Make-overs, Do-overs

Bobby and I were working in our booth at Old South Antique Mall in Dothan, Alabama just a couple of weeks ago. And, you know how you get tired of looking at the same thing...and you are just ready for a change? Sometimes, all it takes is to change the way you are looking...or change your point of view.

We had a few great vintage oak dining chairs that we were trying to sell in our booth....kind of scruffy from years of use, and, or abuse. You have probably seen them or some like them...the seats (that used to be woven cane bottoms) are busted out-but still, we thought, someone would love to have these re-finished and re-caned to make perfect seating for their oak pedestal table. Well, for months, absolutely no one saw the potential in these chairs.

So, what to do but make a change. Somehow, in moving some things around, the chairs landed side by side...and I saw it--a bench...made from a few chairs put together. And, what a great idea...I could use fabric (my favorite collectible) to cover the bench seat. There...an antique chair "make-over" and booth piece "do-over".

We used the stained chairs together to make a three-chair bench. I used a fruit and floral fabric with a soft yellow background for the upholstered bench...and added detail with a small check bias cording. I also made a lumbar pillow using the same mix and match fabrics to accent the chair backs...great "cottage-y" look-and, perfect for a covered porch, hallway, sunroom, mudroom-or any other space you have to show off this cute piece.

The two black chairs worked out to make an adorable smaller bench. I used different fabrics-still mixing a vibrant floral print with a color coordinated stripe for cording detail. And, again, using the same fabrics, I added a pillow for the back.

These benches will become part of our booth "do-over" in Dothan on Thursday.