| So you've just bought your dream house and after a | | | | something she plans to do more often. "I'm so glad |
| lot of hard work and organization, you've gotten | | | | to have this new skill," she says. "It's become a |
| everything out of the boxes and moved your | | | | hobby for me." Tracy's next project will be the chairs |
| furniture into the new rooms. It's a great feeling to | | | | in her dining room set. |
| see everything in a fresh setting. Possessions take | | | | If you're ready for a new hobby too, below are |
| on new meaning and look slightly different in a new | | | | some of Tracy's re-upholstery tips. Best of luck! |
| house. The lighting is different, the views are | | | | WHAT YOU'LL NEED: |
| different, the way the rooms flow into one another | | | | -A staple gun, hammer, pliers and scissors |
| is different. Furniture that faded in your previous | | | | - 4 to 7 yards of fabric you love as much as the ugly |
| home now shines. | | | | chair |
| When Tracy moved into her new home last spring | | | | - Strip nails or stud strips (from fabric store or |
| this was the stage she loved best. "I've always been | | | | hardware store) and upholstery tacks |
| interested in interior design," says the 34 year old | | | | - Cardboard strips or tacking strip |
| librarian. "So having a house full of empty rooms to | | | | If you want to do a really thorough job, the first and |
| decorate from scratch was a real thrill for me." Pulling | | | | most important step in the process will involve |
| the rooms together in her new two bedroom home | | | | carefully taking the old upholstery off the chair. Using |
| was also challenging. "I work full time so decorating is | | | | the claw part of a hammer, pliers and or a |
| more of a hobby than anything else. Plus, after we | | | | screwdriver, remove the pieces that can come off |
| bought the house there wasn't much left in the | | | | first, first. As you're doing this, take note of how |
| budget for new furniture. I really had to get creative | | | | they were attached to the frame and the order in |
| with what I had." | | | | which you removed each piece. That way, you can |
| One of the things Tracy had to get creative with | | | | simply reverse the order when you're putting the |
| was an antique chair handed down to her from her | | | | new ones on. If you are not one to take notes, take |
| grandmother in Iowa. "It's a really great chair,"she | | | | photos instead. You can also use the original |
| says, "the lines are perfect, but no matter where I | | | | upholstery as a pattern for the new material. |
| put it in the house it looked ratty and wrong." She | | | | TRICKS OF THE TRADE:: |
| tried throwing blankets over it, angling it in corners, | | | | - Staple cardboard strips or tacking strip to rough |
| moving it from room to room. "It just wouldn't | | | | edges to get a smooth under surface or fold fabric |
| work," she says "I was almost ready to banish it to | | | | over them and nail down to get clean edges |
| the basement when I got the idea to reupholster it | | | | - Use stud strips or upholstery tacks to fasten the |
| to fit the room I wanted it in." | | | | outside edges of finishing pieces and get an easy |
| "I got a book on upholstery to see if it was | | | | decorative trim at the same time |
| something I could do. I was worried because I really | | | | - When choosing your fabric avoid lines, stripes or |
| can't sew. I'm all thumbs." What Tracy learned though | | | | patterns that have to be matched. Choose medium |
| was that with a staple gun and a bit of time she | | | | weight fabric. Fabric that's too heavy will be difficult |
| could get rid of the ugly without getting rid of the | | | | to work with and fabric that's too light will tear. |
| chair. "It took me all weekend, but it was worth it," | | | | Dining room chairs and chairs with more frame than |
| she says beaming. "I get so many complements on it | | | | material on them are relatively easy. For dining room |
| and the room now." | | | | chairs, just remove the seat from the chair with a |
| The chair did have one cushion that demanded | | | | screwdriver, cover it with the fabric of your choice, |
| sewing skills though. Tracy just took the cushion in to | | | | neatly staple it down on the underside, and then |
| a local tailor with the fabric she'd chosen. "The tailor | | | | screw the newly covered seat back down. This also |
| made me a perfect cushion with a zipper at the | | | | works really well for vintage kitchen chairs with vinyl |
| back, new padding and piped edges. I didn't even | | | | seats. |
| need to sew a stitch!" When all was said and done, | | | | For extra help as you embark on your project, get |
| she paid only a fraction of the cost it would have | | | | support from your local library or bookstore. There |
| taken to either replace the antique chair or have a | | | | are plenty of great books on the market that will |
| professional upholsterer do the job. "I can understand | | | | take you through the process step by step. Of |
| why they charge so much," says Tracy. "It's not | | | | course if you just want to get started, just get |
| necessarily difficult or expensive, but it's time | | | | started! Use your intuition as you tuck, staple and |
| consuming. You really have to love working with your | | | | hammer down, you have nothing to lose but an ugly |
| hands." | | | | chair. |
| The project was a great experience for her and | | | | |