Look! Orla Kiely Laundry Bag Upholstery!

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A reader sent in this fabulous DIY just moments ago — too late for an official entry in the February Jumpstart Project, but we felt it was definitely worth sharing with everyone: Hiya! I love Apartment Therapy and I check it out every single day, so I figured I could make a little contribution. I live in Miami and unfortunately, I don't know many people who have a fascination with design, fabrics, colors, textures, and modern furniture (except my girlfriend). Well, long story short, I bought an Orla Kiely laundry bag from Target, took it apart and used the fabric to re-uplholster an old footstool I had lying around (purchased on eBay). By the way, it's my first upholstery job, hope to hear some good feedback.

Thanks for sharing, Julio!

What a great way to use the Orla Kiely laundry bag fabric — and the nylon fabric should be easy to keep clean.

Comments (23)

That's a great use of $6.99! But I'm confused... the website says the bag is made of canvas, but you say it's made of nylon? Is there a such thing as "nylon canvas?"

posted by hejiranyc on February 27th 2009 at 4:08pm
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love it! hmm...i'm feeling inspired!

posted by razel on February 27th 2009 at 4:15pm
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hejiranyc - i have one of these bags...it is definitely a coated canvas of sorts.

posted by Aaron on February 27th 2009 at 4:17pm
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It looks very nice. But I think it would look a little more polished (less mushroom-y) it you had retained the tailored shape with the welting around the edges.

posted by jyw on February 27th 2009 at 4:25pm
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I had this thought before I put it back. I'm holding out for a tablecloth to turn into something bigger!

Great redo, though!

posted by racheloncegentry on February 27th 2009 at 4:25pm
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That is adorable! how did you change the chape of it. I like the "after" shape better then "before".

posted by pkswede on February 27th 2009 at 4:29pm
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love it! great job!

posted by jazzberry on February 27th 2009 at 4:41pm
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great job and so simple! love it.

posted by dennisd on February 27th 2009 at 4:53pm
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Hi guys! First of all, i'm really excited to see my little footstool up in apartmenttherapy :) Thank you all for the kind words! As for the shape of the stool, I actually wanted to keep the original shape but due to lack of funds, I could only find a certain type of batting which prevented me from having that more polished less mushroom-y shape. But the more you see this mushroom shape, the more I like it...besides, it's not the shape of it but fabric that makes me happy inside :) Oh and pkswede, it's just a matter of pulling the fabric tight enough to get that roundness but not distorting the patterns.

posted by Nuder on February 27th 2009 at 4:59pm
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Looks great! I'm loving the headboard. Where is it from?

posted by shofner on February 27th 2009 at 5:05pm
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i think a "mushroom" shape is very appropriate for Orla's patterns!

posted by Aaron on February 27th 2009 at 5:10pm
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It's cute.

You could make one very simply without using a vintage stool by getting a pre-cut plywood round and some retro legs from your local Ace Hardware Store, some upholstery foam and batting and your choice of fabric...

posted by bepsf on February 27th 2009 at 5:15pm
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super cute! i have a vintage stool very similar to this but i don't want to completely redo it..good idea bepsf :)

posted by animalhouze on February 27th 2009 at 6:58pm
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Hey Shofner, thanks for the headboard comment. I actually made it myself with just a simple metal frame and pine wood boards...i actually borrowed the design of the headboard from ohiodesign.

posted by Nuder on February 27th 2009 at 7:13pm
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i think the mushroom shape works with the fabric - cute!

posted by sunan on February 27th 2009 at 8:08pm
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Your stool is darling, the upholstery job is excellent, especially for a first project. You may get hooked on reupholstering and then you'll be buying vintage clothes, sheets on clearance and anything else with an interesting design to tear up and re-attach. Just think about upholstering a wall with graphic sheets.
Way to go!

posted by ModHomeEcTeacher on February 27th 2009 at 9:17pm
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aw so cute! it pairs well with your bedding as well.

good job!

posted by baryl5555 on February 27th 2009 at 11:45pm
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Very cute! I like it. And I LOVE your bedding.

posted by BambiJo on February 28th 2009 at 11:41am
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Thanks for the comments guys! Yeah i'm totally hooked on upholstering, now i'm looking at everything around me to see what else can be redone.
It does seem to go well with the bedding, not intentional at all. My girlfriend gave me the bedding, it's from urbanoutfitters.

posted by Nuder on February 28th 2009 at 1:46pm
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That is fricken fantastic!

posted by Honey on March 1st 2009 at 10:38am
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Oh and I am going to steal it for my porch chairs! So glad I bought that bag ;)!

posted by Honey on March 1st 2009 at 10:41am
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Love, love love!

posted by KRocker on March 2nd 2009 at 4:27pm
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i saw the tablecloth at Target this weekend... it might look nice stretched on a canvas

posted by sunan on March 2nd 2009 at 8:11pm
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