Barstool Makeover

When your friends know you can do upholstery they reach out for help!

My lifelong friend Kris needed some new barstools. Not being able to find exactly what she wanted she reached out to me. We looked for new frames from Frank Chervan and Dimension Furniture Frames, no luck. Soooo, she was able to find just what she wanted online for style but not the right frame color and fabrics. That’s where I came in.

Preparing the wood for the first step of our barstool makeover.

Kris placed her order online and had them shipped right to me so I could get to work giving them a make-over. The frames were painted Lamp Black, a General Finishes Milk Paint. Of course, the wood needs to be sanded some to remove the finish and allow the new paint color to adhere. I started with 150 grit sandpaper to scuff up the finish, yes all those curves took time but you need to do the prep work.

I then applied 3 coats of General Finishes Milk Paint in Lamp Black to the barstools. Waiting several hours between each coat to allow the paint time to dry. Before adding each additional coat I used 0000 Steel wool to smooth out and harden the finish. This is the same paint and process I used on my own kitchen counter stools.

The new black finish was done, I was now ready to recover the barstools with the fabric Kris had supplied me with, which matched her home’s existing kitchen counter stools. Using the measurements from the frame to create the pattern I was off to the sewing machine.

With the corners sewn the new covers for the barstool makeover were ready to be attached.  I stapled on the new fabric and attached the double welt cord.

The barstools were now ready to be shipped home to Cape Cod.

Custom upholstery allows you to achieve the look that fits your home, or in this case the home of a close friend. So don’t settle. Hunt for the frame you love and start learning how to do your own upholstery and give your home the exceptional look that shows all your friends what great style you have!

And you can also create something beautiful for your friends and family.