Chair Project

Apparently I'm on a project kick. I've had this on my to-do list for months. When I moved in, I just had a chair and a love seat. I wanted another chair to round out my living room.

Initially, I found this one....

It was oversized, overstuffed, and comfy as all get-out. Not to mention that it was a $600 chair, on sale for $177.

Alas, it was way too big for my apartment. I don't know that I could have even gotten it in the door, let alone find space for it.

So in the same furniture store, I found this guy:

It may not look as awesome as the other one, but it's still really comfy, and much more size-appropriate for my place. It was a $200 chair that I got for $35. The price was so great because the leather on the seat was cracking. Apparently, it had been in the store for a long, long time.

I decided to go for it anyway, and see what I could do with it. I went out and found fabric right away, and then it sat untouched for months. Well for some reason, I finally decided it was time to spiff it up.

The scary part was taking apart the old cushion-cover to use as a pattern.

I was afraid something would go wrong, and I wouldn't be able to make a new cover, and wouldn't be able to get the old one back together, and everything would be ruined forever.

But everything went perfectly, and this is the final product:

I like it! The cushion-cover fits perfectly, and I like the look now better than I did when it was all leather.

The original cover was essentially in four pieces. I used it as a pattern for the top, bottom, and front pieces. The back piece had a zipper in it, and it just seemed easier to re-use it.

I'm super proud of the way it turned out, and I'm glad I actually mustered up the ambition to do it!

One more before and after:

Shelf Project

I thought I'd share a little project that I undertook recently.

So I've lived in my apartment for over nine months now. Ever since I moved in, there's been this big empty space above my sink, in which I've wanted to hang something. Along the same lines, I've had my shotglasses tucked awkwardly behind my faucet and wanted somewhere better for them.

While I was at home, I ran to the store and found these shelves. I figured they were the perfect solution to fill the space above my sink, and provide somewhere better to keep my shotglasses!

It helps that I love the whole "Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much" motto. 

I saw this trick on Pinterest.... Instead of measuring, or trial and error when trying to hang something with two holes, use a piece of masking tape across the back of the shelf and mark where the holes are. Now, I didn't happen to have any masking tape, so I had to make do with spike tape... which I did happen to have... go figure.

Once the holes are marked, place the tape on the wall where the shelves are going to hang, make sure it's level, and drill or screw right through the tape. 

Perfectly spaced screws every time!

The final product:

I love that the big white space isn't empty anymore, and it looks much better without the shotglasses shoved behind the faucet. As an afterthought, I put in a little hook for my dishtowel so I don't have to hang it on the cabinet knob anymore.

I'm happy with it!