Friday, June 17, 2011

The Best Seat in the House

Your opinion requested...read on.

If you've been around for awhile, this striped chair will be familiar to you. It is the #1 beloved chair in our home. Everyone loves it and I always gets lots of compliments on it. However, it has finally started to show too much wear and tear (old photo below).
I've been struggling for awhile now, with what to do about it...order a slipcover that didn't really fit, get a new chair altogether, or do the scariest of all: attempt a custom slipcover myself.
I have a friend (hi, Julie) who never bats an eye at making slipcovers for all her chairs, sofas or loveseats. I watched her help my DIL slipcover one of their wing-back chairs once, and she made it look so easy.
So I decided to get brave and save my family's favorite chair, ever!!! : )
Here's where you come in. Do you think I should recover the accent pillow in this floral (below) to match the ottoman? Or...
in this cool stripe I just found? *BTW, I'm only partially done with this. Still lots of work to go, including covering the seat.
Have a great weekend.
M.L.

26 comments:

Jenna said...

I think the floral print would bring it all togehter but you could always make a second pillow in the stripe as well and have them both on the chair. I think it would look beautiful either way :O) have nice weekend! hugs, Jennifer

Sara SHOEmaker said...

definitely floral! wow I am so proud of you for making this on your own Mom! good for you! Julie is amazing isn't she. this looks like the chair came this way! I may want your help recovering our sofas :)

The House of Shoes

marie said...

The floral gets my vote. So how was it? Making the slipcover I mean! I have a chair I'd like to make as slipcover for...but that just sounds scary to me!

Unknown said...

Oh, what a wonder you are! I couldn't even make a slip cover for a Barbie chair so who am I to give my opinion? But, I can't resist...
I vote FLORAL!
Awesome task MaryLou!

marie said...

Since you updated...so will I! : )
If you're covering the seat cushion with the solid fabric then I change my vote....a pillow out of the "cool stripe" would be my preference!

vivian said...

beautiful work! I like the floral. I have the same fabric here. I made porch cushions and a valances with it. I've been thinking about slip covers for my couch and loveseat. I think I'll just keep "just thinking" about it! lol.. looks scary to me.
have a great weekend
vivian

Glenda/MidSouth said...

You are doing a great job !! I would not even attempt to do something like that. I am going to be the "odd" one - I would pick the strip. :) Take a vote of those that will be living with it on a day to day basis.
Enjoy your weekend.

Heather said...

Why don't you have the floral on one side and the stripe on the other with the tan fabric as piping? That way, you get the best of both. :)

Liz said...

Stripes, stripes, stripes!

Scrap for Joy said...

I envy your courage and your skill for tackling this project. I love the fabric you've chosen for the chair. Why can't you use both fabrics in the pillow...floral on one side and stripe on the other...then, whatever your mood is, you can flip the pillow.
Bravo to you M.L. I posted some pictures of my mantle the other day and your birdie is there...I'm still tweaking and think I've found the solution for a large piece to put behind all of my birds and nests collection.
Happy creating!
xoxo

Anonymous said...

I like Heather's idea - reversible pillow with both fabrics. Good for you for tackling this project - it looks great! :)

CosmoGirl Carla said...

Wow! I'm loving your chairs new look! I have a small wingback that I've been needing to cover for too many years now, and this post is inspiring me to jump into the project.

Oh, and I'm definitely voting for the floral pillow! (I have that same fabric and I love it.)

Thanks for sharing!
Carla

Busy Bee Suz said...

I can see why your family loves this chair...I love it too!!! I think you are doing a fantastic job, loving the khaki color. (YOU ARE BRAVE, but VERY TALENTED!!)
I vote for the floral too. Love it.

Cindy said...

I think I would vote for the floral, but like the idea of one side floral and one side striped so you could choose how you feel each day. I agree with all the comments about how amazing you are! Hope to see you again soon.

Sewconsult said...

Stripe for sure. It ties to the piping.

Mimi Sue said...

You certainly are brave! Let us know how hard it ends up being. I'm partial to the floral. Mimi

Scrappi Sandi said...

PHEW!! I'm just done catching up on all the recently posted awesomeness!! Some gorgeous family photo's, some fabulous creativity & I'd go with the floral every time...those slipcovers are looking pretty darned good so far!!! :)

GrandmaBev said...

Love them both, but the floral gets my vote. Or make one side floral color and the other side stripes. Then you can change it around.

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

I also think the floral pillow should stay! You are brave to recover your chair...Good for You!
Love your new banner too!
Warmly,
deb

Celestial Charms said...

I'm agreeing with Joyce. Floral on one side, strip on the other. They are both so very pretty.
Maureen

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Hi ML, I'm a fan of Waverly and Waverly compatible prints. I have some of two fabrics you show in my house. :)

I'm a big proponent of mixing and matching different sized prints to make a room look like a million bucks. You have a BIG floral presence in the ottoman. I like the small stripe on the pillow. It's perfect.

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

First of all, I love the slipcover! So pretty and very well done. Secondly, I like the floral print myself. :o)

Heidi said...

wish I could do this! It's something I've always wanted to try! Looks great!

Julie Fisher said...

How cute. i just swept and found a bunch of thread, a broken sewing machine needle, and a pin or two. looks like someone was sewing! Oops, now you know how long it's been since i swept. :/

Janet Metzger, Artist said...

I have the exact chair and yes it is so very comfortable!

I vote for the floral...am I too late?

Fabulous job

Janet xox

Anonymous said...

I vote for the floral and maybe another smaller pillow or roll in the stripe. Great job. Love that chair. I purchase fabric for projects and it sits around forever. I have to get a sewing machine again one of these days. Problem is I have no patience for it. Actually, for almost all crafts. I want to see the end result so much that I end up rushing things along and then it doesn't turn out as it would've if I had been more patient. ;)