Monday, August 24, 2009

newly covered chairs

We were given these chairs last spring to replace the benches that we had there before.  I like the chairs because the kids always fell off or rocked the benches. The chairs had white seat covers and like any family with kids (and the adults sometimes) they get spilled on often.  

I knew I wanted to recover them sooner rather than later.  The joy of recovering chairs is that it is easy and you can always change them again.  I didn't even take the old fabric off.  I just went right over the top -extra padding never hurts.  I bought this red polka dot fabric at joann's with my 40% off coupon. Then, I was going to apply the iron the vinyl over them to help wipe away spills, but because iron on vinyl isn't the cheapest and requires more work, I just went with the clear plastic sold by the yard for only $1.50/yard.  It looks a little like the sofa coverings that grannie's sometimes have on their furniture, but if it protects the fabric from food, I decided I didn't care.  Plus, I can always pull it off when they get older or I get sick of it.  So, for a few hours on Saturday morning, I have a fun new set of chairs.  

22 comments:

roseylittlethings said...

Super cute!!! Love polka dots!

chris said...

Adorable! Red is my favorite color and polka dots make it fun. What a great way to perk up your dining area! Thanks for sharing.

Bianca said...

They look fantastic! As a mom with kids who spill ALOT, I'd say the plastic cover is a great idea!

sb said...

They look great!

Carmen @ Life with Sprinkles on Top said...

Rock on! Plastic covers would definitely be a NECESSITY around here. Love the chairs!

Amy said...

ADORABLE!!

Jennwith4 said...

So cute! Did you just staple it on underneath?

Carla G. said...

Those are so pretty - love the polka dots and what a cheery place to park your hiney! Sweet job!

Alisa said...

I like them very much! I recovered chairs once too (don't have them anymore) and it was a nice easy fix it. Though I pulled the old stuff off, should have just put it on top like you did.

mgrafx said...

We were so inspired by your chairs that we took a trip down to the Los Angeles Fashion District and bought upholstery fabric to do our chairs too!

Anonymous said...

We are sooo on the same page! Finished my covering last week (as I'm sure you saw from my postings). Loving the feeling of having a "new" look and itching to attack some other part of my house. I thinking of covering my computer chair pad (it is just wooden folding chair with a velcro on pad from ikea).
I'm thinking I should of done the plastic covering too for our dining chairs, at least on my son's chair. His is already looking dingy. I have covered it with a dishtowel for future meals, but it is hard to have sit at the same place--but I must be diligent!

Mauri said...

Love the fabric choice. I put the plastic over my seats when I recovered them a few years ago and it was the best idea I'd ever had! My kids spill stuff like crazy and all I had to do was wipe it off.

Bunny said...

Love it! Love polka dots and red is fabulous as well! These look awesome!

dana said...

Beautiful fix! What a fun fabric choice!

Terri said...

Very vintage i love it!

amy said...

I too covered our dinning room chairs this last week. I tore off the vinyl cover I had added 5years ago.... my kids are getting older.... and we dont use the chairs that much anymore. Look for pics this week on my blog. Nice work... love the polka-dots:)

Anonymous said...

Oooh, awesome! I love polka dots.

Jenn said...

love the chairs. they remind me of vintage diner chairs. beautiful job!

Katja said...

I love the chairs! I wish I was as brave as you to use polka dots for interior design - my husband would probably have kittens if I did that!

Tina Leigh said...

Yes but Traci, grandmas did not have that spanking cute red polka dot pattern like you do! love it.

Summer Rae said...

LOVE this chair! Thanks for sharing.

RootsAndWingsCo said...

I have so been wanting to do this for my own dining room chairs. I had the same thoughts on it feeling grannyish, but thoughts of children overwhelmed those other thoughts! ;) Yours look great. Thanks for the push I needed to do my own.

Rebecca