apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

oh....i was hoping the ikat was the after!

It is funny. I got that exact chair for 10 dollars in great shape and was thinking about putting a modern fabric on it. That looks great!

I really liked the "before" until I saw the "after". It's really fresh and pretty.

Um... maybe this is intentional, but the arms are still ikat! I do like the after, where is the fabric from?

Before = hideous. After = poorly done hideous. Sorry...

i like before!

My thought process while viewing this:

Before- Hmm, it's an ugly chair.

After- Hmm, it's an ugly chair.

I think it looks better after, though perhaps not my first choice in fabric. Redo the bottom cushion with piping (like original) and it will look a lot more finished (it's super easy if you have a zipper foot for your sewing machine).

It's not my style (largely because I'm neither a woman nor Carson Kressley), and the arm pads need to be changed along with the rest of the fabric, but I think it's a nice, classy job. Very retro glam, especially if you team it with some mirrored or acrylic furniture.

Good job on the upholstery, but I liked the before fabric better.

I think that you did a great job for your first time upholstering a piece of furniture...I've always wanted to and never had the courage-kudos to you...I think the fabric is fun-don't listen to da haters :)

Nah, the after is definitely better. Great job!

Wonderful job. Fun fabric choice. Did you do anything to the wood finish? It looks good.

I like it! It's kind of tongue-in-cheek..

I don't think you can call the original "ikat". That is just 1980's flame stitch. Great job reinventing the chair!

You did a wonderful job.

Very interesting choice of fabric...
...I think given the theme, I'd have spraypainted the frame silver before reupholstering, and used a solid color fabric such as a grey or pink crushed velvet on the outside body of the chair.

Looking forward to seeing the finished result.

Boy, I have to say I prefer the "before." If anything, I'd just paint the wood portion a contrasting color. The new fabric throws into it kitsch territory. The "before" fabric reminds me of Kelly Wearstler's current fabric line.

with all the beautiful fabrics why..well at least you made it better just not digging that fabric.

very impressive. I love the diamond print.

Bad idea. Does anyone recognize or appreciate details? What happened to the piping? Sorry Courtney. This is a case of bad taste from 5 years ago when this was a teenybopper furniture fantasy in an urban outfitters. Think about this: What does a cheep print say in comparison to a woven yarn dye? Blunt but TRUE!

For an impulse project, this was very well done

Thanks God the wood isn´t painted white!

before=ugly grandma time. after=super fab hot stuff time.

Man, there are some negative nancies out there! Well done. I'm impressed with your hard work.

I love the after! The before is a yucky 1080's flame stitch pattern and it gives me the heebie jeebies. Good job, but I would recommend you re-do the cushion with piping for that total pro look.

Ikat? I though it was flame stitch. I'm not a fan of flame stitch, but I like the after alot. My only issue is the arms. I hope they're going to get the same treatment.
Banish all the haters. Great job!

I love it. Great job! I can't believe all these negative comments. Didn't your mother ever tell you people that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all?

Wow, tough crowd. I think the after is definitely an improvement. Kudos on tackling the job yourself--I'm always too scared to attempt something that large and difficult. I like the fact that you left the frame a little worn and beat up.

Coming in on the I love it! side. I ususally don't like the "afters" but I think you did a great job matching a paint color with a fabric...it's whimsical and looks great.

I do agree with the piping comments, though...

Where is that diamond fabric from, I really like it. I think you did a great job and thank god you didn't paint it silver or white as others have suggested.

Pink diamonds. Really?

Why are people hating on the diamonds? I love the tongue-in-cheek take on those ridiculous sweatshirts the gangster boys wear. Even if that's not the goal, that's how I think of it and I enjoy it. I'd really like some of the fabric to make cushions out of, I think it's hilarious. And she's a girl, so what if it's girly? Finishing the seams and arms would be ideal, but I would skip painting it- right now the original wood makes the joke a little subtler, I think painted it would be a little over the top unless you went with black... and besides, painting after you've already re-upholstered sucks!

Re: ikat, sorry... obviously it's not the real thing. I didn't even know there was an actual name for what I've always thought of as the "horrible-fake-ikat-80's-stuff"... thanks AT!

Not really a fan of the after fabric, but as long as you love it...

i like it. i think the after fabric is really fun. you did a great job for your first time!

I don't believe you can recover a chair in an hour. In fact, it takes longer than that to get the original fabric off.

Sorry! That said, it's ambitious and to be applauded. And I, too, like the after fabric better...newer, brighter, less predictable. Phooey on the naysayers.

The fabric is IKEA.

Kudos for the nice job. Piping would've looked great, but honestly it is a good job for a first at-home furniture covering!

wow, definitely a great job, particularly for a first time!

(it is always amazing how some people - love the label "negative nancies" :-D - confuse their own taste and opinion with absolute truth. it is incredibly rude, i think.)

I LOOOOOOVE the fabric! Where's it from?
I don't like the wood frame treatment, looks too shabby chic.

The chair was hideous before.

Wow, I think some of us are on the wrong site. Doesn't this site support creativity and risk taking?
Good job on changing the chair!!!
It is fresh and unexpected.

Forget the haters, you did a great job - honest (especially for a spur of the moment reupholstery project). Love the fun print on a serious chair frame. Very sassy. If you have time and spare fabric, take care of the arm rests. They look like they're still sporting that godawful flame/ikat crap.

Have you considered adding subtle pink accents to the room since changing the chair's look?

sort of makes me hestitate to post up any of my creations.

the fabric is not my taste, but the job is great (save for the lack of piping).

is there no room for people to appreciate work outside their own comfort zone?

Haha, I think this chair is great. It's silly and girly, and makes me smile.

It seems some people take their home decor a touch too seriously. . .

Well done!

I love the look of the linen texture, and piping and finishing the arms would definitely improve it. While I don't personally dig the diamonds, I'm surprised anyone is in favor of that cheesy flame stitch. It looks sad and outdated.

I think it looks awesome! You should be proud of the job you did and the fact that you can sew...a talent that I sadly lack.

It's a beautiful chair and you really spruced it up!