Monday, August 27, 2012

The Big Reveal - Goodwill Chair

A few weeks ago, from across a crowded Goodwill, my eyes locked on a  beautiful chair.  In disbelief, I noticed the $3.99 price tag.  This chair's fate was sealed and I brought her home.

When my husband came home from work, I proudly showed off my new chair and he responded, 'oh, you bought a chair'.  He obviously was not impressed.

A coat of white furniture paint, some new Tiffany blue fabric and a few weeks later, there is no denying her beauty now.


I put my piping skills to the test and learned a lot of lessons along the way.


Lessons learned from a first time reupholstering project.


1.  Take lots of pictures as you disassemble your piece of furniture.  When the time comes to reupholster your piece, the pictures can act as a guide to reminding you where things had been before.


2.  Keep the fabric you remove intact and in one piece.  This will provide a pattern for cutting the replacement material.  *The old fabric may have been cut or trimmed after it was stapled into place SO when cutting out your new material do not cut to the exact size of the piece you removed, cut the new piece bigger than the old piece.  *I learned this lesson the hard way.


3.  A normal staple gun will not attach the fabric as securely as needed.  An electric staple gun provides the power necessary to securely attach the fabric to the chair.


4.  Some husbands and wives craft together peacefully and cohesively.   Should a fight break out between you and your husband, who you have convinced to help you with the electric staple gun, enjoy the guilt flowers that will follow.


The purchase price of the chair:  $3.99
Used furniture paint we already had:  $0
A yard of Tiffany blue fabric:  $9
A second yard of Tiffany blue fabric:  $9 *refer to tip #2
Button Covers:  $7


Crafting with your husband:  priceless


Linked up to:

 The DIY'ers 

85 comments:

  1. Amy! This turned out fantastic!!! It looks like your pictures came from a magazine - beautiful! I always love how you manage to make me laugh. #4...honest and cute :)

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  2. Amy, you are sooo talented. I absolutely love the color of the fabric you chose.
    I didn't see the cost of the flowers in the price break down! Or, is it different when it comes out of husband's wallet? lol
    thanks for sharing, it's beautiful!
    Hey Amy, have you ever shared your projects on Hometalk?It looks like a cool place that probably sends a lot of traffic to your website. I haven't uploaded anything there but I enjoy looking:)
    http://www.hometalk.com/ ummm, I wasn't paid to mention them, lol!
    Thanks, Di

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  3. Marvelous job Amy! That chair had no idea of the beautiness that was coming it's way once it ended up in your capable hands! Yay for the flowers too!

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  4. That turned out beautifully Amy! And thanks for all the tips - my reupholster project is still in the disassembling stage!

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  5. I love it! That's the exact reaction my husband would have had, "you brought home more thrifted furniture? Yay.". You did a nice job and got a great deal on it. And you even got flowers out of it!

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  6. I loooove her! She turned out perfect! And I love that the flowers reside next to the chair. ;)

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  7. Woooooow!! That chair looks gorgeous!!! You did a fabulous job. Maybe you can come over and do mine for me;) It's so cute that your husband helped you even if there were fights... and at least you did get flowers which means he knows he was wrong..haha. I can't work peacefully with my husband... there's always some arguing going on.. and never any flowers;)

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  8. Your new chair is gorgeous! I LOVE the colors.You did a fantastic job!

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  9. Beautiful work! I love the way your chair turned out. And your "guilt flowers". ;)

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  10. Beautiful job!! Love the colors.

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  11. Wow! I love how this turned out. Nice piping! And how nice that you work things out together. Hopefully, your sweet hubby appreciates your thrifty-ness and good taste!

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  12. amazing - thats all i can say - well besides "can I please have the chair??????!!!!!" yes that is supposed to resemble begging! lol

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  13. Your chair turned out AMAZING! Thanks for the practical and funny tips!

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  14. this is stunning!! thanks for the post!!

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  15. It looks wonderful! You did a great job! I love the color and the piping is fabulous!

    Holly

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  16. This is beautiful! I never get guilt flowers, I must talk to the husband about that. :)

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  17. It is so beautiful!! I love it!! And kuddos on the big reveal pictures! They are as beautiful as the chair itself!!

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  18. Amy, What an amazing score, and your transformation is fabulous! Love the color you chose...it looks so pretty with the white table and matching blue books.
    I'm happy to be a new follower, Mary Alice

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  19. Oh my! You did such a fantastic job! It looks absolutely gorgeous!

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  20. It looks great! You are no longer a reupholstering virgin! Woo hoo! And I have never piped anything on reupholstery but it definitely scares me. You go, girl! And the flowers are a nice touch, too. ;)

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  21. I can't believe the transformation. You did an amazing job, and thanks so much for the useful info. I'm sure it'll come in handy for me one day. Once again...Amazing!

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  22. OMGosh! She's beautiful!
    --Katie
    @ Creatively Living

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  23. That looks great! I would have walked right by that chair, but you saw it's potential!

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  24. She is exquisite. I love one of a kind pieces of furniture and have to say your piping detail looks excellent. I am inspired to head to Goodwill soon!

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  25. Visiting you via Make It Pretty Monday. I would love for you to visit My Dream Canvas. This is very pretty.....amazing makeover. Have a great day. Anu

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  26. I smiled so much while reading this. The flowers (HA!) the extra yard of fabric (hehehe). And the outcome is insane. I can't believe you did the tufting!!!!!!

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  27. Very pretty. Thanks for sharing this project.

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  28. Absolutely gorgeous! You have serious skills!!! I love love the color.

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  29. wow...its beautiful!!! i LOVE it...great job!!

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  30. What a wonderful transformation. The color combination is so beautiful. It really gives the chair a new life!

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  31. I love how it turned out! Congrats on crafting with your husband.

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  32. Wonderful! it is so beautiful!!! and once a again a lovely story to giggle over :-)
    hugs to you darling Amy, can just see you sitting in your gorgeous new chair!

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  33. a craft fight - hahaha - i have had a few of those too! love the chair so very much! and those "i'm sorry flowers", great touch!

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  34. I have always wanted to redo a chair but I am too chicken to try. You did an amazing job, I love love love that chair!

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  35. The chair turned out great. I'm impressed with your piping skills, and did anyone have to go to the ER to have electric staple gun staples removed from their torso or was the abuse only verbal?

    ~Bliss~

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  36. I love the chair! And now I am curious about an electric staple gun, sounds fun! Visiting via thewinthropchronicles

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  37. Love the colors you picked! That is definitely an amazing transformation and I can't believe the price you paid. Pricing is so crazy at thrift stores sometimes. I just found your link on The Winthrop Chronicles and I'm now following your blog.

    Have a great day!
    Angela

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  38. Wow! Just found your site via ATG. This chair was definitely inspirational for me. I am about to undertake my first redo. Thankfully, I have signed up for a re-up class via the local community college where I will learn the basics and how to do piping.
    The tufting and button work are very impressive!
    Now following you :)

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  39. That is one of the most beautiful chairs I have ever seen...well done!! New follower for you~I hope you will stop by for a visit. Have a great evening...Angie

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  40. Holy Flip! This is amazing!!!! Thank you for sharing this at Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Hope to see your prettiness again on Monday. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  41. This is soo cool! I can't believe the difference the white paint makes and the turqoise fabric! Come link up to Centerpiece Wednesday and share this with us and enter my giveaway!
    Karin

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  42. Amy this is absolutely beautiful. I was wondering how it would turn out and this is gorgeous. Love the "I'm sorry" flowers.

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  43. This is just gorgeous - the fabric is such a beautiful color -
    Your newest follower - would love to have you visit and follow back when you have the chance
    Hugs,
    Suzan

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  44. how nice it turned out to be :)

    huggies***
    smartmomma

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  45. I love what you did to this chair. I have a link party on Wednesdays, and I would love it if you would link this and any other posts. It is called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Link Party. It runs from Wednesday to Sundays.
    http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/08/free-bee-sweet-hat-pattern-crocheted.html
    I hope to see you there. I am your newest follower, and I would love for your to follow me also. Have a great Day.
    Debi Bolocofsky
    Adorned From Above
    www.adornedfromabove.com

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  46. This chair is beautiful! Such a unique shape!

    Love the makeover and the tips for reupholstering!


    coming over from the Well Crafted Home...


    Courtenay

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  47. Amy,

    That is amazing! You and your hubby are so very handy ... even if a fight ensues and sorry flowers are needed ... in the end it looks fantastic!

    :)

    Linda

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  48. Haha! This post made me giggle - way to make the hubby pay, girl! :) That chair is GORgeous, btw! Such a cool transformation! Thanks for sharing!!!
    -Heather
    Stringtown Home

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  49. Your chair is so cute, I LOVE the fabric you chose!
    Terrie @ HearthandWhimsy.com

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  50. I'm so glad that I'm following you! What an amazing transformation and I love the color you chose. Thanks for the inspiration:)

    Katie
    www.funhomethings.com

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  51. I can't believe that's the same chair! AMAZING!

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  52. I love it, that Tiffany blue fabric is just perfect! And I sometimes make my husband help me with stuff around the house, but I never get flowers after if we argue about something!

    Thanks for sharing at The Fun In Functional!

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  53. Wow, Amy, it looks so posh now! It's hard to imagine it being anything but how it is now. Oh and I think that little table by it's side is also super darling! I think my bf and I would also not be able to craft patiently together, not that he'd take any interest in it... but that's ok I always got my dad (who is not patient either...) ;) I made the same mistake as you when reupholstering our kitchen chairs, good thing my dad caught me after I had only cut 2 out of the 4, so we still had enough fabric to remedy the situation.

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  54. You have done an amazing job on this chair. It is beautiful. I love the white and blue. Thank you so much for sharing with Wednesdays Adorned From Above Link Party last week. This weeks Link Party is opened at
    http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/09/simple-anti-aging-moisturizer-and.html
    from Wednesday until Sunday.
    Hope to see you there.
    Debi Bolocofsky
    Adorned From Above
    www.adornedfromabove.com

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  55. I LOVE the makeover of this chair! It is so cute!! Thank you so much for sharing at Thursday's Temptation. Your post got the most views this past week so I am featuring it at the link party!!
    http://twoyellowbirdsdecor.blogspot.com/2012/09/thursdays-temptation-32-fabulous.html
    Jill

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  56. How did you do the tufting? I've never done that..My chair is almost identical to yours, but the tufting is on the seat and the back. It's also a bit narrower. Love your guilt flowers. :)

    http://www.munchtalk.net

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  57. What a freaking awesome chair! this is an amazing find, and is such a great statement piece! I'm uber impressed.

    <3 Bethany

    Would you mind jumping over to my blog for a peek and a follow? it would make my day! :)

    I'm new to the blogosphere!
    thesepiapuppy.blogspot.com

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  58. Well, he sure knows how to pick pretty flowers. They are gorgeous with the chair. And oh my goodness, that fabric is a dream. You did an amazing job on that chair. The tufting looks so complicated. What a project to take on, it's no wonder a fight broke out. It's the tough ones that are really worth it though. Congratulations!
    Liz

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  59. I am always seeing these chairs in thrift stores. Never thought they could look so nice. You've inspired me. Your chair looks fantastic. Nice job.

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  60. It came out beautiful!! Thank you for sharing on Sharing Saturday!!

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  61. This is fabulous! I had to laugh -- you are SO right about taking pictures as you go and keeping everything intact to make patterns! I reupholstered a hide-a-bed sofa a few years ago; the back alone had 13 pieces, but I didn't have to deal with welting. And when the arguments started over the staple gun (apparently, I need to grow bigger hands...), I didn't get make-up flowers. LOVE your color choices, BTW! I'm off to Goodwill!

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    Replies
    1. What a wonderful comment. Thank you SO much for appreciating my chair and my challenges in working with both staple guns and my husband :). I hope you find something great at Goodwill.

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  62. yep thats a OUTRAGEOUSLY BEAUTIFUL PIECE!! Props to you and hubby working together--would NEVER happen at my house =} So good HAD to "PIN" it

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your incredibly sweet comment. I love that you can relate to how difficult co-crafting can be with a spouse :).

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  63. I love this chair would you be interested in selling it?

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  64. I love this chair would you be interested in selling it?

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Carla. Would I be willing to sell it? Well, that's an interesting question. I wasn't quite prepared for that. I guess the answer is, I am not sure. Feel free to email: whilewearingheels at gmail.com

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  65. This chair is awesome!! and 3.99 that is a steal!!

    -peggy

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  66. I love what you did with this chair! Absolutely gorgeous! I love that colour too, beautiful.

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  67. Gorgeous makeover on the chair !! $3.99 !!!??? Wow! My husband wouldn't have been thrilled either....they're so clueless to how exciting a makeover is! Lol...

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Shell. I was in complete disbelief when I saw the $3.99 tag. Though, to be honest, I go to Goodwill so often, I am bound to run into good deals now and again. Thank you so much for your sweet comment.

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  68. Gorgeous redo! I'd love it if you stopped by my weekly link party and linked this post up. :) http://thelifeofjenniferdawn.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-little-bird-told-me-link-party-23.html

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  69. OMG! That is beautiful! I LOVE the colors. Thanks for linking up at fun friday bog hop. I am now a follower. :)

    Anne

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  70. What a lovely chair redo! I've never reupholstered anything, but you have inspired me to give it a try!

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  71. Totally pin-worthy make-over!! I *love* your chair - it is gorgeous *and* I appreciate that you included the "how to" (...so I pinned it in case I talk myself into trying it too :)

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  72. It looks fantastic! our chairs could be friends. Your piping looks great, so does the upholstery. Very nice job :-)

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I am head over heels you took the time to leave me a comment.

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