Bar Stools Makeover

We have been in our house since 1992. That first Christmas, my sister gifted us with 4 bar stools, unfinished-furniture-style. We did nothing to them for several years, then painted them light blue. A few years ago, I got the bright idea to add padding to the woven-jute seats and cover with fabric. I liked the look of the padded seats, but they wear out over time. Here's the post about that first upholstering effort.

The worn spots had become quite unsightly, but I didn't really have any ideas for changing them out until a big "ah-ha" moment hit me a couple of days ago - use the remnants from the family room curtains I made back in January!

The remnants, however, were all very long, narrow pieces of fabric; I would  have to piece it to make a big enough portion to cover two seats. So I did. With a close inspection, it's easy to see the pieced seam; but do I care? Heck no! It's for sitting on!

I pulled out a ga-zillion staples from the old fabric, cut new fabric to fit, and asked DH to staple for me. (Those staple guns are tough to operate!)

I am very pleased with this new look. I have just done 2 stools, since we have no use for 4 any longer. The spares are in the basement, and if I ever decide to bring them back into service, I still have remnants to use.

Now I am thinking about a new paint color for these stools. Perhaps shabby-chic white?

Happy Quilting, Friends!

New Barstools for Me

Last fall or winter, my sister reupholstered her barstools, so I thought I ought to try redoing my own. I had leftever foam padding from the porch cushions I made last spring; I hated wasting it, and this would be a perfect way to use it. Sunday afternoon, I got two of them done. I used all the foam I had; now I need to buy more for the remaining two stools.

The original barstool. We got these as unfinished for Christmas over 19 years ago when our house was newly built. We had a bar in the kitchen/dining area, but no proper seating for it.  DH painted them.



Two screws underneath held the seat to the frame. We removed the seats with lots of grunting--they were tough little buggers!

Spread the fabric out, wrong-side up. I was very generous in what I cut; I didn't want to find myself with too little fabric to pull into place.

Center the foam on the fabric. (I have two pieces here because I am using leftovers; it won't make any difference in the end.)

Layer the seat next. Be sure it's upside-down.

After much tugging of fabric and staple-gunning by DH, VOILA! A newly upholstered barstool!
The fabric is some dark gray that my grandmother gave me a few years back when we were cleaning out some of her sewing room. It could easily be 50-year-old fabric!