Good Questions: How To Make a Leather Covered End Table?

Hello AT,

Hello AT gang, As I slowly decorate my apartment, I've been coveting the West Elm Croc Side Table. Well, I was finally ready to make a commitment (once new couch arrived after 2+ month wait) only to discover that the table has been discontinued forever!...

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Well, truth be told the dimensions were not perfect, and I have a handyman whose actual specialty is woodwork. I wonder if I could have him build a simple wooden frame and then adhere leather covering myself? Can't find any how-to's online and wonder if anyone has some experience or tips!

Um, I'm not super handy but can come through in a pinch :)

Thanks, Kemi

Anyone??

Comments (13)

This looked similar to this series at IKEA. This may be a cheap way for you to test your skills an d it comes in a few sizes (side and coffee table)

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40104270

I would consider a textured wallpaper to cover it.

Another idea - scrapbooking paper. I'm not sure about the seams, but again a cheap way to attempt this (under $1.50/pg)

Adhere the leather covering with rubber cement to the base you buy or have built. You have to be really careful to line everything up. I suggest you get an oversized piece of leather, or other material, do a trial run to get the the spot that needs to be on top correct and make rough cuts with lots of extra left, mark the leather top with chalk or something similar, apply rubber cement to both the back of the leather and to the table, put wax paper between the table top and leather, have other people hold the sides up, line it up and pull out the wax paper. Now you can use a roller to get good contact. next do the larger sides one at a time. If you plan it right, most of the seems will be on the bottom/inside, except the diagonals on the side corners.

Of course you could ask the handyman guy to do this step as well. He may have done something similar before.

I doubt very much you will be able to beat West Elm pricing on something like this even when done DIY. And if the leather is not really taut around the edges it is going to look funny. My suggestion would be to hit eBay.

The problem with DIY to save money is that it usually takes more than one try to get a satisfactory result. All the time, energy, and supplies necessary to replicate a mass produced value priced item like a West Elm side table will quickly exceed the value of just finding a suitable substitute or hiring someone to do it right. Unless you've just always wanted to learn how to upholster tables, find a good upholsterer to do it right.

That said, the Victoria Hagan collection at Target just discontinued a similar item. I checked and it is no longer listed on the website. You might want to check your local Target to see if they have it on clearance. It came in 2 colors (cream and brown) and 2 sizes. You also might want to call different West Elm stores around the country and see if any of them have a few left on the floor. Also, check Overstock.com and smartbargains.com. This style of table is definitely a trend item - it may take some looking, but you should eventually be able to find a reasonably priced version.

Fendi offers a lovely one it lots of leathers ..

thanks a bunch for all the tips and comments! kemi

Just checked out the kare designs e-shop again and it's for retailers only but perhaps you could contact them to see if you have a retailer in your area.

West Elm still sells the leather (but not croc) one.

And I think gttim means contact cement, not rubber cement.

Boomer--

LEss than DWR, perhaps. Less than West Elm, doubt it.

Oh theres a great shop in NY that sells leather hides - I'll look in my notebook tonigh and find the address for you - as I remember they do everything right down to little frog skins!

The original designer guys on HGTV once made an umbrella stand by covering an existing plain stand with mock crocodile leather. I believe Steven used a staple gun. It was very simple and looked fantastic.

I think you can easily recreate this stable by buying an existing table and covering it or simply building one to your specific dimiensions and covering it with mock crock leather with a staple gun. Years ago I used to work in a leather store and they usuall keep scraps around you can have for free - though I don't know they would be the right size.

Found it! - Leather Impact, 256 West 38th street @ 7th Ave - any kind of animal skin in any kind of finish you want!

Please don't use scrapbook paper (it will look like scrapbook paper...cheap) or rubber cement (that stuff doesn't age well..acid).

If you don't want the use faux leather you can try a large reptile looking paper like this

http://www.papermojo.com/Precious-Leathers-Embossed-Paper_c_806.html

Much much much better quality and look than scrapbook paper but easier to work with than fabric leathers. Just make sure you use an acid free glue with it.