Yawn to Sunshine!

Can we say "boring", $38 bucks from overstock,.....yawn

Hello Sunshine

I know I know I know, it is all cuteness. But this smallish black task chair was screaming for cuteness. It holds 200 lbs, has adjustable height, rolls anywhere and the seat spins which is really fun when you get bored at work.  When your cheapo boring chair arrives from Overstock do not put it together. Take a flat head screw driver and wiggle it under the plastic lip around the seat and back and pop out those fabric covered pieces (I tossed the top plastic piece). Also, I am pretty sure you have to take out some screws in the seat to remove the plastic bottom. This will all become obvious as you work.

I roll and spin!

Wipe down all the plastic pieces with soap and water and rinse. Spray prime everything (not the fabric covered seat and back (duh)) with a high adhesion primer like Zinnsar Cover Stain. (I think this will work better then the "plastic" spray paint which I really did not care for).  Spray paint in your color (I used cream)

Back of chair back, two holes cut in fabric for screw holes

Get some fabric, cut two pieces at least two inches wider then seat and back, wrap over edges and staple starting at the center of each side and working your way out. Trim off excess. Since I tossed the back plastic piece cause I hated it and it made me mad, I cut an oval piece of fabric to cover the staples and remaining back area. I stapled that on and glued trim over the stapled edge. Holes were cut for the screw holes.

Damn, my back it so much cuter without the plastic

Now put the chair together which is really easy. Here you can see the plastic edge/lip around the seat. Do not worry about getting the lip up over the seat edge. Just screw the seat on. It will look fine. 

Yup, I am a bunch of cuteness

 

I keep thinking how fabulous 4 of these would look around a round diner/breakfast table! Go do this. It is cheap, easy and you will feel better about your life. Guarantee

PS: Opening Day is in ONE WEEK!

PPS: Thanks to the fab Shelly at modhomeec for guidance in getting off the plastic backs on the seat and back. Go to her site for all things upholstery!

Not glamourous but how to get there: TIP

folding adjustable sawhorse thingies, no tools needed

As the title of this post implies (no, states) there is absolutely NOTHING of glamour, cuteness or beauty in this post. This is merely a "TIP". This is not a blog of detailed DIY. There are tons of those. But I got my my "TIPS".  I have a bad back. Don't ask. So I try to do as many tasks as possible without bending over (what a joke that is) including my projects. I like things to be simple, easy and fast.  And I hate clean-up. Remember this: You do not have to get your "redo" done all at once. I never do. 

smallish piece of plywood on top of thingies

Last weekend it stopped raining for about two minutes. I really wanted to get something done so I whipped out my two LIGHTWEIGHT adjustable sawhorse thingies I got at HD and set them up outside (3 minutes). Then I threw a fairly small piece of plywood on top (1.5 minutes cause I had to get it out of the garage)

note spray can lids at corners

Next I grabbed 4 lids from my spray paint collection and plopped the door (a piece of a project) on top. It is easy to paint/spray if the piece is raised a bit. (1.5 minutes cause the cans were right there)

note detachable spray handle

Then I primed the door with the best primer ever: Zinnsar cover stain b/c it covers well, does not scratch off AND you can use WATER based top coats. (2.5 minutes which includes shaking can for one minute). Then I sprayed a second door (1.5 minutes)

Then I took both doors inside to dry. The backs had NOT been painted yet so I plopped one right down on top of my books on the table (15 minutes including dry time since I made coffee). I repeated the spray painting on the backs and dried again. Darn, it started to rain and so I folded up the sawhorse thingies (45 seconds)

adjustable sawhorse thingy folded up. (These hold alot of weight, like 200 pounds. You can use them for the base of a table, a bar, anything!

I luv those small sample paints from HD. They are a full EIGHT oz of paint for like nothing

An hour later (geez I had to eat and watch some march madness) I threw an old towel over this credenza type thing (part of the project), set up the lids, laid the door on top and gave it a coat of paint (6 minutes). Now I could have set up the sawhorse thingies inside but why go to the trouble when the credenza was right there.

you can use tape or a paperclip to close the baggie

The paint had to dry/cure for at least 30 minutes so (and here is the best part)..I wrapped the brush in a baggie and secured it with a binder clip (NO CLEANING). Then I got busy watching more March Madness and that was the end of the project for the day. That brush did not dry out one bit a whole day later. I then threw it in the frig because I may not get back to this project for a few days (UGH real work). The paint on that brush will still be wet five days later! The cleanup was 1.5 minutes. That's it. Uncomplicated, simple and you get a bit done until the next time you can get to it. 
Keep it simple. Eventually you will have a glamorous, cute and beautiful COMPLETED project.

College Redux/My Weekend

Come On! How cute is this Chaise?! I am so proud of the way it came out. It was an awful "mature-woman" (not "little old lady") pink and faded but had great bones, all feather cushions. From the thrift store. I helped the Pooh pick out the fabrics from a fab discount fabric store in NY and determined the application.

Showing herself off again. Love the box pleats that do not go to the floor. She's got on a short sexy skirt! (yes, I do speak to furniture)

Anyways The Pooh went off to college again last fall, is sharing a house and has her very OWN big bedroom, an unbelievable luxery for a college student. Of course she had to move her stuff in "RIGHT AWAY THIS WEEKEND MOM!" as she said on a THURSDAY. Her previously painted bookcases and desk were completely trashed from the first two years of college and desperately needed a redo.  

The chaise was the color inspiration.

Desk Finished (no before pic,  just picture an old white leather glove in the middle of the street)

 We are talking about priming, 2 coats of paint, stenciling and 2 coats of poly in THREE days on THREE pieces! 

I do not have a studio/work room so everything gets done right in the kitchen/living room/dining area in the winter. What difference does it make to have a creative mess for a few days. I love the way that slim, inexpensive rolling cart from CS fits under the desk. Note: desk drawer is gone. I was told it "broke" when desk was being moved. (probably during some party...)

 A touch of silver leaf on the applique. You got to not worry about leafing. Slap on some water based size (glue), let it tac up, slap on a piece of leaf and brush it off.