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Table to Turkey: Everything you need to host a beautiful Thanksgiving

Design by Sarah Richardson, Photograph by Stacey Brandford

We all know where to find Christmas decorations – even in August you can walk through Costco and find a large selection of Christmas fare.  And more and more an abundance of Halloween decorations are readily available. But it’s a little bit tougher to find Thanksgiving or general autumn decor.  So I suggested to the other UsedEverywhere bloggers that I was going to try and “shop” for a perfectly decorated Thanksgiving dinner on UsedRegina. We joked that we could find everything from the dining table to the turkey.  Except maybe the turkey. Or could I find a turkey? Hmmm…

Inspired by the picture above I started with the dishes. I love the toile look of these brown dishes:

Beautiful brown dish set for $250 on UsedRegina

Brown transferware is just so rustic, pastoral, and Thanksgiving-y, don’t you think?

Photo from A Country Farmhouse

And to balance out the highly detailed look of the brown dishes I’d mix it in with some solid white dishes too:

A complete dish set from UsedRegina

And like the inspiration picture I found some pretty crystal stemware:

(My parents used to let us use stemmed glasses for special meals like Thanksgiving dinner when we were kids, and I loved that tradition!)

Now what to put all these beautiful dishes on?  Some great dining room furniture, of course.  I love this big, curvy set!

Dining room furniture from UsedRegina

And some extra chairs are probably in order with all of the houseguests.

6 extra chairs for $75 on UsedRegina

I’d pick up this pretty set and paint all of the chairs from both sets in a dark espresso brown  or black and recover the seats in a pretty fabric.

Design by Robin Mayer, photography by Jon Wayne Kishimoto for Country Living

I think I’d leave the hutch off of the sideboard, mount a pretty mirror above it, and layer in an autumnal wreath.

Design by Nancy Soriano, photography by Steven Randazzo for Country Living

This mirror would be perfect:

Antique mirror for $10 on UsedRegina

from Martha Stewart Living

I love the look of a gold-framed mirror!  And just like this picture I’d include some pretty brass candlesticks on the buffet:

Brass candlesticks for $5 on UsedRegina

And perhaps some stacked firewood too, just like in the picture above:

Firewood for sale on UsedRegina

Another easy way to make a big decor impact is to display a large branch full of fall foliage, like in the pictures below

Home of Tom Johnson featured in Martha Stewart Living

Design by Michael Penney, Photography by Janet Kimber for Canadian House & Home

To do this I’d pick up some pretty old vases and bottles to place the branches in:

An assortment of antique bottles on UsedRegina

And an easy way to make your home look cozy and seasonal is to display beautiful quilts or wool blankets.

Photography by Robin Stubbert for Country Living

And no blanket is quite as iconic or chic these days as the Hudson Bay blanket!

Design by Calvert Wright, photography by Roger Davies for Elle Decor

So I’d definitely pick up this 4-stripe beauty!

Some classic Canadiana for $140 on UsedRegina

And I’ve always loved this idea of votive candles floating in apples in a tub,

from Martha Stewart Living

And this tub would be perfect for this such a display outside the front door!

Wicker lined metal tub on UsedRegina

For an easy but pretty table centrepiece (or mantel decor) I could collect some leaves, wrap them around candles, and place them in some cylindrical vases, like the picture here:

from Martha Stewart Living

Here are the vases:

Vases for $2 each on UsedRegina

The candles:

Box of slightly used candles for $5 on UsedRegina

And some leaves, in case you can’t gather your own:

Leaf garland from an autumn wedding on UsedRegina

The leaf garland is also being sold with a number of tall tea light lanterns, which I could swap out for the vases, too.

And sure enough I sought, and I found.  I can buy a turkey on UsedRegina!  (This is Saskatchewan afterall.)

Chickens, Ducks, and Turkeys for sale on UsedRegina

So, there you have it.  A beautiful Thanksgiving from table to turkey!

UsedEverywhere Art Round-up

Art is intensely personal. I’d venture to say that with some people it could spark as as lively a discussion as politics or religion. We all like and appreciate different things. Our styles, tastes, experiences… they all bring us to a different place in defining what “art” is to us.  And that’s part of why art in your home is so important. The art you feature not only finishes a room, or fills an empty wall, it can speak a lot about your personality, tell a story, or create discussion. Some people may want their art to seamlessly blend with their surroundings for a beautiful, calm, look. Others may want that “statement piece”, intended to provoke conversation or even controversy. Either way, we should all have art in our homes.

Design by Thomas Smythe, photograph by Michael Graydon, via Habitually Chic Blog

This weekend I’ve got a round up of art I’ve found on UsedEverywhere. Have you ever considered purchasing art from your local Used site?  There are so many reasons why you should: to support local artists, to snag a bargain, to find something unique or vintage, or to give old art a second life…

So, first up: How lovely is this pastel painting from UsedVancouver by Quebec artist Gilles Mailloux? And at $150 for a framed 22″x27″ piece, that’s pretty lovely too.

This next one is not cheap (yours for only $2500 bones), but I love it.  And graphic black and white art is reeeally hip these days.  (Am I not hip for using the term “hip”? Hmmm…)

Another trendy item to add to your art collection is a quirky portrait – maybe someone you know, or maybe some interesting unknown visage that you can imagine your own story for!

Design by Joel Bray, photograph by John Cullen for Canadian House & Home

Like perhaps this saucy gypsy lady on UsedGatineau for $50:

Or if you prefer to know the story behind the people on your wall you could get this great portrait of the royal family.

Isn’t it sweet?  (Anyone else LOVE “The King’s Speech”?) It could look great in a new frame in an eclectic art arrangement, or alone on a small wall above an occasional chair.  But I want to buy it.  So if you’re thinking about it, you’d better move quickly.  (And if I get it first you could buy this one.)

This beautiful painting of poppies in Nepean, Ontarioreminds me of the one in this picture that looks so lovely in the arrangement:

Design by Amanda Johnson for "Here's Looking at Me Kid" Blog

A perfect piece of art to pick up before Remembrance Day, perhaps?

And speaking of Remembrance Day, I am a bit of a World War buff, love black and white photography, and think this old photograph of the Canadians on D-Day would be amazing to own:

I also love the look of collections of old oil paintings presented in a modern or eclectic way:

Design by Holly Becker and Joanna Copestick, photograph by Debi Treloar, via Style at Home

Some landscapes or a  floral still life like one of these would be perfect for such an arrangement:

"Coast of Oregon" by Robert Harrison

I’m also really into architectural art,

Moutarde Design, photograph by Jean Longpre for House & Home

so I really like this great engraving of the Paris Stock Exchange.

Another trend in art is using vintage maps.

Design by Steven Shailer, image from Elle Decor

They can be both subdued on your wall, and tell a neat story.  This one on UsedWinnipeg is gorgeous:

And if these are legit (I’d probably get an expert to check them out before purchasing for that price) I would love me some Group of Seven prints.

And I’d likely reframe this piece in something simpler – a black frame with a wide white mat – because the painting itself is so bright and dynamic and bold.

So those are just a few of the many beautiful things I found in my search. They may or may not be your cup of tea, but there was plenty of art out there that I passed over that might look perfect in your home. Go check it out! (Don’t forget to also look for alternative art: stained glass windows, vintage plates, or collections like Andrea’s beautiful antique keys!)

And if you want a bit more art inspiration you can check out my Pinterest board.  Happy weekend!

Finding Fabric Online

I am often asked where I buy fabric for my various home projects (reupholstering chairs, sewing drapes, pillow covers, or slipcovers, etc.).  So here I’ve compiled a list of my go-to sources.  Buying online opens up so many more options (especially for us in Regina who really only have a small handful of fabric shopping options), and sometimes you can get some really great deals.  I’m only including the stores that sell decor weight fabrics, so if you’re looking for quilting cottons (a lighter weight fabric) you could search online for some other good stores!

Some fabrics on my wish list from Fabric.com

If you’re hesitant about ordering online because you’re unable to touch the fabric, or see it with your own eyes, do not give up on online fabric shopping yet!  Most of these stores offer samples, so you can order those before committing to buying yards of a fabric, which is nice. (And I’ve outlined how these stores do that below.)

One thing to watch for when ordering online is shipping.  If you’re ordering from an American store shipping can be hefty, plus you should know if duty/taxes is included in that.  It may depend on how much you’re ordering, how good a deal you have, or how much you love the fabric to know if it’s worth it to order internationally.  If you’re ever unsure of the shipping, save your order and e-mail customer service to get a thorough quote.

Want some of these great fabrics from Tonic Living? Be sure to search for a discount code first!

One more hint for you – before you place an order do a Google search for coupons or discount codes.  Sometimes you can get an extra 10-20% off, which just might cover your shipping.

So here you go…

CANADIAN STORES:

Designer Fabrics Online - This is a fairly high end store out of Toronto.  They sell a large variety of upholstery weight and decor fabrics.  With DF you can borrow samples for free (up to eight samples) and pay the $6 shipping, then return your samples within three weeks.  I like this process so that you don’t have to pay for samples, but you can still look at and feel the fabrics in person.  There is a large selection with a wide variance in prices, so if the first fabric you see is $72/yard, don’t despair!  There is a lot of variety.  Because shipping is within Canada it is reasonable.  Customer service has always been very efficient any time I’ve ordered from this store.

A few favourite fabrics from Designer Fabrics Online

Tonic Living - This is one of my favourite stores.  They sell mostly upholstery weight fabrics and have a really trendy, cute selection.  You can order samples, which you pay a small price for and keep.  (And they’re pretty generous with the sample sizes, which is nice when a fabric has a larger print!)  The Toronto-based store is fairly small (though getting bigger), and the selection is small-ish, but lovely.  Shipping rates are good within Canada.  ALSO, they offer a service where you can order custom drapes, roman shades or pillows from their fabrics if you’re not so into the DIY thing.  And always search for discount codes before shopping here, because you can almost always get 5-10% off your order.

Pretty, fresh fabrics from Tonic Living

AMERICAN STORES:

Purl Soho - This is where my love of fabric and ordering it online all began for me.  This gorgeous little store out of NYC is lovingly run, and full of unique and quirky fabrics (both lightweight cottons and some decor weight), as well as yarns, sewing notions, patterns, sewing books, etc.  They have wonderful customer service.  Prices range from average to high.  Watch their sales, though… you can find some gems!

A selection of fabrics from Purl Soho

Fabric.com - If you’re looking for deals, you can find some here – particularly on upholstery weight fabrics.  This discount store is LARGE and so is the selection.  It can feel like it’s a bit of work to wade through it all, sometimes.  They offer upholstery fabric, quilting cottons, apparel fabrics, sewing notions, and various other craft supplies.  There is a wide variety in fabric quality as well, so it pays to know which brands are always good (like Duralee, Amy Butler, Waverly, Robert Allen, Richloom, etc.), and which ones you might want to order a sample from first (any one you’ve never heard of).  Shipping is usually ridiculously fast (sometimes mere days), but depending on how much you’re ordering the cost of shipping may outweigh the discounts on your fabric once you’ve factored in duty/taxes/international rates.  (Order with a friend, if you can!)  They also have a design board feature where you can save your fabrics and look at them together, which is neat.  Always search for online coupons before you order because they almost always have some discount code offered.

Some gorgeous patterns available from Fabric.com

So those are my sources.  Do you have any online spots you order fabric from?  Any hints for fabric buying?  Do share!

Brass is Back

How many 1980's trends can you find in this recently designed room by Sarah Richardson?

Everything old is new again.  And that’s good for thrifty design junkies.

In interior design the 1980′s are back.  Eep.  It sounds bad.  And sometimes it is.  But it doesn’t mean your home needs to look like an episode of Miami Vice or Dallas. Or 90% of doctor’s offices.  At least I hope it doesn’t!

However, think of the return of these 80′s trends in the past few years: grey is the go-to neutral.  But not the cool dull greys of the 80′s, rather a warmer more dynamic grey.  Wallpaper’s been back for a while now, but in modern graphic patterns – no fruit bowls, ivy borders, or horses, please.  Patterns in textiles are recalling the trends of wide stripes, big florals, paisleys, navajo-inspired patterns… all popular in the 1980′s.  And peach and mint green are back – they’re just calling themselves “coral” and “turquoise” these days.

The key to using these 80′s revivals is to not use them the same way you did in 1984 (well, I didn’t use any design rules back then.  I was busy being born and stuff.)  Instead of everything being match-matchy use elements of these trends in a more modern and eclectic way.

Design by Lauren Gold, from Lonny Magazine ...Notice the southwest patterned pillow? Brass coffee table? Cheetah-print bench? Eeeightieees...

One trend I’m liking is the return of warm metal tones after years of brushed nickel.  Gold, copper, bronze, and brass are all big.

Design by Emily Henderson

In the 80′s you may have installed gold bathroom faucets.  Don’t do that.  But do bring in these warm metal tones in changeable accessories like lamps, picture frames, candlesticks… or side tables!

Design by Angie Hranowsky in Lonny Magazine

I’m on a mission to do just this.  I want to find old brass side tables on UsedRegina to add to our living room.  They still need be solid and well designed.  And whether they stay brass or not will depend on the finish (I want brass that has a depth of colour and patina – not too shiny or yellowy).

So in my search for 80′s brass side tables I collected a round up of some of the great brass finds on UsedRegina:

My first find is perfect for a game I call “Awesome or Awful”.  Quick.  Grab a friend, spouse, or roommate.  Now show them this picture.  What do you think these tables are, Awful or Awesome?  Does your partner agree?

Marble and brass side tables for $80 on UsedRegina.

Well, I vote awesome.  Unfortunately my husband votes awful.  The intricate brass bases and marble tops may be a bit over-the-top for some, but I think they’re great!  (AND they’d fit in our living room.  Boo.  Shouldn’t have let him vote…)

A classic, the brass bed never goes out of style.  I can usually find a variety on UsedRegina. This one is particularly great with its clean lines and cannonball finials.

A classic brass bed for $250 on UsedRegina

And brass candlesticks are a great way to bring warm metal tones into your decorating without any long term commitment.  Not to mention they’re perfect for Christmas!

An assortment of brass candleholders for only $5!

I’m trying to think where I might need a floor lamp in my house, because updating the lampshade on this great swivel-arm lamp would look fabulous!

All this $10 brass floor lamp needs is a new shade.

(That’s another returning 80′s trend, actually: tapered lamp shades.  But not pleated teal lampshades.  Sorry 80′s, you can keep this one.)

Here’s another round of “Awesome or Awful”:

A circular brass coffee table for $75 on UsedRegina... Awesome or awful?

That’s right.  I vote “awesome”.  My husband doesn’t get a vote this time.  However to keep this table current it’ll need to be surrounded by more contemporary design.  Say good by to the pink carpet, brass, you’re not allowed to be together anymore.

What trends are you seeing for the second (or third) time around?  Which ones are you happy to see return, and which ones should go back in the time capsule?  Anyone out there have some awesome brass side tables hiding in your basement for me?

Get the Look – Sarah Richardson's Farmhouse Bedroom

Do you ever watch HGTV, or thumb through design magazines and grow depressed at what designers call “great deals”?  Even in many “Get the look for less” articles the low end items can be out of my budget.  But I don’t despair, because I know that with some creativity, a bit of elbow grease, and some patient thriftiness you can often get those looks for even less than “less”.  Let’s take this lovely bedroom, designed by the talented and much-loved Sarah Richardson along with her good friend Thomas Smythe.  It was featured on her show, the eponymous “Sarah’s House” season 3 on HGTV Canada:

Master bedroom from "Sarah's House 3"

I love this room – it’s vibrant, pattern-filled, cozy, and quirky.  But Sarah’s budget and my budget are not really on the same planet, and chances are you may feel the same way.

So let’s surf UsedEverywhere to find some of these elements to create our own cheerful farmhouse bedroom, shall we?

Let’s start from the ground up and search for a Persian rug. How about this one on UsedRegina for $50?  Yes please.

Persian rug on Used Regina for $50

This bed isn’t exactly the same, but it’s gorgeous, has a similar four-poster feel and it’s a lot less than the 3 grand Sarah dropped on her antique bed:

A queen size brass four poster bed on UsedRegina for $650

And this chandelier may be a bit smaller in scale, but that’s probably a good thing if you don’t have the same soaring ceilings.  (If you do, hang the chandelier a bit closer and lower over the bed, or hang it over a different area, like over the pair of chairs.)

A great chandelier selling for $25 on UsedRegina

Design by Sarah Richardson

And if you have the room, you could easily install an electric fireplace for a quick dose of character.  Electric fireplaces have come a long way since the tissue paper and fan fireplace we had when I was a kid.  For starters, how about this mantel for $30?  You could buy a firebox, or just fill it full of candles or firewood.

$30 Fireplace Mantel on UsedRegina

And some brass candlesticks for the mantel, just like in the inspiration picture:

Brass candle holders on UsedRegina for $5

Did you notice that interesting woodbox for holding firewood?  You could replicate the look by painting this plant stand in orange or another kicky colour, and storing logs in it.

An antique plant stand on UsedRegina for $50

Design by Sarah Richardson

In my humble opinion I find the side tables a little too midcentury modern for the room, but you could acheive a similar open look with a couple of side tables like these:

Antique demi-lune table for $50 on UsedRegina

A curvy old oak side table on UsedRegina for $90

And this phone is black, but just as charming as the one atop the side table… and it works!

$80 Antique phone on UsedRegina

And for bedside light you can look for some shapely lamps that can be spray painted in any colour you like, similar to the orange ones seen in the inspiration picture.  (Or, if you find a pair of vases you like, you could follow my lamp DIY and convert a vase into a table lamp!)

Bedside lamps for $10 each on UsedRegina

Design by Sarah Richardson

This wooden dresser is perfect, and just needs some new hardware.  (You could add white knobs like the dresser in the inspiration picture)

Antique dresser on UsedRegina for $125

And a simple mirror, a pretty little tea set, and a crystal lamp should be easy enough to find on UsedEverywhere or a thrift store.

Design by Sarah Richardson

This pair of wingback chairs on UsedRegina may not fit with the room yet – but they’re FREE, so why not buy some of this colourful floral fabric

"Wonderland" fabric from Designer Fabrics Online

and have them reupholstered or slipcovered?

Can't argue with free chairs on UsedRegina

And how about this great vintage lamp for $25

1950's brass lamp for $25 on UsedRegina

perched atop one of these tables

Two round side tables for $10 on UsedRegina

between the chairs to recreate the look of the seating area in Sarah’s room?

And a key part of the charming farmhouse aesthetic are the framed vintage botanical prints.  These ones are available on UsedRegina for as low as $10.

One of a selection of beautiful old botanical prints on UsedRegina

They’re the perfect finishing touch to your sunny farmhouse bedroom.

And there you have it!  If you have a room you’d like to challenge me with, leave a link to it in the comments section!

Rustic Appeal

It’s deep winter and I’m craving all things cozy: warm drinks spiced with cinnamon or nutmeg, fuzzy mittens and knit scarves, and glowing candles in the cool dark evenings. And my design aesthetic shifts too. Summer’s bright whites and breezy linens won’t be a reality for a long time, and instead I want to surround myself in rich velvet or heavy wool. It’s like I want to retreat to a rustic cabin in the woods. Can you picture it?  Rough hewn beams, worn hardwood floors, knicked up old wooden furniture …

Weathered wood is definitely in style right now. I think there may be two reasons for this. One, we don’t want our homes to look so straight-out-of-the-box brand new; we want them to have character, patina, and a collected look. And second, more and more people are considering the environment in their design and re-using wood fits right in with the “Three R’s” mindset.

Here are some examples of reused wood in some beautiful interiors:

Design by Claire Archambault, Photograph by Monic Richard for Maison & Demeure

Wooden ceiling by Restoration Timber featured on Remodelista

Another ceiling clad with old barn wood. Design by Sarah Richardson and Thomas Smythe. Photograph by Stacey Brandford.

Design by Kevin and Layla Palmer from The Lettered Cottage

Reader room featured on Design*Sponge

Stairs designed from old wood by Jan Korbes, featured on Apartment Therapy

Painted barn boards. Photograph from Better Homes & Gardens

Design by Kriste Michelini Interiors, photograph by Lisa Duncan for Elle Decor

Design by Christie Hansen, architecture by Pearson Design, photograph by Virginia MacDonald for Canadian House & Home

As you can see, the material is really versatile – used on ceilings, floors, or walls; used for tabletops, staircases, headboards, or doors.  It’s used by high-end designers and every day handy DIY’ers. It fits in a pretty cottage, a funky vintage bungalow, a grand country house, or a clean modern condo.

So why not search your back yard, or UsedEverywhere, for wooden boards from old barns, sheds, floors, doors, palettes, boxes, fences… and add some old charm to your home?  I found this listing on UsedRegina offering old barn wood!

Old barn wood and windows for sale on UsedRegina

And if you do a project like this (or have already done one) please share it with us here at UsedEverywhere!

7 things I learned this year about DIY reupholstery

It’s that time of year when, formally or informally, many of us begin to assess life and think about our goals for the year ahead.  Last year I had only one goal on my New Year’s resolution list: have a baby.  And if you’ve had a baby before you know that’s about all you can really expect of yourself.  Anything achieved beyond that is a bonus!  So I’m pretty happy to look back and see some of the stuff I achieved this past year, even while taking care of my little ones – including beginning the adventure of DIY reupholstery.  Through this process I’ve learned a lot and gained some awesome new furniture for my home at a reasonable price.  Here are a few tips for you, if you think you might give it a whirl…

Designer Kimberley Renner. Photograph from Martha Stewart Living. Here's an example of how great a wingback chair can look. Unfortunately mine is far from finished...

 1. Start small.  My first project was (still is) a wingback chair.  I affectionately call it “the beast” – it’s large, curvy, and no simple task.  It’s taken a lot of creative problem solving, redoing things, letting go of my dreams of perfection, and it’s still not done.  Boo.  However over the past year of working on this chair I’ve completed three other chairs and a couch.  I just picked the wrong project to start with.  If you’re really timid, try a small bench or a dining chair with an upholstered seat.  Get used to thinking through an upholstery project and build up to the bigger pieces.

A dining chair makeover by designer Eddie Ross

2. Start cheap.  This is where UsedEverywhere comes in.  Buy a cheeeeap chair.  My wingback chair was $10, so it would probably be OK if I abandoned it.  Or destroyed it.  Or decided to pay an upholsterer to do it right.  (I considered all of these things, but I’m too stubborn to give in.)

Designer Ashley Wick, photograph from Lonny Magazine. When starting out on a bigger project, use solid colours instead of printed fabrics so that you don't need to worry about lining patterns up or keeping them straight.

3. Start clean and solid.  I didn’t want to delve into rebuilding a frame, or re-webbing a seat, or shaping new foam, so I look for chairs that are already sturdy and relatively clean (just ugly, outdated or worn).

4. Start together.  I live in a 2 bedroom apartment with 4 people, so I don’t have a ton of space to spare.  So I was delighted when my friend Lindsey asked if I wanted to bring a chair over to her house and dedicate a room in her basement to our upholstery projects and work on them together.  Not only has the space been so valuable, the friendship has been priceless.  To pass the endless hours of staple removal over good conversation and chocolate is a great thing.  And to have someone to bounce ideas off of, to help brainstorm solutions with, and to hold that fabric in place is so helpful.

Lindsey's first completed chair - a cute vintage rocker.

5. Start inspired.  The trick to seeing an old ugly furniture piece through to its glorious finish is to have vision.  Know what you want to achieve.  You can do this by collecting inspiration pictures.  (I keep an inspiration file on Pinterest)  Surf online design magazines or blogs, saving pictures of furniture you like.  Take a camera into stores and snap pictures of furniture that you love (but wouldn’t pay that much money for!).  Sort through them and figure out what shapes and colours, and patterns you are drawn to.  For example I love classic or antique chair shapes done in modern colours and patterns.

Design by Samantha Pynn, photograph by Virginia MacDonald. Here's an example of a classic french style chair with modern colours and prints.

6. Start informed.  There are tons of bloggers out there who’ve tried their hands at reupholstery projects of all kinds.  Read up on their experiences to gauge if you’re up for a similar project, and how you might go about it.  You don’t have to follow their methods exactly, but it’s a good place to start.  Some of my favourites are Little Green Notebook and Centsational Girl - but you could do a Google search for whatever project type you’re doing (I like to include “blog” in the search title) and find many industrious, creative people’s handiwork.

I discovered when working on this chair that I find furniture that is only partially upholstered much easier to do

7. Start equipped.  As you get started it pays to have good tools.  But you don’t necessarily want to pay for good tools.  I’m super cheap, so I didn’t go out and buy anything, I just tried to use what was already in the toolbox.  As far as possible try to borrow tools for your first upholstery project.  Then if you think it’s something you’ll continue to do it’s worth investing in a couple good tools.  For example I prefer to just use a flathead screw driver and a pair of pliers to remove staples, but found upgrading to an air compressor staple gun completely worth it.  And some of the special upholstery needles out there for sewing corners or adding button tufting will make your life much easier.  So look around at what’s out there and buy things as you discover you need them.

Hopefully my experience will help you delve into a reupholstery project of your own this new year!

An Easy Holiday Centrepiece

a beautiful, but over-the-top centrepiece. Photograph by Laurey W. Glenn for Southern Living

I was watching a show the other day where the hosts and guest designer created a table centrepiece (not the one pictured above).  It was lovely – laden with lush pine boughs, enormous pine cones, long sprigs of berries, a giant silver ornament and some stars wrapped in twine for a rustic touch.  And this lovely centrepiece took up nearly the whole freakin’ table.  I thought, “Wow, what a mess.”  Unless you had no plans to do anything on that table all holiday long, it would be a terrible centrepiece.  Where would you put food?  Or dishes?

So many “festive touches” this time of year are lovely in theory, but really impractical in practice.  Especially for me with a loveable but active two-year-old running around.  So I give to you: how to build a practical and lovely holiday centrepiece.

START WITH A TRAY OR PLATTER

The idea here is to contain your centrepiece within a tray so that it is easy to move whenever needed.  It also means the pieces won’t scatter all over, or fall off your table.  What kind of tray you use will decide what style of arrangement you create.  A brighty-coloured lacquer tray could create a whimsical or modern look, or a sculptural carved wooden platter could create a rustic look.  For me, I used this pretty white ceramic tray I found at a used store.  It has a sort of pretty country look that suits my style.

My $9 Mikasa tray from Value Village

ADD SOME LIGHT

If you have no children or pets (or mature children or lazy pets) you could use any kind of candles you like.  (I tried taper candles at Thanksgiving and they were tipped over like dominos in under 5 minutes…)  For me I used candles in tall votives and in a tea light lantern because the flames are contained.  If that still makes you nervous you could buy battery-operated candles or even a string of Christmas lights.

That’s already pretty nice on it’s own, and might work for the post-holiday need for a pared-down look, but the beauty is in the layers at Christmas time, so…

ADD SOME DETAILS

For me, it’s as easy as a bunch of Christmas tree ornaments without their hooks.  I buy the plastic “non-breakable” kind from Superstore on clearance in January.  They hold up really well, but may eventually break (they weren’t intended to be used as hockey pucks, I guess).  However, if they do break they won’t be in a million tiny glass shards that threaten to devour little toes.

You could use pine cones, or branches, if you want, but I like these because they add extra sparkle and are super easy to arrange (and to clean up!)

And there you go!  A pretty, sparkly little centrepiece for your holiday table.

And if you need to use your table to have a cookie decorating assembly line, or play board games, or, you know, eat, you can easily move it out if the way in under 30 seconds.

And it's just as pretty on the sideboard!

And say it’s time for the big Christmas dinner, or you want to set out a table of appetizers for a party, you can use all the same pieces for a more elegant look.

Use any fabric you like, or a scarf, or some ribbon, or whatever, and add a table runner down the centre.  You don’t even need to sew – some fabrics look great with raw edges.  I just ironed the edges of my fabric underneath.

Fabric from Ink & Spindle

Then take all of the other pieces and spread them along the runner.  The nice thing about the random arrangement of ornaments is that they can be pushed aside to make room for platters or pitchers.

The display with pillar candles for "mature" households

Or use lanterns to keep candles away from curious fingers.

And it’s as easy as that!  Now, why don’t you start surfing your UsedEverywhere site for used trays, ornaments, or candle holders, and voila!  Your trouble-free Christmas centrepiece is done!

A Little DIY Chair Makeover for Your Weekend

Remember this post about the perfect pair of chairs I bought via UsedRegina?

Goodbye country blue velvet and pink gimp...

Well, after some hard work, some free babysitting from the grandmas, and a whole lotta’ staples, we have some snazzy “new” chairs!  Hooray!

Hello, Beautifuls

And here’s what I did…

*DISCLAIMER* I am in no way professional.  I have never taken an upholstery class.  I haven’t even read an upholstery book. (gulp.)  But I’ve upholstered 3.5 chairs and half a couch to date.  And I’ve read a lot of blogs on the matter.  So.  If you’re looking for some serious knowledge, I may be a poor source.  If you’re looking for a creative I-can-do-it-and-so-can-you tutorial, keep reading!  If you’re a real upholsterer… please leave some comments to tell us the proper way to do it!

STEP ONE: DECONSTRUCTION

An important, though tedious stage. AAAaaand you might even find old spare change.  SCORE.

Begin taking the chair apart carefully, studying how it was assembled.  Take lots of pictures as you go.  Save all the pieces for future reference.  And as you remove the fabric label each piece so that you know where it came from (“inside right”, “seat”, etc.).  For this I usually just use a Sharpie marker and write it right on the old fabric.

This process of deconstruction will mostly include removing staples.  A lot of staples.  You’re going to begin to despise staples.    You’ll go out with friends and find twisted old staples in your pockets.  Your hands will be sore and gnarled from the time spent removing staples.  You’ll begin to dream about removing staples.  OK, I’m being a bit melodramatic.  But I feel it’s only fair to warn you that this process is crummy.  And this can take a while.  So put on a good movie (or, like, every single extended-cut film in the Lord of the Rings series), and begin removing the little suckers.  For this I just used a flat head screw driver to lift them out, and a pair of pliers for back up when those dang staples got stubborn.

STEP TWO: CHOOSE YOUR FABRIC

I chose Dwell Studio's Bella Porte in Brindle from Robert Allen

For upholstery you want to make sure the fabric you choose fits the following criteria:

1. Reasonably priced.  Because you’ll need plenty - especially if you mess up.  And a major motive of DIY is being Mr. Cheapy McCheaperson, right?

2. Proper weight.  Look for home decor fabric that is good for upholstery (the fabric description should say this).  You want something that, when pulled, doesn’t stretch and go all wonky.  You should be able to hold it up to the light and not see much, or any light shine through it.  And you should be able to rub it together and not find it pilling, shedding, or creating any other undesirable fuzz, goo, or gunk.

3. So Freakin’ Awesome.  After the work you put in you’d better love this chair.  And loving the fabric is key to this.

Also consider that if you’re using a patterned fabric that you may need to have extra fabric on hand so that you can centre the pattern on the seat or back.  If your pattern is a geometric print you’ll need to especially watch that the pattern matches up (if that’s important to you).

OPTIONAL STEP: REFINISHING FRAME/LEGS

If your piece has a visible frame or legs you may want to consider refinishing it with stain or paint.  For me, I wanted my chairs to look more modern, so I painted them a great off-white called “Bisque” from the Sarah Richardson collection for Para paints.

"Bisque" SR44 from Para Paint

I used Para’s oil paint for a hard-wearing, slightly glossy finish.

STEP THREE: CUT YOUR PIECES

Using the old chair fabric as a template for the new chair fabric

Now take all of the fabric pieces you carefully removed, labelled, and set aside (riiight?), and use them as templates to cut new pieces of fabric.

If there is pattern on your fabric make sure it is centered nicely, and that the different pieces will line up according to your liking

I ended up redoing the side panels on my first chair to get the "circle" motif to line up.

OPTIONAL STEP: RE-BUILDING THE CHAIR

Some people buy and cut new foam.  But I’m too cheap to do this.  Some people redo the springs, coils, webbing, or whatever else hides inside your chair.  I’m too lazy to do this.  I just make sure I find sturdy, clean old chairs and re-use what’s there.  But if you wanna’ go all keener on me,you’d better go Google how to do all that other stuff.

STEP FOUR: ASSEMBLE YOUR CHAIR.

Now, before I proceed you should know why I wanted to upholster these particular chairs.  It’s because of their wooden frame, and because the fabric is in “panels” on the seat back.  I’ve upholstered a chair with construction like this before (a Louis style chair), and it is infinitely easier than doing a chair where the staples are all hidden (like my wingback chair which is STILL in process after almost a year.)  Because with chairs like this, you just staple away then cover the staples with glue and cord.

For the seat I stretched the fabric over the seat, tucking in the corners around the legs, and stapling it in place.  Once you’ve positioned the fabric, put only a few staples on each side at first so that you can adjust the fabric as needed.  After that you can staple it like you’ve never stapled before.

For the back panels there are four pieces:

The layers in the back panels

There is the fabric that faces out on the back of the chair, a piece of cardboard to back it, a piece of foam for the inside of the chair, and the fabric that faces the inside of the chair.  I start by dotting the cardboard with a bit of hot glue and positioning the outward-facing fabric onto it.

Glue is your friend.

I place the cardboard and fabric into the frame.  (This should fit snugly and stay in place on its own.)  Then I line up the inside fabric on the foam and pin that onto the cardboard.  I attach it with a staple or two on each side and make sure it is positioned properly.  Once I confirm that it is I staple the snot out of it.

Holding the foam and inside fabric in place.

As far as staplers go, I’ve found it useful to have two staplers on hand: I have my electric staple gun loaded with heavy-duty staples, and my manual staple gun with a lighter weight staple.  Depending on the part of the frame I’m stapling it to, the position of the staple, etc. I tend to use both.  And if you have access to an air-compression stapler USE IT.  Life will be much easier.  And your hands will like you much better.  They may even forgive you after the pain they suffered removing the old staples.

STEP FIVE: COVER THAT UGLY MESS OF STAPLES.

Since your staples are exposed you need to cover them.  You can buy something called “gimp” at fabric stores – it’s a braided or twisted cord that you can glue over the staples.  But you won’t be able to customize it to your fabric, and I personally feel it looks a bit dated or amateur.  And c’mon.  It’s called gimp.  How nerdy is that?

High-end furniture usually has something called “double welt cord”, and it is possible to make your own using your fabric and either double welt cord or piping cord.  (I ordered my piping cord here.)

I won’t re-write the book on this one.  I used this tutorial, and found it worked really well!

I ended up using the double welt cord along the seat, but opted to do a single cord along the back panels because I felt like the double cord was too thick, and too busy with all of the pattern

I attached the cord using a hot glue gun, and went back to touch it up with fabric glue (to avoid visible globs or strings of the hot glue).

STEP SIX: TAKE GLAMOUR SHOTS OF YOUR NEW CHAIRS

Ooooh, verrry nice.

Time for your close-up, Dah-lings.

Well, you don’t have to do this step if you’re not blogging about it.  Or if you’re not a big geek, like me.  But you should stand back and enjoy your handiwork.  And how fitting that what you’ve just finished creating will be perfect for kicking back and relaxing after all that hard work!

Hooray!

Two Easy Pumpkin Crafts

‘Tis the season for pumpkins. And October and pumpkin carving go hand-in-hand. But for this year my kids are too little to carve pumpkins (or wield any kind of sharp object, for that matter) and maybe yours are too.  Or maybe you just need a cheap, easy craft idea for all the kids in your house this weekend.  Well, here you go: two easy pumpkin crafts (sans pumpkins).

Everything you need for two easy crafts

#1 PAPER PUMPKINS

The first craft only takes construction paper (or cardstock), scissors, and brass fasteners. Have kids cut some orange paper into strips. I folded my paper to get relatively similar sizes of paper strips. A fun activity at this point might be to have kids or family members each write down things they’re thankful for on these paper strips!

Then gather the strips into a pile.  I also added some leaves atop my pumpkin. Poke a hole through the paper then put the fastener through.

Do the same to the bottom of the strips of paper with another fastener (but no leaves).

Fan out the strips evenly and there you go!  A pumpkin! 

These paper gourds will take on different shapes (just like their real-life counterparts) depending on the amount of leaves, etc you put on top, how many strips you use, and how long the strips are.  In an afternoon you could make quite the pumpkin patch for a mantel display or a Thanksgiving centrepiece!

#2 JAR-O-LANTERNS

The next one gets a bit messy, but it’s fun and I was able to do it with my two-year-old son.

Start with many small pieces of orange tissue paper.  This can be lots of fun tearing or snipping them up!  The more random the shapes, the better, and it’s totally OK if the pieces are crumpled (it just adds to the “textured” look.)

Use a leftover jar from something. Mine was a small jar that once held pesto, but with older children I’ve used large mason jars. If doing this with young children baby food jars would perfectly fit their attention span. Using a paintbrush and some Elmer’s school glue paint on a layer of glue over part of the jar. Over the patch of glue place a piece of tissue paper.

Continue brushing on glue and placing the tissue paper on, patting it down to cling to the jar. (I’m pretty sure my son’s favourite part was saying “pat, pat, pat” as he worked.)

Once the entire jar is covered (with pieces overlapping and crinkled a bit), go back over the whole thing painting on a layer of glue, securing down any loose edges and making the tissue paper cling to the jar as closely as possible.

While that’s drying use black construction paper or cardstock to cut out a little jack-o-lantern face. Brush the back side with glue, stick it to one side of the jar, then paint over it with the glue also.

Once it’s dry you can place a tea light, votive, or battery-operated light inside and enjoy your pumpkin lantern together!

And hey! No sharp tools involved… just some sticky fingers.