FIRST REUPHOLSTERY, THEN SLIPCOVERS

Yes, I did reupholster these chairs, six to be exact, with Sunbrella.  And, no, I do not normally do reupholstery jobs.  Chairs seats are the exception to that rule.  These chairs, however, could not have been more difficult.  Even pulling the old staples out was tough...I kept slipping and when finished, I looked like I'd been in a fight.  My knuckles were bloody and cut up.

I had to do the chairs two at a time because my clients actually use the chairs when they eat dinner each night at the table.  Luckily, they have four people in their family and when two chairs were at my house for an extended period of time, it was not a big deal.  So after I finally got all 6 chairs redone, it was time to make little slipcovers, also out of Sunbrella.

The fabric my client chose for the slips was the same as upholstered seats, just in a different color.  

The slipcovers have tabs were covered buttons to keep them in place.

And as always, the nicest thing about Sunbrella is the indestructible nature of the fabric.  My client can simply wipe off spills and if necessary, even wash them.

My client's cat, Bart, enjoying 'his' new seat!

WHITE 'SAILCLOTH' SUNBRELLA SLIPCOVERS

These slipcovers are done with a sailcloth Sunbrella.  It is the nicest Sunbrella I've ever worked with!

The fabric is very soft and feels really nice.

My client bought these two sofas on Craigslist from an elderly lady.  They are custom made from Calico Corners, and she (my client) paid only $200 for them!  And while they were not ugly, they were not to my client's liking, fabric-wise.

That's where slipcovers come in.  I am often asked how one should decide whether or not to slipcover a piece of furniture.  I always say, if you love it and it is comfortable, do it.  If you just hate the fabric and do not want to have it reupholstered, do it.  If it is uncomfortable, don't bother.  If the piece is from IKEA, don't bother.

Overall, the white fabric really brightened up the room.  My client was thrilled with the result and said it was the best Mother's Day 'present' she received this year.  Since her kids were not around, new slipcovers were the next best thing!

The before - not bad, just boring.

CUSTOM CUSHIONS - PLAIN AND NOT-SO-PLAIN

This cushion would qualify as plain, but only because it disappears into its surroundings.  In the kitchen of my client's house this window seat adds the perfect spot to relax.  The white Sunbrella makes for an indestructible cover.

Because the window seat is so low, we opted to do a thicker-than-normal cushion.  Plus, the window frame stuck out enough that it helps keep the cushion in place.  Even though we used white, since it is Sunbrella, stains will not be a problem.

On to the fancy...this chair, one of two, is in the sitting room of the downstairs guest room.  The black and white embroidered fabric dresses up the vintage wicker chairs.  The contrast welting is the white Sunbrella.

The guest room can be seen in the background.  The room is predominately white with a black iron bed.   A black and white duvet is folded at the foot of the bed, and ties in nicely with the cushions in the sitting room.

WHITE DENIM, SLEEPER SOFA

When my client called, she originally thought she only wanted arm covers for her existing slipcover.  The slipcover, also in white denim, was 20 years old, though!  There was no way to just make arm covers because there was no way to match the fabric.  No matter how close the color, fabric that is 20 years old will never look anything but old beside a new fabric.

So we ordered new fabric.  I'd say she got her money's worth from her old one!

This sofa was already in the center of the room with the back showing and perfect for a button-back.  The husband said, no way.  He wanted it exactly as the old one was, and that meant a zipper right down the center of the back.  Not what I would have done, but I do what the client wants.

There is a table that goes behind the sofa, so it won't show as much as it does in the photo.

And even though they have never had a guest sleep on the sofa bed, I put the zipper in the deck so that they have that option.  Otherwise, the entire slipcover would have to be removed to pull the bed out.  At least it is accessible this way.

The pictures above and below are cushions I did for them 10 or 11 years ago!  They still look great!  Sunbrella is a wonderful fabric!

SUNBRELLA SLIPCOVERED PORCH CHAIRS

These chairs literally weigh about 2 pounds each, including their new slipcovers, and so can easily be moved inside to provide extra seating.

I forgot to take a picture of the original fabric, but it is a black Sunbrella.  The gray is just a touch lighter and the skirts make them seem fancier than they really are.

The covered buttons are more than just a nice touch.  Because the top of the chair is wider than the bottom, without an opening of some kind, it would not be possible to get the slipcovers on.

My client, and her adorable dog, love the 'new' chairs.

SUNBRELLA SLIPCOVERS - SAVE FURNITURE FROM LITTLE BOYS!

My client has two little boys.  Both when I went to cut the slipcovers and to install the finished product, I had to wade through legos, lots and lots of legos.  And all kinds of other toys that little boys love.

Both of these chairs are upholstered in a lovely damask, a cream colored damask.  Not the best color for little boys.  So a dark gray Sunbrella was chosen for slipcovers.

The good thing is the slipcovers can be removed for cleaning or simply to change the look of the room.

I did a short skirt on both chairs for a lighter look.

Buttons down the back of this chair.  The other one did not need to have an opening for ease of getting it on and off.  Since they are different frames, I decided to go without buttons on the one.

The chair below is the above chair in its 'natural' state.

GOOD OLD SUNBRELLA

My client got these cushions at Pottery Barn for a ridiculously low price.  The only problem was the color…it was bright green and not what she wanted.  Luckily, she knew the solution was to slipcover them.  Problem solved!

We ordered the fabric from Outdoor Fabrics, which has every conceivable Sunbrella made and at great prices.

I did these two chaises last year.

Then a few weeks ago, after attempting to wash these round cushions, my client realized new covers for the three of them were warranted.  

Fortunately, the fabric was still available.  Now, her patio is all dressed up and looking good!

IT'S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR

At least it's the time of year in Southern California that people are thinking their outdoor furniture/cushions need updating.

The patchwork pillow is a favorite of mine.  

My client loved this Tommy Bahama fabric.

The bench cushion and ottoman (not pictured) got a contrast welting so that everything tied together.  And what you cannot see is that all the pillows are reversible, so my client can change the look whenever she wishes.

The 'back' sides of two of the larger pillows.

The way I see it is, by making both sides of the pillows different, you get twice as many pillows for your money.

BRIGHT, NEW SPRING 'CLOTHES'

My client was having a going away party for her son (into the Navy) and wanted some updating and brightening of her patio cushions.

She chose a crisp navy and white stripe and I used red for the welting.

She already had the red bench cushion, but the new pillows pop on it!

We only did the cushion and pillows that you see.  What you do not see are the other seat cushions and pillows that didn't get re-done and how tired and faded they look next to the bright new stuff.  They are next on the to-do list, which often happens when I do a job for someone!

SLIPCOVER FOR A TELEVISION!!!

 Just when I think I've slipcovered everything it is possible to slipcover, along comes something new.  

 This outdoor television is already pretty protected from the elements, but my client wanted to keep the  dust and moisture (that pesky marine layer) away.

Cutting it was rather a pain since, just as with anything that isn't covered with fabric already, there is nothing for the fabric to hold onto.  I have to tape the fabric in place until I can get another piece pinned to it.  This was even more challenging than it might have been because the Sunbrella was particularly stiff and had to be sewn on my industrial machine.  In the end, it worked out and it was just what my client wanted.