Well this might shock you, but my family sometimes accuses me of being more concerned about how things look that how well they function…. Okay so you’re not shocked? Heh, heh, me neither.
My husband thought I was nuts when I brought these chairs home from the auction. I said, “Look they were made in France and I found them at auction for about $50 each!!” Mr. CH rolled his eyes at me. “I’m not sure Honey,” was about all he said. And the seats WERE in perfect condition when I brought them home. Sadly the first time I sat in one, the seat gave way. Okay I weigh about 120 pounds, so I knew that was a bad sign. I was going to need to fortify them.
The first thing I did was to make a template or pattern from a newspaper for the seat bottom.
Then I used that pattern or template to cut a new seat bottom out of very thin plywood using my jigsaw.
After the wood was cut, I added some strips of weatherstripping to the bottom to keep the new seat from slipping. Then I simply placed it on top of the chair seat. On top of that, I added a no-slip cushion from a discount store. Then I set to work making flirty seat slipcovers from a beautiful gunmetal linen.
I used a ruffler attachment to make the ruffle. These were pretty easy and fast to make.
Here’s what the room looked like before the slipcovers were added.
Although I like the room before, I LOVE it now.
Excellent idea and you saved the chair. Old furniture isn’t perfect, but it is fabulous!
Your an inspiration.. Love the results. That linen is beautiful. Had to laugh, you certainly are clever using tools and all..
They are beautiful!
I love these Anita…I want to make slipcovers for my dining room chairs. I keep putting it on the back burner but this inspired me to move it to the front!
Looks beautiful! You did a great job.
The chairs are just fabulous. They make the room. Great job!!!
The chairs make the room. They’re wonderful. Great job!
I wish I could hire you to do this for my breakfast room chairs!!! I LOOOOOVE these! The room is perfect! Just beautiful, Anita.
What is a ruffler attachment? Sewing machine attachment?
Hmmmmmm, I should sew more 😉
It’s an attachment you can buy for your sewing m/c, and it makes the ruffles for you so the pleats are evenly spaced. I takes less time than doing by hand. Great invention!!
Amazing…How I love your design ethic…wow!
Victoria
Anita,
These are beautiful in every way and wow what a deal!
Have a lovely week-
Jemma
The chairs are beautiful! The slipcovers add a very nice touch.
Love them with the cover. You wasn’t to hear something ironic? Just last night I came across a video on YouTube on how to re-cane a chair like this! It was so easy! Probably faster and easer that cutting the wood!
Oh that sounds like it would take some time, but now I need to go check it out!!
Anita, it seems incredible how the slipcovers have added a soooo charming look to all the room!! Great idea really.
Hugs my friend
Silvia
those chairs are dreamy!!!!
Anita these came out great. Love the covers you made too. PINNED!!!
Cynthia
Your dining room was beautiful before. The slipcovers just added that “little something” extra. Thanks for sharing.
Ingenious, Anita, and beautiful, too. 🙂
Those chairs are absolutely beautiful, I love the whole setting and the way you have styled your table in the first image, its stunning. How clever fixing the chairs, but seriously they were a bargain, we could never pay $50 for chairs like that in NZ, they would be hundreds of dollars…so functional or not, and you have made them useable again, your husband should be proud that you picked out a bargain. Chairs like that will only increase in value.
Lee 🙂
Just gorgeous, Anita. I love the canning and ruffles!
What flirty little skirts. Luv them Anita.
The chairs look extra lovely now that they are wearing their skirts!
Love your room.
PLEASE, please give me details on the blinds –
where to find them, need cheap, details please.
I have lots of windows needing these shades. HELP
Talk to my friends at Blinds.com. These are Bali Cabo blinds in the placid color.
Beautiful chairs, Anita! May I ask, were they that color when you found them at auction or did you repaint them? The color is perfect and exactly what I would like to do to my dining chairs. Beautiful room!~~
They are the color they were when I found them.
Oh how I wish I could sew… these are quite possibly the most beautiful chairs I’ve ever seen!
Hi I do not have a blog.
little behind in reading your post.
I love the way your chairs turned out!!!!
Anita,
I adore the ‘air of feminity’ the ruffles give to your gorgeous dining room!!!
I would definitely need the assistance of “Mr. Ed” with anything sharp!
Being un~mechanically minded…it is a true and evident danger whenever I pick up a power tool!!!
I did, however, manage to sand the top of a sewing machine cabinet with my power sander!!!
Lovely, dear friend. . .simply lovely!!!
Fondly,
Pat
Ok I am glad I found your blog. I’m a texas girl also. Horses , cattle the whole works. I love interior design. It looks like we have similar taste. You are Cedar Hill I am Windy Hill. 🙂 Glad I found you. Have a great day. not I’m off to Ft Worth for a day. BTW love the slipcover on chairs.
Definitely beauty before function usually function can be improved on but beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
Love the covers.your home is beautiful.could you lease tell us where you got the chandelier over the diningtable.It is so pretty.Thanks
The chandelier is from Horchow. Thanks!
Those chairs are wonderful…and what a great idea to place a non-slip cushion under the slipcover…they are gorgeous!…and yes, I get that too…Pretty vs. function!…
Your slipcovers are always the perfect touch! And these are no exception. Love them!
I love this look! Very smart-
You did a great job! Those slipcovers are beautiful and they really soften the room.
I love the slipcovers! They are just what I’ve been looking for. Would you happen to sell them? Please let me know at me email address above. Thank you!
Sorry I don’t sell them, but that is a great idea!!
Hi, Anita…..I found your blog recently through Pinterest and love it! I love how you mixed the dark and light wood finishes in your dining room, your centerpiece grouping on the table, and the chair slipcovers make the room! They add that softness we women love. I have a question, though….I love the lampshades on your sideboard. Did you make them? I think I have seem some similar ones on the Soft Surroundings website. If you made them, do you have a tutorial on your blog? Thanks so much!
I bought those lamps and lampshades. I think Soft Surroundings might sell the exact same lamps. If it helps they are made by Guildmaster.
Hi, can I move in your house and then you can turn my home into something beautiful!?? LOL I wanted to ask you a simple question. You said you used a ruffle attachment to do the seat covers, what is that? I’m sorry, I sew, but I guess maybe I have to old of a machine maybe? Thanks!
Tina, I think i will do a tutorial on this in the future, because I get asked this a lot. It’s an attachment for your sewing machine.
Your chairs look great, but please support your local cane repair business! We can repair them and tell you how to keep them healthy and in perfect condition for MANY years to come.
i love the ruffled seat covers and the room is beautiful
Hi Anita, I read your recent posting and I was looking to see if you have posted a tutorial on your ruffle seat covers that are pictured in your dining room? I have not found any tutorials for them yet. Do you plan to do a posting on how to make these cute slipcovers?
Thank you so much for all your knowledge….love it all.
Here you go Maggie. https://cedarhillfarmhouse.com/2014/01/making-caned-chairs-elegant-sturdy.html
you are the best i have fabric w aiting for chairs to be covered ,as soon as i catch up with all my other stuff. you are just like me chaning things to get the right look ,love your stuff from Kay England