Meet Brittany

Peppertowne Reader Before & After:

Meet Brittany

I love button tuffting and usually I love orange,

but this retro 70's style rocker had to go.  

In Brittany's words..."YUCK!"

She tackled a tough project that took her more than 6 months and cost her a few bodily injuries!!

Amazing how this red micro-fiber brings this rocker into 2010.

Now just add a pillow

 and her two adorable children reading bed time stories.

Picture perfect.

This upholstery job looks so professional.

Thanks for sharing Brittany!

If you have a before and after project you'd like to feature on Peppertowne, email your low resolution photos here.

Linking up:
The Persimmon Perch
Sumos Sweet Stuff
The Creative Girl
Making the World Cuter
Cottage Instincts
Skip to my Lou
Between Naps on the Porch
Silly Little Sparrow
The Herber Family
Reinvented

Rock -n- Roll

Look at these sad little rockers. 

Found one at the Goodwill for $10 and the other for $15 on Craigslist.

Is there hope?

With a little spray paint and elbow grease...

(Thanks Kelly, you look fabulous!)

VaVa Voom!

Rock -n- Roll!

A lovely set of porch rockers.

Of course we had to button tuft these. 

For our mini-tutorial click here.

 If you have  a before and after you'd like to feature on Peppertowne.com

simply email us your low resolution before and after photos here.

Happy Creating, Painting, Upcycling and more!


Link Party

Miss Mustard Seed Cottage Instincts Between Naps on the Porch The Girl Creative It’s so Very Cheri Keeping it Simple The Persimmon Perch Sumo’s Sweet Stuff Skip to My Lou Making the World Cuter A Soft Place to Land Tip Junkie Between Silly Little Sparrow Today’s Creative Blog Cottage Dreamers My Frugal Family Reinvented The Thrifty Home My Backyard Eden We Are THAT Family The Trendy Treehouse Women Who Do it All Blue Cricket Design Someday Crafts Just a Girl Beyond the Picket Fence Somewhat Simple Tales from Blogaritaville Life as Lori The Shabby Chic Cottage The Shabby Nest My Romantic Home It’s Fun to Craft Fingerprints on the Fridge Just a Girl Beyond the Picket Fence Somewhat Simple Tales from Blogaritaville Kojo Designs Remodelaholic Finding Fabulous

Vintage Stool Remodel

Look what's been sitting in my workshop gathering dust! 

My Man found these vintage bar stools at a storage shed auction when we were first married and I loved them from the beginning.

 Now they get a long overdue remodel.

This project is easy and takes about 2 hours to complete both stools.

Tools & Supplies

Screwdriver * Pliers * Staple Gun and Staples * Hammer and Mallet * Glue Gun * Drill * Chocolate Snack * Batting * Upholstery Fabric and Trim * Lining Fabric * Knitting Needle * Upholstery Needle * Upholstery Twine *Button Making Kit

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Before

These bar stools just need a little love.  The upholstery is old and worn but the pedestal is gorgeous!  It's naturally aged and a beautiful creamy gold color.  When you're doing your own stool, you can easily paint and age the pedestals to coordinate with your new upholstery.

Step One

Remove the pedestal from the seat cushion. 

Using the pliers and screwdriver, take out all the staples and remove the original upholstery. 

This upholstery was a lovely gold pleather!  The bar stools were made by a company called ChroModern.  I did a little internet research but couldn't find much about these vintage stools.  If you know anything about ChroModern, send me an email.  I'd love to learn a little history.

Step Two

Drill a button hole in the center of the wood backing.  I use the largest size drill bit in my Man's workshop. 

Next, eyeball and cut the amount of batting you will need.  The original seat cushin is a little weak and very old school, so I've added a thick layer of batting. 

Then, staple the edges of your batting to the wood one edge at a time,  Use a firm hand and pull the batting evenly and smoothly across the seat.  I will usually do a few staples on one side and then a few on the opposite side to ensure an even form.  Until I've stapled all around the circle.

Cut away the excess batting. When covering a circle the edges will naturally pucker.  Cut the pucker away as in picture 4-5.  You want to create an even smooth form.

 Step Three

Using your eye for judgement, cut the amount of liner fabric you will need.  Liner fabric isn't any special kind of fabric.  I mostly use scraps from my fabric bin but even and old sheet will do fine.  The purpose is to help control the cushioning (the batting, the foam etc) and create a uniform shape to upholster.  Always pull firmly and evenly to avoid creating an uneven shape.

When upholstering a cirlce shape, the best way to staple is to grab a fistful of fabric and stapling the gathers that naturally appear.  Then move to the opposite side and repeat until the liner has be securly stapled.   This is a perfect time to practice how you will staple the outside uphostery.  And remember,  if something doesn't look right, simply remove a staple or two and redo it. 

Next cut away any excess fabric outside your stapled area.  And waaalaaa!  A nice smooth circle shape. 

Step Four

You can use any button you want to tuft a furniture piece but this time I'm going to make covered buttons for this project.  This is also a great time for a little chocolate snack...I love the Almond Clusters! 

To begin, simply purchase a button covering kit at your local fabric store and follow the simple directions.  But in general, this is how button making works.  I use a soft mallet for step 5 to ensure my button is fitted well.

Step Five

Thread your buttons.  Fold your upholstery twine in half to creat a loop.  Thread the loop through the eye of the button. Insert the loose end of the twine through the loop and pull tight. 

Step Six

Center the cushion upside down on the wrong side of the fabric.  Make sure you have enough fabric to staple up the sides.  And trim away any excess fabric.  It will only get in your way.

Next, using a knitting needle, push through the back side of the cushion to the front making sure you are centered.  Pull the needle in and out a few times creating a path for your upholstery needle.

Third, thread your upholstery needle with you button and twine.  Then push the needle through the cushion pulling your twine as tightly as you like.  The tighter you pull, the deeper the button tuft. 

 Adhere the twine to the back board with a few staples. And then tie a knot.

Step Seven

Turn your cushion right side up and begin to pull and straighten the fabric till it's smooth.  Begin at the button and pull outward.

Next, staple the fabric to the backboard.  With this circle I like to use the same method for stapling the liner fabric.  Grap and fist full of upholstery and pull tightly, evenly and firmly.  Ahere with a few staples.  Move to the opposite side and do the same.  Grabbing and pulling and stapling all the puckers tightly.  After you've stapled the round, cut away the excess fabric. 

I should add a backing to this chair but I didn't feel like it.  To do this, staple a piece of fabric tightly across the back and finish the edge with hot glue and ribbon.

Put the pieces back together.  Attach the cushion to the base.

Step Eight

Finally make it yours!  Add  a trim.  I picked this flirty little pom pom.  Using hot glue or fabric glue attach your trim.

Une Belle!

Now you're finished.  Enjoy your sweet little bar stool.

If you have a before and after project you'd like to feature on Peppertowne, email a low resolution before and after picture here.

DIY: Button Tufted Ottoman

I have fallen in love with tufting! The look and feel are so lux.

This used ottoman was a thrift store find that needed a little love.

Now, it's a perfect place for your feet!

Supplies & Tools
Safety goggles (If I didn't mention these, I'd get in trouble with my father-in-law)

One old, dilapidated ottoman

Flathead screwdriver or other flat pointed tool for removing staples

Needle nose pliers
Buttons
Spray adhesive
Long upholstery needle and knitting needle

Upholstery fabric (I used 2 yards)

Liner fabric (I used 1 1/2 yards)

Finishing fabric and ribbon

(I used 1 yard fabric & 2 1/2 yards ribbon)
Thin sheet of plywood

Staples & staplegun

Upholstery string or twine

Screws or nails

Hammer and drill
Hot glue and glue gun

and...

One eager little helper.

Step One:
Strip your ottoman down.  Remove the legs (they usually screw out) and all the fabric, removing as many staples as you have patience for.  This ottoman had 4 layers of fabric!  Seperate the top foam and batting piece from the bottom hardware.  If the foam and batting are in bad shape, replace it. 

Step Two
Measure your ottoman and cut the plywood to be about 1 inch shorter around the edges.  Measure and pre-drill holes for your buttons.  Buttons are usually attached in a grid or diamond pattern.  For this ottoman I spaced 9 buttons in a grid. I drew my grid and drilled the holes using the
largest drill bit in my Man's workshop.  Using spray ahesive, attach the board to the backside of your foam.

Step Three
Attach your liner.  A liner can be any simple cotton fabric or even an old sheet.  The purpose is to control the shape of your foam and batting.  Start stapling in the center of each side.  Stretch the fabric tightly to create an even shape.  Then work the corners of the ottoman in the same way folding the excess in.  Next, finish the edges stretching the fabric firmly.  If you have any gaps, like in photo #3, just pull tight and staple.
Don't be afraid to get staple-happy!  You can never use too many.

Once the liner is attached, assemble your ottoman upside down and centered on your upholstery fabric.  Use your eye to measure how much fabric you will need to cover each side.  Then remove the bottom harware piece so you can begin adding the buttons to your foam.
This is the fun part!

Step Four
Using upholstrey twine thread your button.  To do this, first, fold your twine in half creating a loop.  Thread the loop through the button and double it over so that the button is attached to the twine. 
Use the knitting needle to push through your pre-drilled hole into the foam and out the front side of your fabric.  Poke the needle in and out and few times to create a path for your upholstrey needle.
Starting from the foam side, or back side, push your upholstrey needle through the hole and out the top of the fabric.  Then slip the two loose ends of the twine into the eye of the needle and pull the needle out the bottom.  You may need to use your needle nose pliers.  Remove the needle and pull the twine and button tight.  Attach the twine with staples in a zig-zag pattern and then tie a knot.  This holds the button firm.  Make sure each button is pulled with the same tightness to ensure an even uniform look.

Step 5

Assemble your ottoman.  I attached the bottom and top piece with a few screws.  I drilled my holes and then inserted the screws to hold the pieces securely together.  I prefer screws over nails because the wood on this ottoman is brittle and could split. 

 

Step Six
There will be a natural pucker of fabric at each button.  Starting at the center, fold the pucker and pull it tightly toward the bottom of the ottoman.  It's important to pull tightly on the fabric.  Loose upholstrey will look awful.  Secure the fabric firmly with your staple gun.  Use a hammer to tighten any loose staples.
Next fold your corners.  Pull the excess fabric out (like picture #4) and then fold the seams in and staple
(picture #5).

Cut away excess fabric from the center and make sure all edges are tightly stapled.

Step Seven
Attach your finishing fabric.  Use any cotton fabric to finish the bottom of your awesome new tufted ottoman.  Pull the fabric tightly across and staple.  Again, nailing down any loose staples.  Next, hot glue a ribbon around the bottom fabric seam to hide the unfinished edges.  Then, screw the feet back into place. 

Ooooh La La! A beautiful velvet tufted ottoman!

Now kick your feet up and relax.

You can do it!

If you'd like to share a great before and after project on our blog, simply email your low-resolution before and after pictures here and we'll feature you.