Trina Turk Facelift

Can I get a "Whoop!  Whoop!"?  Happy 2013 to all of our friends, family and fans!  We have been noticeably absent from the blogging arena for the last month, who are we kidding- two months.  Writing that first blog post after a long break is akin to getting back in the saddle.  Not so much filled with apprehension  but more like, well...sheer DREAD.  Blogging is like pulling teeth for me.  I always have LOTS to say but putting it on paper is another story.

I have promised Jennings for three days now to do a blog post on a recent super exciting acquisition of RV.  Alas, that post will have to wait until tomorrow because it has been trumped this morning by a PHENOM delivery that I am just dying to share!

So for those who don't know me well, let me just say that my typical taste is ummm, not exactly of the bargain price variety.  However, being a stay-at-home Mom to two kids and a Great Dane who consumes more food than I do, I have certainly learned to think outside of the box budget wise.  The only thing I love more than a fab designer piece is a unique (cheap) piece that you can transform into something spectacular.  So here is my dynamic re-do.

I picked these chairs up two summers ago at a church yard sale for $10 each.  They were pretty disgusting but I loved the shape.  I think they were probably old office chairs that had been stored in a basement for 40 plus years.  Geez.  I wonder what confessions have been made in these puppies.

After many attempts at sanding the black paint off the legs myself, I convinced my husband to break out his sander.  Lesson learned quickly.  Why bust it yourself while you have
A.  a husband
B.  a husband with tools?

The legs were bare in no time and I just added a fresh coat of white enamel paint.

The upholstery left much to be desired.  It was a dusty and mildewed old blue and black vinyl.  It had to go!  It did leave me with the great idea to upholster the arm with vinyl trim, though.  I mean I have two kids and a dog.  That thing MUST have a wipe-ability factor of 10.

When we moved into this house 3 years ago I had ordered fabric samples of Trina Turk's indoor/outdoor line for F. Schumacher.  I got it from a design firm in Chicago who, at the time, had the best price around at $60 per yard.  Everywhere else it was $90 per yard and up.

Super Paradise (Left) and Pisces (Right) both in Driftwood were my absolute faves.  I was going through a grey and yellow moment.  

You can view the entire line of Trina Turk fabric online HERE.  I didn't end up buying any fabric then- let's just say it takes a village and a few years to put my plans into action.  Anyway, you know I did a straight up happy dance when both fabrics showed up in a local fabric shop for just $7.99 a yard.  Uh, yeah.  I'll take some of that.  Ten yards of each to be exact.  I had no idea what I was going to do with it but, PLEASE!!! It was almost free.

So after having the chairs for  a year and a half and the fabric for a year I finally made a pledge to use them both.  I got my new chairs this morning- freshly re-upholstered at break-neck speed.  I almost passed out as they were coming up the sidewalk.  

Inside in Super Paradise

 Back in Pisces

Pattern Detail at Leg

Side View

Oh, I'm sorry.  And I have TWO.  Now just scroll back through this post while mentally listening to "Play" a la Jennifer Lopez circa 2001.  

Oh, hell.  HERE you go.  

Now imagine that I paid $20 for the chairs, $120 each for upholstery and $7.99 for a few yards of fabric.  Less than $160 each for custom chairs.  That's right.  Take it low one time.  That's the kind of dancing I've been doing around here today. 

Till Next Time, 

Tricia