How Not to Reupholster Chairs 101

Well, this post is not exactly the ta-da of achievement I was hoping for when I found these fabulous chairs ($85 for the pair) at a local furniture consignment store but I promised updates to keep me honest so here goes.  First, let's take a look at my favorite coffee mug because this is the quote I like to recite when I'm attempting to be cool (and I fail miserably).

It's Never Too Late to Become What You Might Have Been

Isn't that a lovely sentiment? Don't you think we all need to be reminded of this everyday? I did, so I painted it on a coffee cup in a pottery shop.  Now, back to the the failure-I mean chairs.  I had such high hopes when I started and it seemed like a really simple upholstery job at first.  My chairs had a wooden seat with a hole in the middle covered in a webbing fabric and then your standard foam/fabric/lots of staples combo. Simple, right? Wrong!!

Round one of removing staples, fabric, etc. went smoothly enough, although it was dusty work, but then I made some critical errors; ones YOU can avoid.  First, I did not have my work space set up properly.  I knew I should have been working at a counter or tall table to avoid fatigue and back trouble.  You'd be surprised how quickly that can maroon a project.  As you lose patience, you get sloppy.  If I had a zen Mr. Miyagi teacher this would be the waxing on and off part where I practice patience and carefulness.  Second, I thought I had gathered most of my tools but because I was eager to start this awesome transformation I neglected to purchase an electric carving knife, which I'm told is key for cutting foam.  Rest assured these tools did not make a pretty foam cut.

The final critical error was a major miscalculation in fabric cutting which resulted in my fabric pieces being too small to hold as I stapled around a thick layer of foam and batting.  See? 

I know, I know. You're impressed with my jute webbing weaving skills.  As I write this post even now I think maybe it was too late and I was too tired (having tried to attempt too many steps in one night) to appreciate the progress.  To be honest I GAVE UP. I told my husband it was not fun DIY and that I wanted them shipped off to a professional.  I very well may still have to do that (and if it's not too much $$$ why not?) but for the sake of it never being too late to become what I might have been, i.e. a patient, methodical, detail-oriented person, I am going to give this project a second go around.  Then, I promise to show a step-by step process in which I am SO dang methodical it will give Martha Stewart goosebumps.  Also, it will be 2025 but whatevs!  

By the way, how much do you love this fabric I chose? THAT was a success. It's the Togo print from Premier Prints that has been floating around the blogosphere.  

Have I lost you in all this mess? Do you pity me/feel better about your own mistakes? I hope so, and I hope you're inspired to attempt imperfection daily.  : )