Project eleven - Ottoman

Trying to find a perfect ottoman for my space was a challenge.   I need it to be black and white and still gives me the french provincial look.  It also need to be tufted to match my chesterfield  and the right size.  After looking for a while I gave up and decided to turn a coffee table into a bench/ottoman, so that it will gives me extra sitting options when I have friends over.

I was inexperience when I made my first ottoman.  I attempted creating the folds by hand with vinyl.  Overtime, the fold disappear; now I wish I had sew the vinyl together before I start.  Oh well, live and learn.
Just mean I have to redo it one day.

The whole process didn't take that long as it was quite small. 
Steps:
1. Cut the oval into rectangle
2. Mark the pattern.  I only did it on the board which was a bad idea. Should always sew the fabric for more professional look unless the fabric easy to maneuver.
3. Attach foam and batting on the board.
4. Drill the holes.
5. Make fabric button.  I did those by hand; Not easy when you work with vinyl.
6. Start staple one side first and fold ( Again, I wish I had document it better; for sure I will do it on my next proj)
7. Pull through the fabric button and staple to hold.
8. Attached to the painted leg.

How it looks before:

What do you do with your left over fabric?

We had a lot of scrap pieces left from the chair.  We could be more cautious when we cut the fabric but I normally don't have the patience for it. So what do we do with the left over fabric....  I used the remainder to make some decorative pieces. I just love things that match.    Here are some ideas: aprons, pillows, place mat, napkin holder, jewelry holder, and background for the bookshelf.

Project ten - Antique frame mirror

Mirror is the perfect friend for small spaces.  It definitely makes the space look so much bigger than it is.
I was lucky to find a craved picture frame from local thrift shop for $10.  Sam gave me his old washroom mirror. We had to take the mirror to the shop to cut;tried it outseleves but not much luck.

How it looks before:

Project nine- Bedside Table

I have been eyeing those mirrored bedside table but just couldn't find anything I like for less than $300.  Try searching a way to make my own, but it just doesn't have the details I want.  I only like the ones with beveled edge; home made one just wasn't good enough.   So I found an alternative, silver leaf bedside table.  

We found this bedside table for free on craiglist.  Of course..











Steps:
1. Clean all the surface and sand if necessary
2. We had to fix this baby with additional nails and hard glue as it was wobbly. 
3. Apply silver leaf adhesive with a brush one section at a time. (You can find that at  Michael's)
4. Apply silver leaf. It doesn't have to be perfectly flat when you apply.   Its very easy to work with but messy.  I ended up using aluminum leaf to save on cost.
5.Check for missing spot and re-apply
6. Apply Varnish coat for protection and shine ( I did three layers on mine)
The process actually takes a 2-3 hours as those silver leaf sheets are quite easy to break.  I actually painted my dresser silver before I start so that I won't look too obvious if I miss a spot.   However, that's not necessary.

I also found some crystal knobs from the local consignment stores for the dresser.  Hope you like how it turn out. :)

Project eight - headboard

After knowing how hard it is to make button and tufted project, I still want the buttoned headboard.   We ended up buying some canvas fabric from fabric for around $7 per meter.  It used about 2 meter for a queen size bed frame.  Hard part about this is the sewing.  I am not the best at drawing pattern; it always seems some part is not right.  However, I am definitely improving and hopefully one day I could be a professional. 










Steps:
1. Find the fabric of your choice
2. Cut the wood to the size you need.  We ended up attaching two board using metal plates so that we don't need to buy new MDF which cost about $30 per piece.  Sam took apart his old desk so that I can use the wood for the headboard
3. Draw the pattern both on the wood and the fabric
4. Sew the lines. ( I wished I took picture of this process)
5. Drill the whole on the board. There is room for error, you can simply fold to hide imperfection.  Just don't make it too small so you can't even fold.
6. Make fabric button - I bought the button from Fabricanna.  They have the one with teeth.  Seems that it was the only that kind of works without a professional button machine.
7. Attach the button and staple.
8. Staple the side
Complete
It actually took me a few try to sew it right. Left is the picture of the sewing job before stapling.

Project seven - Tall Boy and Accessories holders

My bedroom design. Picture frame wall decro seems to be very popular those days.   I decided to incorporate the print I used in the living room to my bedroom.  

Steps :

1. Clean the picture frame

2. Prime and Paint it black

3. Cut foam to shape.

4. Spay adhesive to the board and glue it with the board.

5. Spay adhesive for board and fabric.

6. Put together the foam board and picture frame.

I got some faux pearl pins from the fabric store to use to hold the necklaces.

Original Tall boy was found on Craiglist for $25 dollars. It had a few scratches and was missing handle; nothing spay painting couldn't fix. It was a really solid piece.  I love how it looks in white; simply yet sophisticated enough so that it doesn't take away the attention from the accessory boards. 

Project six - Hutch

If I can only keep one piece of furniture, I will have to say it will be this hutch.   It was so hard to find and so hard to repaint.   It wasn't in its best shape when we picked it up yet I was still willing to pay a fortune for this.  It was once used as a display case in a store.  I just loved the detail on this one. This was our first stripping project and hopefully the last.   The paint stripper burnt my skin and also through my gloves; definitely not the most pleasant thing to use.

 How it looked when we first picked it up.

 

In the process of stripping...

 

80% done..

 

complete 

Project five - Drop leaf Dinning Table

I was browsing on the free section on craiglist someday and saw a post for free stuffs without a picture.  Normally I won't bother to look but since it was so closed to Sam's house I decided to go and take a look.  I was delighted when I saw this drop-leaf dinning table.  I had to quickly call him and asked him to pick it up for me right away.    It turned out perfect to be the prefect piece for my small apartment.  It got the looks and also the flexiblity.  Only downside to it is that it took us (especially Sam) forever to sand as the vener top was peeling.










Steps:
1. Fill the crack with Veneer piece and wood filler
2. Sand it to smooth
3. Apply generous layer of Kilz Can Primer( I think we did 3 coats using brush and roller)
4. Sand it down to smooth (seriously think it took more than 3 hours to sand)
5. Kryon Stain white top coat
6. Polycrylic to finish

Project four - French Provincial Dresser

French Provincial Dresser
I love the idea of using dresser as a TV standathe storage that comes with it; perfect for my small spaces. 

Bought this baby on craiglist for $100.  It also comes with the mirror. Originally handpainted with gold rims.

Steps:
1. Sand
2. Prime using Kilz primer spay (highly recommended)
3. Kryon Spray paint in Satin White
4. Miniwax Polycrylic clear coat
5. Wet Sanding (600 grits - 1000 grits)
Complete.

Painting is not hard but a big surface like its top is not quite easy as well.  I am glad Sam had previous spay painting experience otherwise it might not turned out as nice as it was.

Sold as we bought another dresser at the auction for a great deal.

Project three - Chesterfield

I have a love and hate relationship toward this chesterfield.   It wasn't done to the perfection but it was just way too hard to fixed.  It was our first vinyl project and also first tufted/button project.   If we had better skill back then, I am sure it will turn much better. 

Blue Chesterfield in the background.   We forgot to take a picture of this baby.

We found it on craiglist for $40; It had a one paint spot and no legs. I didn't realize it was real leather until we took it apart.  This was like advance puzzle; taking it apart wasn't easy to start with but putting it back and knowing where each piece goes was a challenge.  We lable each pieces as we go; however, still wasn't able to figure out where each button goes as the original patter was stretched overtime.  I am so glad that we were able to finish this project, I was ready to give up so many time.

This is after everying got sew togehter and already marked the pull through the buttons.

Project Two - Wingback chair

I love the look of a wingback chair.  It fits perfectly in antique/modern design. 
Of course I like things matching since I have such a small space ( only 600 sq feet).  It will just looks odd if it doesn't have the matching design.

I found this fabric Waverly Onyx from Joann.  This is one of the few damask print I like; only wish that  it comes in pure white.

We found a very sturdy wingback and foot rest from free on Craiglist.  It was in a Ok condition with fabric slight worn.  Once we took apart the cover, the inside looks very clean.

After reading the upholstery book and browing on a few DIY blog.  We started on our project.   The first one always took longer.  Can't remember how long it acturally takes as we were working on a few pieces at once.  We are pretty happy on how it turned out.  We wasn't able to use tack strip on the back piece as the only tack strip we found here in vancouver was not strong enough for this baby.  We ended up buying " matt tack" from ebay to finish the back which makes it so much more classic.

It was sold because I was complaint that it was too big for my small space.

Project One - Bar Stools

The inspiration came from this picture.  After I had my mine set on the print, everything else sort of just fall into place.  Our first project was the Ikea barstools.
Steps
1. Take it apart( not necessary)
2. Prime it Grey with Kryon Grey primer
3. Take apart the seat and back rest.
4. Add foam
5. Staple everything back and re-assemble.
Complete.

This one of the easier project.  Only challenge is to line up the print.
Before and After:

How it looks in my place: