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upholstery makeovers

All Things Home

slipcovered living room ottoman

As I’ve been sharing about the soft furnishings in our living/family room this week, several people have asked about the coexistence of our cats with upholstered and slip-covered pieces.  Having lived with cats most of my life, I know they can be destructive and it was one of my primary reservations when we considered bringing some kittens into our home almost four years ago.  But, my lap was aching for some cats and I enjoyed their company, antics, and humor so much that I was willing to put concerns about our furniture aside. We gave our cats cardboard scratchers and plenty of toys and engagement early on, so neither one of them are big furniture scratchers.  They even leave our jute rugs alone as well as other textures that cats might naturally be drawn to.  There is a piece that they have favored, specifically Violet.  They like the ottoman in

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All Things Home

making a slipcover for a recliner

Shortly after we moved in, I bought a manual wingchair recliner off of Facebook Marketplace for $40.  I had a feeling it would be a “placeholder” for a nicer recliner in the future, but it seemed like a good tester piece.  We could see how much we used it, see how it fit in the room (while fully open), and help us make a more informed decision in the future.  I intended to make a slipcover for this recliner, but after using it for a few weeks, it became clear that it wasn’t worth the effort or the cost.  The chair wasn’t comfortable and piece by piece, the mechanism was falling apart and got to the point where it would just randomly pop open. So, for almost a year, I looked around at recliners.  I looked at new and used and was very wishy-washy and undecided.  I didn’t mind saving

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All Things Home

easy ticking footstool makeover

Remember this antique footstool I purchased a few weeks ago when my mom was visiting?  Well, I finally gave it a makeover!  I was planning on making a slipcover, but this footstool makeover turned out to be much easier… I decided to try to pull off a couple of the tacks to see how easy the footstool would be to strip.  I’ve stripped several pieces finished with nailhead trim before and they can be so tedious to remove.  These just popped right off, so I proceeded with the footstool makeover right on the spot.  I was able to strip it in about 15 minutes and discovered that contemporary leaf design was hiding delightful antique blue and white ticking! This layer is obviously the equivalent of the footstool’s undergarments, but I still love it.  It was a little dusty, so I cleaned it thoroughly with a vacuum. I still might reupholster

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All Things Home

make-do custom mattress for an antique daybed

Remember the antique Jenny Lind daybed I bought off of Facebook Marketplace a few weeks ago?  Well, I finally received the foam and batting I ordered to make a custom mattress for it. antique jenny lind daybed My plan is to make a french-style tufted mattress, but I starting wrapping the foam in the cotton batting I ordered and I realized I would need to make a cover to hold the cotton batting in place.  Poly batting is much easier to slide a fitted cover over, but I went with cotton because it gives a softer appearance to the cushion.  It was one of those afternoons when I was determined to get this done.  I knew it was irrational to think that I could finish an entire custom mattress in an afternoon, but I felt this push to try. I cut down the 3″ upholstery foam with an electric carving

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All Things Home

studio chair slipcover

I wasn’t able to get my post up yesterday, because I was shooting a local home in Rochester.  It was such a fun day!  I love photoshoots, styling, tweaking, etc.  Anyway, today I’m going to share about a slipcover I made for my studio desk chair.  Remember this desk chair that I got a couple of years ago when I rearranged the furniture in my studio and office to make both spaces more functional? | | I moved this chair into my studio when Jeff was working out of my office during the stay-at-home orders and I liked it in there.  It’s a pretty comfortable chair and the small scale suited the antique teacher’s desk I use as a work surface in the studio.  I just wanted to customize it a little bit and while I was playing with fabrics to make a slipcover for my office chair (you can

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All Things Home

makeover in a month | slipcovered desk chair

If you missed part one of the Makeover in a Month series, where we installed and painted paneling, you can catch up HERE.  In this post, I’m continuing my office makeover by sharing my slipcovered desk chair. If you’re observant, you may have noticed that a few desk chairs have come and gone from my workspaces over the years.  I have a terrible time finding one that is comfortable, but doesn’t look like something from the set of Star Trek.  The vintage-style desk chair that is comfortable for long days on the computer has been elusive.  It’s been a struggle that has resulted in purchasing and passing along half a dozen desk chairs over the years.  The bright side is that my kids are always excited to claim my latest reject! When Jeff and I both had to work from home and I was sitting in my studio chair all

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All Things Home

slipcover chaise reveal | tutorial & sources

Back in March, I took some unhurried decorative play in the master bedroom.  I just felt stuck in this room.  The bones were there, but I was having trouble finishing it off.  I couldn’t make up my mind on the smaller pieces of furniture, what to hang on the wall, or how to make it a polished, finished space.  During this time of experimenting, shuffling around furniture, and rethinking things, I decided that the ticking fabric on the chaise was limiting my options to some extent.  I liked how several fabrics I already owned worked with the , but not the ticking stripe.  An easy option was to make a slipcover for the chaise. I covered it in an antique linen sheet and it immediately confirmed that thought.  I like the ticking fabric and it’s still in like-new condition, so a slipcover is a perfect way to change the look

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All Things Home

slipcover chaise reveal | tutorial & sources

Back in March, I took some unhurried decorative play in the master bedroom.  I just felt stuck in this room.  The bones were there, but I was having trouble finishing it off.  I couldn’t make up my mind on the smaller pieces of furniture, what to hang on the wall, or how to make it a polished, finished space.  During this time of experimenting, shuffling around furniture, and rethinking things, I decided that the ticking fabric on the chaise was limiting my options to some extent.  I liked how several fabrics I already owned worked with the , but not the ticking stripe.  An easy option was to make a slipcover for the chaise. I covered it in an antique linen sheet and it immediately confirmed that thought.  I like the ticking fabric and it’s still in like-new condition, so a slipcover is a perfect way to change the look

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I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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