Laura Chapman Writes

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After four kids (one of them still in progress only just now able to reach the sink to wash his own hands), my gorgeous table chairs with the cream cushions were done.  So, since I didn’t want to pay anyone else, here’s how I made them over myself for less than $50.  

First I decided to find a video so I could review the process–since the last time I recovered chairs was before YouTube was even a thing. After all, surely the Information Highway could enhance my redecorating knowledge.

Right? 

Step One of the Fourteen Step video started with removing the chair seats.

Check.

On board so far.

Step Two suggested (although didn’t necessarily recommend) the old material be removed.

Nope, that was more trouble than it was worth. Besides, I wanted to KEEP all the stains since they were the evidence of great memories.

So scratch that.  

Step Three started with math and ended without me. It said to measure the chairs and then add three times the length of the sides plus the square root of the circumference or something like that. Seriously? That was when I stopped watching and decided to do my own thing. (Ok, maybe there wasn’t anything about the square root…)

My chairs turned out amazing.

Steps to take my chairs from MESSED UP to MAGNIFICANT (only 3-7 count).

1. Review a video on YouTube about recovering chair cushions so I don’t mess it up.
2. Completely ignore the video.
3. Buy new fabric that I love.
4. Unscrew cushions.
5. Eye-ball where to cut the fabric–then cut.
6. Staple fabric over the old stained stuff.
7. Screw seats back in place.
8. Done!

I’ll never forget the day I found my perfect table. Hello gorgeous Tommy Bahama palm tree pedestal with beveled glass top and six sweet rattan chairs!

I swore I would NEVER get another glass table, even though I loved them, until the kids were old enough to keep their slimy fingers from smearing it the moment I finished my windex wipe down–since it simply wouldn’t stayed clean longer than ten minutes.

But the kids were quickly moving through high school so, as far as I could see, the road ahead was perfectly clear of table slime and grime.  I wasn’t even worried about the cream colored cushions. After all, THESE chairs were NEVER going to be subjected to the DAILY, whoops-I-dropped-my-juice, eating-SpaghettiOs-with-fingers abuse of a young child in my house–ever again.

Right?

What my math challenged brain failed to add into the equation were my children’s future offspring–especially the one who became a permanent resident–waiting in the wings.

Ta-Da!!

Which brings me to today.

But this time I am smarter. I covered two of my beautiful new chairs with plastic. So bring on the SpaghettiOs!  

Plus, I have a staple gun and I’m not afraid to use it!

Please share your comments.  I’d love to hear what you think!