Ok, so in case you aren’t already in the know, here’s the 411. After 6 months of living in our fifth house, we decided to give our dining room a little face lift. The house was built in the early 90’s; it’s younger than me, and while I certainly don’t need a face lift (at least I don’t think I do), we felt like the wallpaper, wall-to-wall carpet, chandelier, and furniture were definitely not showing off it’s youthfulness and well, basically, just not our style. Let the dining room redo commence. One of the first things we did was to solve the white wall-to-wall carpet issue. Being that we have very, VERY different styles, it was amazing when we both agreed, that while I had originally planned to paint and recover the dining room chairs, we would instead pull a little table switch-a-roo. As in we switched the dining room table and chairs for the kitchen table and chairs. So, the old dining room table and chairs became the new kitchen table and chairs. See- I told you – the dining room made me do it!
So yesterday, I showed you how I gave the old dining room table a new look for it’s new home in the kitchen. And I promised to show you how the chairs turned out. Here’s the before.
Sorry I don’t have a true before picture. You get it though right? They had a cherry finish with a red and gold diamond print chenille fabric on the seat cushions. I had first planned to recover them with an animal print fabric (see the top left corner of the picture). I wasn’t loving that, so I then decided to paint them black. Again I wasn’t loving the look, and that’s when we decided to completely change things up and move this table and chairs into the kitchen. I found a light sand-ish colored linen fabric and fell in love with this look!
I really don’t know how to “properly” reupholster anything. As you can clearly see, that doesn’t stop me. I have a staple gun, and I’m not afraid to use it.
They aren’t perfect, but it works perfectly for me (and the rest of my family). I scotch guarded the fabric, and also bought a little extra since it was 25% off (you know how it goes with kids and eating- sometimes it looks like more food fell on the floor then made it in their tummies.)
Anyhow, after we outfitted the kitchen with the hand-me-down dining room furniture; I was kind of feeling like the window valances needed to be switched as well. Don’t get me wrong I really did love them! I may use them somewhere else in the house. However, this new kitchen table and chairs really demanded that I change the dressings on the windows too. Because I didn’t break the bank to have the valances made in the first place since I found a seamstress on etsy to make them, and I got the fabric online at a discount fabric store; I really didn’t feel bad spending a little money for something new. Once again- all I can say is – the dining room made me do it. As that truly is what got this kitchen update ball rolling.
So when I was at Lowe’s buying the stain for the “faux hardwood floor” in the dining room, I just so happened to run to across these.
I fell in love with these Waverly panels, and they even had a matching valance that would work perfectly for the window over the sink. So, I bought 3 panels ($19.99/ each) and 1 valance ($14.99) even though I have 5 windows in my kitchen. I turned the 3 panels into 6 panels with the help of this awesome stuff.
No sewing required; all you need is an iron and a pair of scissors! ( I really recommend investing in a good pair of fabric scissors if you are going to be doing any kind of fabric projects. They can be a little pricey, but they really do make projects involving fabric so much easier. I’ve had the Ginghers pictured above for years. You only ever want to use fabric scissors to cut fabric – nothing else- ever – or the fabric scissor poeple will get you!)
So I laid each panel out on the kitchen floor and cut them right down the middle creating 2 panels.
Then I plugged in the iron and folded a hem then ironed it. Then placed the HeatnBond tape in the fold and ironed it again.
I probably should’ve busted out the ironing board, but as you can see I didn’t.
That’s it! Awesome – huh?! I found this stuff when I was in college. I’m 5’3″,so just about every single pair of pants I own has to be hemmed! Anyhow, I love this stuff, although I do still wish I was better at sewing.
Ok, so after the 3 panels became 6. I hung them up using another little trick I’ve picked up during my make-this-house-a-home-moving-every-couple-years-adventures. To make a store bought panel look more like a custom-made panel it’s all in the way you hang them. So, what I did was I pinched the fabric and then clipped drapery rings to the back of each panel just a few inches from the top like this.
And doing this gives you this look.
The other little change that made a big impact was I finally had my electrician lower the chandy, so it would be center and lower over the table (he was already here fixing a little issue we had in the kid’s bathroom so I figured it would be good to knock out both things at once). I also added some $4 off-white linen shades from Lowe’s and am really loving the new chandy look!
Ok, so here are the before and after’s. Here is the kitchen when we first moved in.
Sorry for the poor quality. These were taken on the hubs phone.
And here is the kitchen after we gave it a little love and personality.
And here is what the dining room made me do!
And what does the modern, contemporary loving hubs think of all this? Well, let’s just say that this sign that I picked up a few years ago on etsy says it all!
I’m loving this change. It feels fresh and elegant, and well, I like to change things up every now and again. I can always go back to the valances if I want to, and I could also use one of the drapery panels as a table runner too! So – who knows what I’ll do next?! I do! I have a little something planned for the bar stools and also something for the walls – stay tuned! Did any of the rooms in your house make you redecorate another room? Don’t you just hate it when you’re forced into something? 🙂
You did a great job redoing the kitchen table and chairs. They look fantastic. Love the fabric you used for the curtain too.
Fabulous! I love everything about it! XO THanks for linking up 🙂
Thanks so much! The kitchen is slowly transforming into my favorite room in the house, which will hopefully inspire me in the cooking/baking department where I am seriously lacking 😉
xoxo- Carmel
I love the black and white table set!
It looks great! Thanks so much for linking up!!
I'm in love! Your kitchen is fabulous and I love the new curtains 🙂
We're in the process of moving into our third house and making it a home…all the rooms are screaming at me. I have to keep reminding myself to take it a little at a time.
Hahaha- Chris, I know exactly what you're talking about 🙂
XO- Carmel
Im LOVING your curtains…and how you got more panels by chopping them up:) Sarah HandbagsnPigtails.blogspot.com
I want your kitchen! Seriously. I've saved a picture to use as inspiration in our remodel next spring. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks Ellie! Glad to inspire!
xo- Carmel
Gorg! I'm glad I looked around your blog to see it all put together. Love the window treatments and your chandy.
Ok Im really bummed. I KNOW my Lowes carried these panels before but I went two days ago to look for them and it looks like they've really narrowed down their selection and no longer carry these. WHAT?! Id think they would be a very popular design. Can you shed some light on this? Ive even started looking online to try to find them but with no luck. Can you give the name of them? I know you said theyre a Waverly panel but whats the collection name or whatever. These would be so perfect for my home. Please help! Sarah HandbagsnPigtails.blogspot.com
Hi Sarah,
They are Waverly though I'm not sure of the collection name. I'm heading to Lowes soon- and I'll definitely check for them because they also had them in red and I was planning to purchase the red ones for my guest bedroom! So, I'll be bummed too if they no longer carry them!
Ok Sarah- I found them today at my Lowe's! They had them in 3 different colors – tan/khaki – red – and black. The cashier told me if a store doesn't have them in stock they can always order them in from another store. Hope this helps! – Carmel
Looks great! And, I'm liking the fabric update, also 🙂
I love the fabric update. I am trying to decide what fabric to do in my dining area. Beautiful.
These are beautiful before and after pics! You guys have really come a long way.
The kitchen is BEAUTIFUL! and I really liked the kitchen/dining area curtains in the "middle" shots – can I ask who made them?
You did a great job redoing the kitchen table and chairs. They look fantastic. Love the fabric you used for the curtain too.