Monday, October 18, 2010

Would You Believe....

That I have had cream colored seat cushions on my dining room chairs for almost 12 years and have had NO major spills or accidents on them? This is with 2 kiddos, one husband, lots of friends and their kiddos, family functions, Bible studies, countless parties, baby showers, and Holidays!


That is until...
 The other day, when the chairs met their match in the form of a 3 year old who has always been so very obedient, until recently when she has decided to make up for lost time and make some mischief!
This is the same one who the previous week dumped out 2 bottles of foundation in my makeup drawer.

What did she do this time, you ask?

She found the ONE non-Crayola washable crayon that we had in our house (notice I said HAD!) and decided to add some color to Mommy's boring cream chairs.
Here is the evidence


You can still see that faint splotch of orange that remained even after using my fool-proof upholstery cleaner.
Well, after Little Miss received a Time-Out, I had to smile to myself because I had just been thinking about how I would love to continue to warm up the Dining Room by recovering those chairs.

I promise you all that I did not put the girl up to it! Her lovely attempts at Artistry just happened to coincide with my decorating dreams so I might as well make the best of it, right???

It only took a trip to one fabric store to find the perfect choice of material, and a couple of hours to recover all 6 chairs...with only the minor interruption of the aforementioned child coming in crying to us that she had gotten a bead stuck in her nose! Let's just say that the experience finally taught her how to blow her nose properly (OUT not IN) and we were relieved to not have to make a trip to the Urgent Care!

So, here is a look at the chairs Before...



And, here is how they look now with the new fabric


They were so easy to do that I can't believe I didn't do them sooner! Our trusty staple gun and some muscle was all I used.

Here is how they look in the soft evening light.

I love how the colors add so much more warmth and it is really helping to continue my efforts to Un-Stuffy my Dining Room!

I made one more quick change in this room over the weekend.
This is how my Dining Table looked Before...

It wasn't bad but I always felt like the hurricanes were just a little too short for the space, so I was thrilled to find these for $11 each at JC Penney!


Their height works so much better for the scale of the room. Here is a closer look...


I look forward to showing you more transformations in my home that occur because my beloved rascals take it upon themselves to speed things up for mommy in the decorating department!

From this Southern Girl at Heart,






41 comments:

Susie @ Step inside my home said...

Oops! So sorry to hear about your dining room chair, BUT - what a great job you did transforming them with such gorgeous new fabric! It looks so nice. And the new hurricanes look great on your table. Just is time for the fall holidays! ~ Susie

Anonymous said...

Vanessa, I think it was a Sign that you needed to redo your seat cushions, and wow are they gorgeous. Love that fabric and yes, it's less stuffy and has some nice kick.

Could you please send the little one my way. I'm needing a few things redone in my home and need a little justification.

Courtney ~ French Country Cottage said...

Ohh too funny Vanessa- sorry she played with markers on your chairs- but so cute that you got some help with a getting those chairs redone! I agree with Marla- must've been a sign to redo and they came out GORGEOUS!!! Love the new fabric choice- they look beautiful! :)

Tire Swing Mom said...

That is so funny. Children are such a hoot, even though we want to strangle them sometimes.

Love your newly redone chairs. You did these yourself, correct? I would love to redo my dining room chairs but I don't know that I could. Is it hard getting the seat out and back in?

Anita Diaz said...

Oh Vanessa I love what you did with the chair covers! They are easy to do, aren't they? I don't know how yours attach, but I thought about having hubby cut some wood bases that I could upholster in a different fabric then just pop in for a change. Love your new candle holders too! I have a faux apple that Miranda tried to take a bite out of when she was about 2, and I keep it in my iron basket--teeth marks and all!

Betsy B said...

Love the bead up the nose story...you were lucky! The chair redo is pretty and the taller hurricanes do look more to scale. Lovely!

High Street Cottage said...

Hi Vanessa, the chairs look great, I love the centerpiece you put together with the bird pot and the hurricanes! Very warm and cozy for Fall.

Christmas-etc... said...

I love the stripes! Your daughter did you a major favor! What amazes me is how you recovered them yourself - gives me an idea...mine need to be redone (courtesy of my cat, who has now gone on to heaven. I didn't touch them in honor of her having done the mischief - got to love a cat to understand...!), I have a staple gun...now might be the time to use it!
Ann

Jemsmom said...

I was vacuuming the dining room the other day and while pulling out the cream cushioned chairs thought to myself that it was time to change them out! You would think after thirteen years I would have done it! Now you have really inspired me!!! Those look fabulous and your tablescape is so beautiful!

Pamela said...

Looks awesome! I have some of that fab as well. It did not go with what I wanted it to so if ya need more!;)

Sarah @ Modern Country Style said...

I really love those hurrican lamps. And such a good price too (*tries not to be jealous*....*and fails*!!!).

For some reason I just can't bring myself to try reupholstering, even in its easiest forms. I really must get a grip!! It look as though you did a GREAT job, Vanessa. Well done,

Sarahx

Lisa ~Suburban Retreat~ said...

I guess now that it's all said and done, you can secretly reward little Missy because your chairs look fabulous! I hate to say it but the before fabric really was so boring. These chairs have now come to life and really do warm up your space. Love your new candle holders!

Lynn said...

Lovin' your new fabric and candle holders! Sounds like you have your hands full-enjoy:@)

Becca Bertotti said...

Well, what a perfect excuse to give your chairs a new look !! Love the new fabric, by the way ... and, I *really* love those hurricanes, especially because I have the same ones. :) They are perfect on your table, and make your dining room *that* much more beautiful! Hugs, *Becca*

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

LOL! Well it definately was serendipity wasn't it? Your new chair covers are beautiful. Your dining room looks like the perfect place to relax over a wonderful meal.
Hugs,
Penny

michelle said...

I am impressed that you went that long! :) Anything white in my house doesn't last long at all! I love the new fabric and it was a great reason to change things up a bit! Your center piece is beautiful and just ties everything in! Great job!!

KLM said...

Lovin the new fabric, but sorry to hear about what happened with the chair. I feel like crawling in a hole. You said you've had the same seat cushions for 12yrs... Ive changed mind 3 different times in less than a year and a half lol!

Val said...

Your chairs look fabulous!!!!

Val said...

Your chairs look fabulous!!!!

Nellie's Cozy Place said...

Morning Vanessa,
Your chairs look beautiful. you really did a nice job hon.
Your table vignettes is beautiful as well, love those lil white pumpkins too, and both sets of lanterns!!

I was dying laughing as you were telling about your 3 yr. old. As a Mom who has grown children, I soooo
remember those days, and had a few of my own flashbacks. Once my daughter magic markered the walls and a formica table with purple marker. Thank God it wasn't a permanent marker. Came off the table easy, not so with the wall,
we had to paint that a few times but fortunately it didn't bleed through again. Then my son was about 3 when we moved in our new house, that is 30 yrs. old now,
and he crayoned our freshly painted porch wall, He had never done anything like that before either.
Delayed terrible two's I guess it is!! Sounds like your daughter has the same malady!! lol
Oh, The Joys of Motherhood!!

Think the Lord was just giving you a lil push on that decorating there. lol It really does look great, although your chairs were
a pretty fabric before, but it is
always good to have a change when it has been a long time.
and always fun to be able to say you did it yourself too!!

Have a Marvelous Monday hon,
Blessings, Nellie

Debbie said...

I was able to giggle along with sympathetic giggles ONLY because I was anticipating the end of the story.

You didn't disappoint and it ended as I had hoped. (One exception being the bead in the nose... glad that ended well too...)

Love the new look! Sometimes, we just need a little push off the edge, don't we?

Scribbler said...

I think you have your work cut out for you with that 3-year old! Your DR looks great.

Once when my son was about three he put his crayons into the dryer. All his father's work clothes looked like a rainbow!

I did not come out.

Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door said...

Isn't it wonderful how easy it is to recover chair cushions? Such a quick fix and your's look great!
Actually, your Little Miss helped you out there didn't she? She knew you wanted to change those cushions! A girl after her Mama's heart!
Have a GREAT week, Vanessa!

NanaDiana said...

uHHH,,I have some very sad news for you- I think your Little Miss is a LOT like I was at her age...so..in the future here are a couple of things you can expect to happen. Unscrew a lightbulb and stick your finger in the socket and turn the fixture on...Ummm...how do you feel about her mixing her Aunties paints all together that are sitting on the porch waiting to be applied to the house...okay..one more...Has she ever popped a Christmas ornament in her mouth and bit down? See...look at all the fun things you have to look forward to...

That being said...I LOVE your new seat covers...they are warm and lovely looking. Nice job! Why do we put those things off when they seem so easy once we get them started? I suggest that if you are tired of any wall color..give our Sweet One some magic markers and turn her loose...just a thought-Hugs- Diana

Courtney ~ French Country Cottage said...

Vanessa-Your comment on my chair is too funny!
I swear you and I are on the same wave length all the time!!! I hadn't thought about both of us working on chairs until you mentioned it on my post! I didn't intend to redo the chair yet- I actually started out re-doing the hutch in the LR- moving it to a different spot which led to moving EVERYTHING of course! Then I needed an extra seat in the LR and dragged the frenchy chair out of the office area to try it... which led to pulling tacks and starting to re-do it. Now the chair looks so bummed being partly taken apart, I really need to get going on it! :)

Karen said...

Well, it ended up being a happy accident in the end-and the new fabric looks great with your autumn table setting, bonus!

Traci said...

Vanessa, it looks great! I love the new fabric. Yay for you!! I'm so glad the little one was able to get the bead out of her nose. I laughed after I saw that everything was ok!!

gena said...

Oh, those look just great ! I, too want to "de-stuffify" my home, so thanks for the inspiration !



thanks for sharing,
gena
www.thehouseonlavenderhill.blogspot.com

All That Glitters said...

Those look great Vanessa!!! I need to change mine soon!

Turquoise and Trine said...

I love the new chair pads - they look great! I guess your daughter thought it was time you changed them! I just love your house! So pretty! : )

Lori
Thrifty Decor Mom

Gypsy Heart said...

I've been through those "experiences" ~ nothing like a child's artwork! :-) The chairs look really nice with the change in color and I adore those hurricanes! Great price too ~

Will look forward to the continued changes. Have a great week!

Pat

Debbiedoos said...

Fantastic job Vanessa!!~ I love redoing chairs, it is so easy and makes a huge difference.

sheri said...

i picked up and sat down and picked up and sat down those same hurricanes at JC Penney's on Sunday - now i want to run back and get them!

Missy said...

I have some old banquet chairs that desperately need recovering. Not at all as beautiful as yours, even with the orange crayon marks! lol. But I need to do them regardless! Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks for the comment on my Enchanted Forest baby shower at http://missmatchedandmarvelous.blogspot.com/ and becoming a follower! I'm so happy to have found your Inspiration Friday! will be linking up soon I'm sure!

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Vanessa, those look great! Sorry about the accident, but hey it got you moving in another direction, so that's good. Love your hurricanes too. Thanks always for your sweet comments.

Kim said...

Now THIS is just insane! We have the exact same dining room set! Girl our friendship was meant to be I tell ya! LOL!
xoxo,
Kim

Lisa said...

Very pretty! Love the new striped fabric! It sounds like you got pretty lucky to even go this long without any mishaps on your chairs so it was time for something new anyway! : )

KimMalk said...

Hi Vanessa I'm so glad you shared this mishap with us. The chairs look wonderful and your new hurricanes are perfect--what a great price. I'm sure you'll have more redecorating mishaps :). We've had lots of those accidents. One of my girls dumped a bottle of ranch dressing on our area rug, those are the fun stories that stay with you. Blessings, Kim.

Christie said...

Your chairs look AWESOME!!! Now, every time you sit on them or get a compliment, you will remember what her artistic abilities brought about! You did a great job!

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

I think she was just trying to give you a little kick start on the chairs, because they looks AWESOME! And your dining room table is beautiful! Don't you just love JC Penney??

Lou Cinda :)

Modern Country Lady said...

Love the way it turned out!it was all for the best in the end!! :-)
Love your house- absolutely beautiful.