cut muslin cloth to fit back and seat. This holds foam & batting nicely in place, softens the foam corners, and acts as a liner for the upholstery fabric. * Pulling fabric taut and working from center to center, wrap muslin over foam/batting and attach to frame with a staple gun. Work from center to center, side to side, and fold fabric at the corners. * Following the same principal as the muslin, cut upholstery fabric. Ensure the pattern in the fabric is straight and the seat & back line up with one another. * Starting with the seat, work from center pull fabric taut and staple on the under side of frame, ensuring pattern is straight. Then work side to side pulling fabric taut. Wrap fabric at corners toward the side of chair and fold fabric over, stapling to the under side of frame. * Repeat same process on the chair back, ensuring the pattern in the fabric is straight and lines up with the seat fabric. * Cut piece of fabric to fit the back side of chair, folding raw edges inside and attach with staple gun, stapling as close as possible to the outside edge. *Using a hot glue gun, attach ribbon along edge to cover staples, folding at corners. Do small section at a time ensuring the ribbon is nice and straight. * First remove the arms and reinforce the legs to the frame with carpenter glue and screws. * Carefully remove old fabric piece-by-piece as this will become your pattern. * Rough sand the legs with medium grit sandpaper. * Using high gloss black paint and a foam brush, apply two coats of paint. Ensure paint is completely dry between coats. * Using foam brush, apply 4 coats of ... Read full instructions »Difficulty:
Legs: high gloss black paint & satin varathane
Upholstery: 6" foam, batting, muslin cloth liner, cotton upholstery fabric, satin ribbon.
What was your inspiration?
Chair was a discard several years ago from my husband's office and taking up valuable real estate in my basement storage room. I needed a side chair for my recently renovated home office and decided to breathe new life into that old, but well made, office chair.
What are you most proud of?
I love how it adds a little fun and whimsy into my office space.
What advice would you give someone starting this project?
Patience! Take your time with each step of this project. You don't need to be an expert upholsterer but you do need to know what you're doing.
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