I hate getting stuck on any project, but I really hate it when I get stuck on the small ones that were supposed to be easy. Case in point, those chairs I got a few weeks ago from a yard sale for just $20 thinking, "Oh I'll just paint them and reupholster the seats, it'll be so easy!" Silly Carla, you were so wrong. Yep, those stupid chairs are sitting in our sunroom, still unfinished, and I swear they are taunting me! Its a stupid chair for poop's sake, why don't I have this done yet? All I have to do is the fabric and paint the wood, that's it! But instead of easy, this is what happened instead.....
Fabric I picked out online. FAIL.
Fabric I picked out at a Vintage Sale. Again, FAIL....
Given that the fabric search wasn't going well I thought I'd just paint the wood a color I liked and then I'd be sure to find a fabric to match the wood color!
Nope, that also turned out to be a bad idea after I spent and hour at SR Harris wrestling through their MEGA warehouse of fabric only to rush as they were closing and quickly grabbed two moderately priced patterns that might work and took them home to show Alex. As I pulled them out of the bag, I quickly realized the mistake I had made before he had to say "That one looks like grandma print and that one looks like a bunch of sparkly pot leaves." EPIC FAIL.
What was I thinking? I mean seriously? The toile isn't terrible but yea, that leaf is bad, so so bad! I thought it was kind of like the Palm Leaf print trend I've been seeing but NO, not at all! Now I can't decide which part is worse, the fact that I've wasted close to $70 on fabric or that I may have to sand and repaint the chairs a different color. Money or manual labor? Hmmm, still both equally bad :(
Either way, I'm just bummed and annoyed at this point. I wish I was sharing finished pics instead of complaining but I guess that is just the truth- not every project (big or small) goes smoothly or the way you plan sometimes and I shouldn't let it bug me so much... even though it still does, I'm trying to let it go though!
So now it's time to take one last stab and finishing these chairs up.... and if things don't pan out I'm just going to set them on fire in a fit of anger. Whoops, did I say that out loud?! I don't think I'd go that far, but I kind of feel like it right now, ha! I'm thinking I might just have to give up on the colorful idea and go back to a simpler look because that is honestly more my style and I should just go with it!
I'd love any ideas/suggestions! Really, someone just tell me what to do!
Do I leave the paint color? If so, what fabric color or print should I add?
Should I paint the wood a different color? Then what color or print should I use for the cushion?
Fabric I picked out online. FAIL.
Fabric I picked out at a Vintage Sale. Again, FAIL....
Either way, I'm just bummed and annoyed at this point. I wish I was sharing finished pics instead of complaining but I guess that is just the truth- not every project (big or small) goes smoothly or the way you plan sometimes and I shouldn't let it bug me so much... even though it still does, I'm trying to let it go though!
So now it's time to take one last stab and finishing these chairs up.... and if things don't pan out I'm just going to set them on fire in a fit of anger. Whoops, did I say that out loud?! I don't think I'd go that far, but I kind of feel like it right now, ha! I'm thinking I might just have to give up on the colorful idea and go back to a simpler look because that is honestly more my style and I should just go with it!
I'd love any ideas/suggestions! Really, someone just tell me what to do!
Do I leave the paint color? If so, what fabric color or print should I add?
Should I paint the wood a different color? Then what color or print should I use for the cushion?
Hate it when that happens! Can't even tell you how many times I've wasted money on fabric. I know you don't want to hear this, but what works for me is to wait it out. Cut your losses and wait. You'll find the fabric. I like the chair color. Keep it. You can always go with a solid in grey and then later find a fun print to make a throw pillow with.
ReplyDeleteYou might be right when it comes to waiting for the right pattern, it seems impossible to find one when you have to, so maybe I will stumble upon it someday? For now if I go forward I might just stick with a solid, maybe when I find the right pattern I can make an accent pillow :) Thanks for the comment, helps me sort things out!
DeleteIf you decide to leave the chairs blue and not repaint them, maybe try some sort of grain sack fabric (either vintage or DIY linen/burlap with some painted stripes down the middle). I am picturing something like this: https://img1.etsystatic.com/012/0/7407965/il_570xN.465512567_dkr2.jpg or http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Vintage-homespun-linen-grainsack-WASHED-striped-grain-sack-material-fabric-2-7yd-/00/s/MTA2NlgxNjAw/z/5MgAAMXQw8hRZwRh/$T2eC16d,!w0E9szN,Fq3BRZwRgjcDw~~60_12.JPG for a subtle americana feel. (OK, yeah, I am still in 4th of July spirit.....) Sanding and repainting the chairs strikes me as waaaaay too much work.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the links! I do like the grainsack fabrics, always classic, but it might look too much like the other chairs I redid a while back. I totally love them, but they are white with linen that looks kind of like that. I'm trying to make both sets look different, but we'll see?
DeleteI say grey/charcoal velvet or phony-hair, perhaps with a contrasting piping. Forget the print, you'll be over whatever you buy in 6 months anyhow!
ReplyDeleteAmber, you are totally right, always so wise! Where have you been this week?!?
DeleteOkay here are my suggestions:Yellows, reds or greys!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.fabric.com/buy/0264186/golding-suzanne-jacquard-aegeon-blue
https://www.fabric.com/buy/0297661/premier-prints-anchor-slub-corn-yellow
https://www.fabric.com/buy/0298787/premier-prints-zig-zag-slub-aquarius
https://www.fabric.com/buy/0289975/suburban-home-ambrey-poppy-red
https://www.fabric.com/buy/0264438/home-accents-layla-poppy-red
https://www.fabric.com/buy/0290024/duralee-flynn-banana
Ooo, very cute patters Gen! Thanks for sending links along too, I think my favorite is the last one/banana one. I've never used that fabric site, have you? Is it good?
DeleteAnnie Sloan Monaco ticking : http://www.anniesloan.com/acatalog/Sauge.html. It's one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteThe paint color you've used is making me drool...in a good way. ;)
ReplyDeleteI think a neutral-type fabric would look excellent...maybe with a pop of yellow pillow??
Yea, I still love the paint color too, it is a good teal! I think I wil have to do a solid neutral, maybe I could use yellow on a pillow? Thanks for sending your ideas!
DeleteI like the leave print...doesn't really look like pot leaves...the blue goes with the color blue of the chair...I like those together. Try it?
ReplyDeleteI did hold the fabric up to the chair and I still wasn't feeling it, and kept thinking of what it looked like. I think I'm getting some good new ideas though!
Deletethat pot fabric made me laugh so hard!!!! I like the chair color. hope you can find a fabric to match so u don't have all that extra work.
ReplyDeleteYea, I really hope I don't have to paint them. Looking for a perfect solid color fabric now!
DeleteI say keep the color, go with a light grey and us a pillow to throw in some pattern in it. I love the color you painted them.
ReplyDeleteThanks Vanessa! Looks like that is going to be the way to go! Trying to narrow to a good solid fabric now!
DeleteI vote for gray or yellow...or burlap. Or even linen (that looks like burlap but is softer). I love the blue color you painted so don't start over! - Dayna
ReplyDeleteYea, I do like the dark teal too and I want to keep it so I don't have to paint again (ugh), but if I do it will likely be white or a very dark navy. Hmmm...
DeleteI love these chairs! I agree with the previous posters that a solid colour would be best for the seat. Keep the prints for accessories.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bev! Totally agree with you, and I think that will be the best way to go now! Hope I can find cute accent pillow fabric, but I guess I can wait until it finds me? At least if I finish the seats we can finally use them!
DeleteTotally agree with you Charlotte! Thanks for posting your thoughts, I'm planning to go with a solid color for the seat. Did you really make pillows out of that same exact leaf fabric? Have people said it looked like what I thought it looked like? Hmmm, maybe I am being too weird about it?!?!
ReplyDeleteHi Carla,
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking to my palm leaf post!
I like the color you painted the chair - can't tell if it's a peacock blue or blue/green? I also like the Robert Allen ikat that you originally chose. I'd pair it with the painted chairs. Whatever you decide, keep going!
I think it would be fun to do a solid leather/pleather fabric for the seat that is either a few shades darker than the chair or a stark contrast but, I feel like that fabric would be a great mix for the style of the chair.
ReplyDeleteI've purchased things from fabric.com and have always been happy with my purchases. In general, it can sometimes be hard to conceptualize the size of various prints, so pay attention to the ruler that is typically on one edge of one of the photos of the fabrics. You can also purchase swatches, if you want to compare colors, etc.
ReplyDelete