From Granny Classic to Modern Graphic: Ottoman UpDo 2
Upholster Something I Just Bought? Say What Now?
So a few days back I posted Ken's Bachelor's Pad which showed those awesome ottomans covered in a modern graphic fabric. Well here is a little secret, they looked nothing like that when I purchased them. You heard me right, purchased them!!
They actually looked like this! YIKES...OUCH...Can you say Grandmaaaaaa!!!!!! And I'm talking Grandma from back in the day folks (when furniture was covered in plastic and you couldn't sit on it because it was in the fancy living room that no one was allowed to go in), not like the little hot grandmas of today! =))
Now typically I don't mind DIY projects if it's something old or something that needs a little TLC, but to modify something completely brand new... GASP!!!! I have never been a - buy new and then do some work to it type of girl.
Side Note...nothing drives my husband more crazy than DIY projects and DIY projects of items I just bought from the store - that's just something he can't fathom, and ummm...I can't either sometimes.
But he knows by now when I'm determined, I'm determined. He also knows that the end result is going to be great (or at least that's what he tells me). So he takes a back seat to my madness and waits for the finale. =)) Love you hun if you are reading this.
With these ottomans I thought, how awesome would they be had they been done like this (use imagination). So this time, I stepped outside of my rationale self, thought nothing of the head shaking I knew I would receive from my husband (even though I was spending Ken's money and not ours), and I went with my gut...which never fails me folks, NEVER!
I purchased these babies at a big box store for a few reasons: 1. The scale, shape, and style were all perfect for this space. 2. They were built pretty solid. 3. I knew with a little imagination they would be beyond awesome.
Recovering the Ottomans To liven up these soon to be beauties, I removed the tufted buttons and the granny fabric.
Because Ken's space was grays and golds, I knew I wanted to warm the space up a little with some natural tones. I had a side table I scored for $5 years ago (that I knew would work in somebody's space one day) that was a nice walnut color and I wanted to bring that warmth to these ottomans, especially since they would reside in the center of the space. As you can see the legs were painted a pale, blond color originally. So I sanded them to remove the top coat of sheen and pulled out my paint brush. I painted the legs with a nutty brown color. Believe it or not, I did not prime the legs at all. The pale, blond color worked in my favor helping me achieve the look I was after. The original color created the highlights you see below. The result was nothing short of magnificent (at least in my opinion =)). The legs look like they have really been stained!! YESSSS!!!!!
Next I had to fill the holes made by the tufting since the tops would be completely flat. I had some foam left over from a previous project, so I cut little pieces from it and stuck them in the ottoman holes. I then wrapped the whole ottoman in batting to smooth out the tops and add a little extra cushion. Sorry I don't have a pic of this step. I was too excited and eager about wrapping them in the fabric. Lastly, I wrapped them in a citrusy, modern graphic fabric centering the print on both ottomans. I made sure the edges were as smooth as I could them and then worked my way around the bottom of the cushion stapling the fabric in place.Now check these babies out!! My husband could not believe how great they turned out. He is now a believer of As for my lucky apartment dweller Ken, he saw a picture of the ottomans when I purchased them, but I kept the fabric and the final look of the ottomans top secret until installation day. I wanted to surprise him. He could not believe they were the same ottomans.
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| Pay no attention to the shreds folks!! =)) |
Just goes to show you that with a little imagination and elbow grease, you really can make new even better. Now get out there and find you some almost awesome ottomans and get busy turning them into something magnificent.
Making Home, Home!
Kathleen