I thought re-upholstering this chair would be difficult.
I was wrong.
Shocking, I know.
Now, I will teach you how to upholster a cane chair like this.
Aren’t you so excited?But don’t ask me about upholstering other types of chairs – I’ve only conquered this one.
Reupholstering a Cane Barrel Chair
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This chair started off like this:
It is one of a set that my grandparent’s had. My dad is holding the other one hostage and refuses to negotiate – something about how he needs it to watch TV in. He can’t sit in the floor? But now he is impressed with my stellar upholstery skills and wants me to re-do his. Hmmm…..maybe I will “lose” it. Is it possible to “lose” a chair?
Back to this chair. It has all the cream colored fabric on it because once upon a time, I thought I would just re-cover it with that without taking off the old fabric, but I wasn’t really in love with that fabric so it sat like this for at least a year.
Then, I found this fabric at JoAnn’s that screamed Jonathan Adler to me and I knew it would be perfect for the chair and the Summer Soiree Style Series.
First, I got out a flat head screwdriver and pliers and began pulling out all the staples along the underside and frame of the chair, which resulted in this.
I made sure to keep my old fabric pieces in tact so that I could use them as a guide for cutting out the new fabric. You should do this too, it makes the process so much simpler.
Before, I started upholstering the chair, it needed a new paint job. I primed it first with Rust-Oleum‘s white primer spray paint, then a couple coats of Rust-Oleum’s metallic gold spray paint and finished it off with Rust-Oleum’s gloss topcoat finish. Can you tell I’m a Rust-Oleum girl?
Once it was all dry, I brought it inside to get down to business. I laid out the old bottom piece of upholstery on top of my new Jonathan Adler-ish fabric and cut it out.
After getting it cut out, I put it onto the seat cushion and adjusted it into place.
Before I could start stapling it down, I had to take care of this place though:
The main piece of fabric on the seat would not cover this area where the arm meets the base. So, first I had to cover it and then put the main piece of fabric over the edges. Are you with me?
Here’s what I did. I took small rectangle of fabric and put it over a piece of cardboard I cut from a box. I stapled the cardboard with the fabric on it to the chair like this:
Then, I just pulled the fabric that was stapled with the cardboard down and stapled it under the base of the chair. The main piece of fabric on the seat covered the raw edges of the fabric around the cardboard.
After doing both sides like this (it was only like this on the front legs, not the back), you can start stapling your fabric along the base of the chair and/or underside stretching it as you go to get a tight fit.
For the seat back of the chair, I just cut fabric in the shape of the old upholstery that was there and stapled it to the frame as it had been before. I skipped the tufting on this one, but you can buy tufting kits if you wanted to keep it.
On the very back of the chair, I did not remove the old fabric:
I was worried that if I removed that fabric I would essentially lose the whole back of the chair and have a hole there and then I wouldn’t know what to do. So, I just cut out a piece of fabric to fit there and hot-glued it on.
After everything is stapled down, you can take coordinating trim and hot glue it on top of any staples that show.
And now you step back and call yourself a rockstar.
Or call me a rockstar if you like.
haha.
More Chair Makeovers & Upholstery Posts to Get You Inspired:
How to Waterproof & Repel Stains on Fabric – you’ll be mad you didn’t do this sooner!
Pink & Houndstooth Chair Makeover (Roadside Rescue) – super cute and fun twist on an old chair!
French Country Chair Makeover – classic lines, classic beauty!
Restored Rocking Chair – my great-great grandfather’s old rocking chair – restore!
Upholstered Box Spring – banish those ugly box springs!
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Stalk Me Here:
Hi Jenna – I’m visiting from the Atlanta bloggers page. I love the fabric you chose, and the chair looks really cute – awesome job! Fun writing style, too. 🙂
Hi Kristen! Its so great to have you visit! Thanks so much for your sweet compliment! I always try to show myself in my posts!
Oh my gosh, Jenna! You are a RockStar! Actually I already thought that before this awesome chair. 😉 But oh how beautiful that turned out.
Thanks for the 411 on the reupholstering too. I could totally use that for a chair waiting out in my garage right now.
Cheers to you and yours!
Oh, you are way too sweet, Therese! Thank you so much! I can’t wait to see your new chair!
I cannot believe you did this yourself! It turned out so fabulous. Nothing like having a soiree deadline to get ‘er done! Love it!
Yea, I can’t really believe I did it myself either! Thanks!
LOVE THIS too, big fan of Jonathan Adler designs….I wanted to invite you to share this at my linky party going on now. Hope to see you there…
Christina at
SWEET HAUTE
http://sweethaute.blogspot.com/
Thursday SWEET HAUTE Share Linky Party
Thanks, Christina! I will head over to link up!
Love it! You’re always so creative, Jenna! I’ve decided that I’m a Rustoleum girl too. In the few projects I’ve done, Rustoleum is the definite winner!
You are too sweet, Elizabeth! Thank you! Isn’t Rust-Oleum just the best? Love their products!
Having seen this chair last weekend I will be the first to attest that this is both a fine piece of craftsmanship & work of art. And yes, I am gonna let my daughter re-do the other chair. But I am undecided about the colors. Being a Bama Graduate, I think Crimson & White would look very nice and be a comfortable place to be whle I watch the Tide beat up on the likes of LSU, Tennessee, & Auburn. Roll Tide! I guess she & I might have to look for material along with help from my precious granddaughter.
Wow, Dad. Thanks.
Mr. J, that’s just rude to call out my Auburn Tigers like that. I love your daughter and that adorable grandchild but don’t think I won’t hurt you or help Jenna steal that chair from you!
War Eagle!
Jenna’s friend Lindsay 🙂
Oh. My. Lord. You two are funny.
If possible, this chair looks even better in person, y’all! Jenna did an amazing job on it! I’m gonna let her redo my cane chairs like this! 😉
(Mom, you didn’t just read that. Don’t tell Mamaw.)
Hahahhaa! You are too funny, Lindsay! Thank you, dear!
I love your tutorial! I have a pair of chairs with similar style upholstery that needs to be replaced. I keep looking at them, afraid to take the fabric off and attack them. This gives me hope!
Candace, I was the same way at first! It is just one of those projects that you have to just say – I can do this – and rip into it!
Hi, I can’t believe how beautiful the chair came out! You have a real talent for this and make it look so easy! I saw it on I gotta create!
Julie from julieslifestyle.blogspot.com
It was so much easier than I thought it would be, Julie! Thank you!
Great fabric choice! I can’t believe this was your first time doing this. Great transformation!
Thanks, Emily! I just love that fabric!
Every time I look at this, I love it more! Awesome, awesome job!
I am the same way, Emily!! Thanks so much!
Nice job Jenna! I haven’t braved reupholstering a chair yet, but I have a couple set aside for the future! Thank you for sharing it and you lamp redo at to What We Accomplished Wednesdays. Have a great week!
Hugs,
Deborah
Thank you, Deborah! The chair was much easier than I thought it would be! Thanks for hosting!
Okay I am seriously beyond impressed Jenna. That chair is sooooo AWESOME! fabulous job…. And for the record, it is totally possible to lose a chair….
Totally possible, right?! haha! I was impressed as well!
Thanks so much! I love that fabric as well! Thanks for hosting!
I am stopping by from Happy Hour…you have inspired me to tackle two chairs that have been sitting in my closet waiting for me to do something with them!! Thanks
You can do it! It is so much easier than it appears, Kathy!
wow!! so great! you are fearless and I love the fabric choice! This would be perfect as MY vanity chair in my bedroom! Wish I could drive over to get it 😉 Thanks for sharing this tutorial, encourages me to tackle a few re-upholstery projects! XO.
Thanks! It was much easier than I thought it would be, Amy!! You could totally do it!
This turned out so cute. I love that you thought to do the frame in gold, unexpected!!
Thanks! I love that gold frame!
Jenna, I love the final chair! Great tutorial too! You chose great, great fabric and the perfect shade of gray! I just wanted to let you know that I’ve featured you on my Finding Friday: My Favorite Finds post on my blog It’s Always Ruetten {itsalwaysruetten.blogspot.com}.
When you have a chance, I’d love for you to come by and grab my featured button!
Great job!
Julia
It’s Always Ruetten
Thank you so much, Julia! I was so flattered by your write-up! Thank you!
this is way above my skill set, so i’m just looking at the pretty pictures. and this does look super pretty. what a change!
You can do it! If I can – you can too! It was much simpler than I thought it would be!
This chair is absolutely gorgeous!! You did a fabulous job on it! I love it! Thanks so much for linking up to Thrifty Thursday!
Thank you and thank you for hosting!
Great tutorial. Thank you!
Ellya
You are welcome! It was so much easier than I thought it would be!
Love the chair! The tutorial was great too! I have one in pieces right now on the back burner! Gotta get it finished. Yours my get me in gear!
Thanks, Deneen! I couldn’t believe how great it turned out and it really wasn’t all that complicated!
Visiting from Huckleberry Love’s party and from FrySauceandGrits.com! I’m going to attempt to reupholster a family heirloom chair in my living room. Your post has helped me gain some more confidence because this is my first time! The chair turned out great! Thanks so much for sharing!
It’s not as hard as it looks! You can totally do it!
Hi there! Your chair came out awesome – but it seems like it did take quite a bit of talent and patience! You ARE a rockstar! And your Dad should def get a beanbag chair and give you his chair! 🙂 Julia
I really think he would like a beanbag much more, Julia! That’s a fab idea! Thanks so much!
This looks amazing. I just gave one away, should have kept it. Thanks for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty
Oh no, you didn’t Marty!! I love these chairs!
Jenna your before and after are gorgeous!! Thank you so much for sharing at Inspiration Monday 🙂 Sharing on FB tomorrow
xo, Tanya
Thank you so much, Tanya for your sweet comment and some facebook love!
beautiful chair Jenna! you did an incredible job.
gail
Thank you, Gail!
You did an amazing job on this chair!!! I love the fabric!
Cara @ craftdictator.blogspot.com
Thanks so much, Cara! I’m pretty happy with how it turned out!
H Jenna! Thank you for the detailed tutorial! The fabric is gorgeous and the way you explained the entire process makes it less intimidating! Thank you for linking your project at the Fluster Buster party, love to see you there next week! Lizy, party co host
Thanks, Lizy! I just love that fabric too!
This chair is pure gold! Love it! I have a pair of cane chairs that I have yet to tackle! Great job! Linking back from Savvy Southern Style!
You ARE a Rockstar! This chair looks amazing! I love the trim you put on it, too. 🙂
I love being called a Rockstar!! Thanks so much!
Oh my gosh. You really are a rockstar, Jenna. This transformation is incredible! And now you’ve actually got me thinking I might be able to tackle a reupholstering DIY of my own someday. You empowering blogger, you!
Really? I’m a rockstar? Could you call MTV and tell them? Maybe they could give a shoutout to my blog?! Haha! Thanks, gal! You can totally re-upholster something. It really was not near as hard as I thought it would be!
Wow! This is just gorgeous. I love the selected fabric, the paint color choice, and also the fabulous cane chair. You really need to torment ‘daddy’ until he gives in 🙂
I admire the effort you put in to reply to each and every post…very encouraging. Keep it up.
I know, right?! He should so give me that other chair! They are a pair, they deserve to be together! Thank you so much for following along and the great encouragement!
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