Gates of Crystal: toile

June 9, 2015

Simple Upholstery Update

Hi Everyone!

It's another beautiful day here in Michigan. The sun is shining and our peonies are in bloom!

I'm still working on my kitchen. I told someone I thought I would wait and start painting again this fall and I doubt they saw my comment before I started painting again! We've also been adding some some architectural details to the kitchen.

But I'm taking a break from that today and did just a small project that I've wanted to do for a while.

I reupholstered this chair a couple of years ago I used a simple blue linen from Hobby Lobby. It was in our living room for a couple of years but for a while I had it in the guest room.

But after getting my new Bergere chairs all done and in the living room, I decided I still wanted some more of the blue in there and put it back See how I painted the upholstery and redid the chairs here.

Now that this chair has found its home, I decided to add some interest to it by adding toile to the back of it.

This is the original upholstery that was on this chair. I'm sorry that this picture is weirdly blurry. I didn't realize it until I had already finished the chair. I pulled the blue linen off the back of the chair and used it for my pattern.

I laid the chair forward on my ottoman to let gravity work for me and not against me. I've tried to do this before while the chair is standing up. This is much easier!

If you're just adding a piece of fabric to your chair, lay a piece of your fabric on the back of your chair that is the approximate size. Lay it face down with your pattern facing the chair. Then use a pencil to trace inside the frame of the chair. Cut your piece of fabric out leaving a small edge to tuck into the frame - about 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

Then using a flat head screw driver, I simply tucked my fabric into the frame of the chair. I had fabric glue on hand in case it wasn't secure enough but I never used it. I didn't want to put the same double piping in this area that I put elsewhere on the chair and I didn't need to. Just tucking into the frame held it securely.

I then covered the lumbar pillow that came with the chair in the same toile.

It's not a dramatic change but just a little interest. And maybe just enough to make your house more personal.

My grandchildren are coming over this afternoon while my daughter and her husband pick up their new minivan and visit the hospital birthing center. We're all very excited about our new grandson that will be born soon!

Have a beautiful day!

love and blessings~