Furniure restoration project! (FINISHED!)

[Karen]

Check online and see if there is a fabric shop near you that sells upholstery fabrics - I bet if you bring a swatch with you, a good store will be able to find you something similar. Upholstery fabrics tend to be sturdier, too. One of the JoAnn's near me has a good section of that kind of fabric, too bad I am about as far away from you as one could get in the continental US!

[Asiel]

The bench looks a cinch to reupholster -- I love the colours in that swatch, like Karen mentioned, a good fabric store should be able to get you the same thing or very very close to it. Bet you mom will be surprised when she sees it redone.

[snakemama]

I made some good progress today! I bought a finish...I'm thinking the wood is pretty enough not to need a stain, though I'll decide for sure once it's sanded down. I STARTED sanding only to discover that I only had one sheet of 100 grit sandpaper, which was not enough. SO I went to the fabric store instead. HOLY MOLY upholstery fabric can be expensive! I found a *Perfect* fabric for $69.99 a yard...no thanks! So I checked the clearance bin and got really lucky!

Empty frame after I took the top off...little dusty!


The cushion was coconut fiber and cotton. I ALMOST decided to keep it, but it was pretty flattened so I went for some foam instead.


I found this pretty fabric in the cleanance bin for $8.99/yard!


Maybe not the most perfect upholstery job ever, but not too shabby!


Next to the old fabric for comparison.


I haven't started sanding this side yet, so it looks better at the moment...


Tomorow I'll get more sandpaper and figure out if I want to stain it or not. Tonight, I'm pooped. I spent forEVER messing around with upholstery tacks, which I swear are the most inconvenient thing ever invented. My mother in law came out to see my progress, and I said "I don't suppose you have a pneumatic staple gun do you?" just jokingly...she's not really a handywoman, so I thought NO WAY would she have such a thing...but she does! Hooray! After that it was done in about 5 minutes.

My mom is going to be thrilled! If I finish it before they get back Sunday, I'm going to sneak it back in the house and leave it in front of their antique pipe organ.

[Karen]

It is hard to tell, the fabric looks blue in one photo and green in the other - which color is it? Looks perfect for the job, either way!

[snakemama]

It is hard to tell, the fabric looks blue in one photo and green in the other - which color is it? Looks perfect for the job, either way!

The green is definitely more accurate, though it's a bluish green.

[Catty1]

It looks BEAUTIFUL! Your mom will be thrilled!

[snakemama]

I finished the bench yesterday and I'll be giving it to my mom today when I take her out for lunch (Two belated Mother's Day gifts!)

After the first coat of finish:


Finally!




I can't wait to give it to her in an hour!!