My current upholstery projects....Pics...

nicole__

11 years ago

I'm in "decorating" mode. :0) So here are my current projects:

Before:

After:

Before:Shield Back chairs...

After: Shield back chairs(upholstered 2 of 10):

Before(French pierced Victorian parlor chair):

After........using a solid rust velvet....not completed ....yet....stained the wood.....now making a pattern....

Anticipating the finished product...

This post was edited by nicole__ on Tue, Apr 9, 13 at 21:54

Comments (29)

bengardening
11 years ago
Those are gorgeous. You do very nice work.
Jodi_SoCal
11 years ago
Absolutely awesome Nicole!!!

Jodi-
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I'm going to agree with annie. You're asking for a mess if you try to stuff those two into a cover. The cording will both show and be felt when someone sits on it, and given time, will wear on the velvet differently and leave a pattern of the cording. That stuff needs to come off. Personally I'd then lay the two foam covers together and draw around them as a pattern on paper, then cut the same shape from a high quality upholstry foam. Then wrap the foam in batting as noted above, and muslin slip. Then make your one cover removable if you wish. If you can't get the new foam, rewrap the existing foam instead. But I do think after time it will separate somewhat and again, ruin the look you're after by leaving a gap. You're working with a very very hard fabric, and trying high level techniques (cording with a quilted velvet). I am very confident with this stype of stuf, and the thought makes me want to curse in advance for you. I do recommend that you first make a muslin pattern before you try cutting the velvet. Velvet walks away from you when you sew it face to face so be sure you pin the heck out if it (use french silk pins). And as to the cording, don't even try if you don't have or won't pick up a cording foot for your machine (which you'll fall in love with). If I were making this, I'd first make the muslin pattern (hopefully you've figured that out in your discoveries) and then try to make it up using cheap cording with a cording foot and be sure you have your technique down. Then, if that comes out well, go ahead with the velvet, but remember, more pins verses less, and I like to use two with particularly slippery velvets. The pattern will be lost if you try to remove the velvet backing (or the quilted batting) and it would be a huge amount of work for something that won't even show. I'd find a nice contrasting fabric or a velvet that matches without batting. But again, personally...I'd not do the velvet cording because it's a pain in the kiester! I'd do it in silk dupioni in the same color which flows well with the velvet and is easy to sew.
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pam_25f
11 years ago
Great work. They look so nice.
Georgysmom
11 years ago
Love the chairs and the fabrics you chose. I was particularly impressed with the cording on the first chair. Great job!
minnie_tx
11 years ago
very professional thanks for sharing
sheilajoyce_gw
11 years ago
Wow, you do a beautiful job!

Questions--

How did you learn to upholster? How much experience did you have to have to be able to do such a nice job?
nicole__
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you for liking my projects!

Sheilajoyce.....

I started sewing when I was in 7th grade, I use newspaper to make "exact" patterns from the original piece when slip covering. I'm self taught. Some things like the piping, you could substitute purchased braid and glue it on instead of sewing piping. There are "work arounds" to avoid not having sewing skill when upholstering. If your covering removable cushions with zippers....then sewing skill is required.

The victorian chair is one of several pieces that are going into my friends art gallery......for visitors to sit on and they will also have price tags on them. My DH has framed photographs he'll be hanging also....

Here's a slip cover I did:

It unzips.....

This post was edited by nicole__ on Wed, Apr 10, 13 at 16:27
brightonborn
11 years ago
Absolutely beautiful..... !!!!
Granlan_TX
11 years ago
Wow Nicole! You have a great eye and each piece is perfection!!
grams33
11 years ago
What beautiful work and I love your fabric choices,
susan_on
11 years ago
Such fabulous work!
susie53_gw
11 years ago
Simply beautiful!! Isn't it funny how just a change of fabric can make such a big difference.
alisande
11 years ago
Omigosh, Nicole, you're an upholstering genius! And a decorating genius, too, with a great eye for color and design. Thanks for sharing!
chisue
11 years ago
Wow! Very professional looking!

Is there a way to compare reupholstery costs? I have a 36" X 68" roll-arm, skirted, button-back chaise (Kittinger? 1990?). It needs new fabric. It also needs to be re-tied, thanks to over-exuberant *bouncing* by a toddler grandchild. The cushion is fine. I have no idea how to judge a fair price on labor. Might you venture a guess? How long might it take to reupholster this piece?
sheilajoyce_gw
11 years ago
In our area, reupholstery costs as much as buying new. I am so impressed with your slip cover too!!!
Pieonear
11 years ago
Beautiful! You have a good eye.
nicole__
Original Author
11 years ago
Chisue....I'm guessing 6 yds of fabric, if it's a solid color. A repeating pattern, 7yds. Then re-tying implies it all came loose, if that's all it needs about 1 hours time is figured into the cost. The cost of the fabric varies. it's from $6yd to $40 a yard for average looking fabric.

I agree with sheilajoyce......upholstery can cost MORE than a new piece. Labor is the biggest part of it! :0)

Expect to pay at least $400 to have that chaise recovered.

********************************************************************** *
My cost for materials on my projects:

2 printed linen slipcovers for the wingbacks chairs: $32

The canned barrel chair off CL was free, $7 for paint & fabric.

The victorian chair cost $20 off CL, the fabric remnant was $4 from a thrift store.

This post was edited by nicole__ on Wed, Apr 10, 13 at 15:31
yayagal
11 years ago
I love your fabric choices, you really are talented.
susanjf_gw
11 years ago
omg i have 2 of the first chairs...boy did you give them new life by painting!
Toni S
11 years ago
The new fabric on all the chairs and stain are great. You've done a nice job on them!

I'm in the change things up mood too. Suppose to be finishing up the kitchen curtains right now, visiting the kt instead!
chisue
11 years ago
Nicole -- Oh, thank you for taking time to figure an estimate. I was thinking more like a thousand dollars.

I can't find anything new that is as nice. I think it cost about $1500 from Marshall Field's in the early 1990's. (Big splurge.) It's held up beautifully, but wear is wear -- and "kids is kids".

I hold off on these things, partly because we have what DH and I term "an address tax". If it were less big and heavy I'd have my DS and DIL take it and get estimates from their city address.
nicole__
Original Author
11 years ago
Chisue....:0) This beautiful nailhead trimmed chaise is for sale locally for $279, comes in 3 different colors....if I were you I'd email a picture of the piece to get a quote. Once it's know to be a high end piece the upholstery price could go up. :0) Just a thought.

{{!gwi}}
fran1523
11 years ago
Your photographs are spectacular and your upholstering is awesome. You are a woman of many talents.
Jasdip
11 years ago
Wow, just Wow!!!! They are gorgeous and so is your home Nicole. How long would it take you? Do you put yourself out for hire? I don't need anything done, just a question.
chisue
11 years ago
Nicole -- What a bright idea about hiding behind email with a photo to get an estimate! (More proof that you are a very clever gal!) Thanks!

I like the chaise you posted, but...no arms. Actually, DH and our Westie are the most frequent users of our chaise. It's in a sunny corner of our master bedroom. They nap and 'bond' after lunch! LOL
marilyn_c
11 years ago
You do such beautiful work, Nicole! I admire your talent, ability and courage to tackle those projects!
patti43
11 years ago
Nicole, if you aren't doing upholstering for a living, you should be. I would just love to have a chair like in your first picture (the black one). You are awesome!!!
nicole__
Original Author
11 years ago
Your all so sweet....Thank you!!!!

Jasdip....The black chair was a snap. Tearing things off is easy. :0) Spray painting is easy. I do this as a hobby, so I stop and start at my liesure. I have maybe 3 hours into that piece.

I'm just trying to fill my spare time with something interesting to do......:0)
nola_anne
11 years ago
OMGosh, nicole...I wish you were here--I have some chairs and ottoman that could use your magic touch!

Beautiful work and choice of patterns/colors for the chairs...you got it, girl!

nola anne

My current upholstery projects....Pics...

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