DIY Drop In Seat Cushion
I introduced you all to my little blogging corner yesterday & wanted to share my latest little vintage beauty. I came across this rattan chair (with 90% of the rattan still in tact) a month or so ago at my favorite Antique Market, Dupre’s on Marietta Square. It had some fun lines but it definitely needed some lovin’.
I took her home for $50 & within 30 minutes I got the jigsaw out & shortened the arms… wasn’t planning on that part, but it needed to be able to slide under the desk a little better. I also gave it a few coats of Rustoleum’s Heirloom White. I was not going to brush on paint over that rattan weave!
The cushion that came with it was, well, really flat & the wrong shape & since I would be sitting in it for long amounts of time I really needed some more support. No one likes an uncomfortable blogger. I decided to create a Drop In Upholstered Seat that I would place over the rattan seat. But this method could be used to repair any chair with a drop in seat as well.
Materials:
Plywood
3″ Foam
Batting
Fabric
Staple Gun & Staples
I created a template for the seat using some leftover wrapping paper. I then traced that onto a piece of plywood. Once the plywood was cut, I placed that on top of the foam & used an electric knife (the kind you use for Thanksgiving dinner) to cut out the foam.
Cutting a larger piece of batting, I stapled the batting taught into the plywood. This is where the littles came over & said “This is Awesome Mama. It’s soooo fluffy.”
Next came the fabric. Needing to make the few colors I have in my Black & White kitchen work together I found this lovely Waverly pattern. { Santa Maria in Desert Flower }
It brought in my acid yellow Wine Crate Drawer Front Cart , Chalkboard wall & our red pots & pans… Plus a little pink for me π & thanks to my secret source that shall remain nameless I got it for free! Shhhhhh!
I centered my pattern on my seat & started stapling, making sure to pull as tightly as I could each time. Admittedly, I did pull a little too much & messed up my centered pattern. To remedy this I simply took out my staples & started over… paying a bit more attention the second time around.
The most difficult area was the back curve. I took the back portion & pleated it as symmetrically as I could.
If you start looking at professionally upholstered pieces this happens quite frequently. Luckily, this is the area that is mostly covered by the back of the chair anyways.
Once it was all done I simply placed it in as I would any other cushion. The nice thing about it having the wood base is it not only provides more support, but it doesn’t shift at all either.
Now I’m blogging in style! Well, at least more so than before. Now all I need to finish this corner are my trellis drapery panels! I keep willing my sewing machine to get fixed… guess I need to actually take it somewhere.
I love the fabric you chose. Such pretty colors!
Love your new "blogging chair"! and your side of the road hutch makeover…SCORE!! I just finished a similar cushion project on my garage sale rattan side tables turned bedroom stools…check em out here
http://elegantnest.blogspot.com/2012/08/bedroom-stools-reveal.html
Love your blog and talented eye for decor…thanks for all the inspiration!!
So cute! I love how it turned out!
Wow, it is soo beautiful. Could use it really good for my new room π
http://essieslifestyle.blogspot.nl/
perfection!!! I had one of those chairs when I was a little girl- it was my favorite chair and i was so sad when my parents got rid of it. LOVE that fabric- I didnt realize Waverly had it as well- I have the sample for Duralee, they have a great coordinating chevron for it have you seen it?
I love how you took a what could of been over looked chair and turned it into something fabulous. That fabric is stunning!
Beautiful makeover…and gorgeous pictures!
Wow, thanks for the idea of a drop in seat. I wouldn't have thought of that. Beautiful chair make over. I actually really like the arms trimmed back too.
Great job!! Love the fabric you chose!! You've given me the courage to attempt upholstery & I have a few projects I need to get busy doing! Blessings!
Beautiful chair!! I love how you brought it back to life!!
That chair looks awesome! What a great fix on the arms and suuuuper cool fabric choice!
It's so bright and cheery! And you got that for free?! That's awesome π
We live in Marietta, I love Dupre's. Queen of Hearts in Roswell is also a great antique store!
Absolutely beautiful!!! I love the bright fabric. Stunning.
Vera π
i love this tutorial! I think it will definitely come in handy soon π
Hey Kristin! Do you have any good sources to get that foam? I am wanting to make a cushion soon and everywhere I've seen it so far it's been a lot more expensive that I was expecting. Hopefully you have some for me! Thanks!
Hey Kristin! Do you have any good sources to get that foam? I am wanting to make a cushion soon and everywhere I've seen it so far it's been a lot more expensive that I was expecting. Hopefully you have some for me! Thanks!
This was some extra I had on hand… Unfortunately foam is petroleum based so when the price of gas rises so does the foam. I have heard of people having luck on eBay. Or layer up thinner thicknesses.
Nicely done. You've encouraged me to proceed with a project I've kept putting off. I especially appreciate your fabric choice, and the fact that you had to "re-do" a section. Makes it all sound within my own grasp. Thanks for sharing both your work and re-work. It really does help to know that a mistake can be sucessfully fixed.
OK, so I love this chair. I actually used the same fabric as curtains in my dining room and covered some rattan chair seats in an adjacent room with it as well. I am struggling to find other fabrics to use with it. You seem like the "mixing patterns" guru…what would you suggest? I have a black and cream chevron rug and black and white slub curtains in the room with the chairs… Any other suggestions? Any input would be appreciated!!!
Katherine
harpsandollie.blogspot.com
OK, so I love this chair. I actually used the same fabric as curtains in my dining room and covered some rattan chair seats in an adjacent room with it as well. I am struggling to find other fabrics to use with it. You seem like the "mixing patterns" guru…what would you suggest? I have a black and cream chevron rug and black and white slub curtains in the room with the chairs… Any other suggestions? Any input would be appreciated!!!
Katherine
harpsandollie.blogspot.com