{ Trash to Treasure } Accent Chairs Before & After!

I have a confession: I love to make old things new. I really really do. I've been doing this so for as long as I can remember. Like when I was 10, I would make Barbie clothes out of old clothes and orphan socks (strapless dresses #allday). As I got older, I was into hardcore up-cycling: shoe boxes into glam memory boxes (still do it to this day!) and upgrading my wardrobe with bleach, paint or scissors. But today, nothing gets me going like flipping furniture, oh yeah!

Take my latest furniture flip as the perfect example.

I found these chairs and turned their dark, dreadful exterior into something I could live with - literately and figuratively. The BEST art however, is that this project only cost me a total of $13!!

The chairs = FREE, I found them up the block, around the corner. True story.

The Fabric = $4.00 A Target Threshold curtain from the Goodwill ($24 original price)

The Paint = $9 Behr Paint, from Home Depot's "Oops Paint" selection; paint left behind by a customer)

Total = $13

I have this motto I found on Pinterest (really wish I knew the author, so I could give them a long hug)

"Do what you can, with what you have". I apply this mantra daily, maybe multiple times a day.

With that said, I use my apartment's "foyer" to do my DIY projects. {Clearly, a separate garage is at the very top of my dream home must-haves} Fortunately, my neighbors have accepted this side of me. When working on this project after breakfast, one of my neighbors came out and gave me some plastic gloves, she said "don't ruin your manicure". #heartwarming

My littlest and bestest helper, my daughter. She's always volunteering to help. 9 out of 10 times I say no #sorrynotsorry, its just that 9 out of 10 times I'm working with products and equipment not safe for kids, except today! I allowed her to help me paint because the project was fool-proof! I made my own chalk-paint. And one of the best things about chalk paint (besides the fact it dries super fast) Its that it doesn't leave streaks!! She couldn't mess up the paint job, if she tried! So while she gave the chairs their first coat of paint, I got to work on the upholstering part of the chairs.

Here's what I used to upholster the chair. But all you REALLY need is The Staple gun.

This was an inexpensive staple gun from The Home Depot. If you've never upholstered before, I don't recommend getting a more sophisticated tool, keep it simple until you've mastered the skill.

The first thing I did, was remove the (disgusting, dusty) vinyl that the seats had. I used a letter opener,  to pry off the old staples, so fancy.

What is not shown: when I cut the fabric to size. 

All you need to do: trace the old piece of fabric on your new fabric, cut it and staple it.
Important step: Start with the corners.
Give it a clean and neat appearance by folding a pleat as you staple.  

I also considered the pattern on the fabric, I did my best to keep the pattern symmetrical. This especially necessary when working with stripes.

Once the chairs were completed, I screwed them back to the chair frame. It was a really simple project. I can't wait to do it again!

Aren't they grand? It definitely gave our living room a little special something. 

Thanks for stopping by & Happy Thriftin'

Sincerely,

Sarah

Thrift Store Treasures: Kitchen Sideboard & China Cabinet

When we moved in to our new place last April, I knew exactly what I wanted to do about the lack of counter and storage space in the kitchen. I wanted a practical piece to host the things we need, coffee maker, pots, pans and the things I had tucked away or poorly stored, food containers, my honey's sweets and my obsessive dish towel collection. Not to mention, it had to have some serious style; shape and color to compliment my love for all things farmhouse! That's right, this girl lives in Brooklyn... but I have a thing for country life, rustic and vintage style.

I took my needs and matched it with some visuals... I went to Pinterest (my go-to source for all things creative and home). (And no, I am not paid to endorse). I searched the words "Coffee Bar" since it has been all the rage lately, and with good reason: people with children love coffee. There were a ton of great stuff but the 3 I couldn't stop staring at are as follows:

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Why I love it: A perfect place for everything.

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Why I love it: It's true to  Farmhouse style. Wood, metal and porcelain looking good.

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Why I love it: That color! and it married what I love about #1 and #2

Now I was on the hunt to find THE piece. Until one day, eight months later, a took a stroll through downtown Brooklyn and dropped by a local thrift store where I found amazing houseware items for $1, a beautiful petite China cabinet that had my name all over it AND my kitchen sideboard. I saw it from across the room and I knew it was "the one".  Moreover, the price was right up my alley: $25!!

I spoke to the store clerk and he told me that I can prepay and pick up within 2 days. But I'd have to rent a moving truck and convince the Mister. Guess what was my biggest struggle? The Mister.

I called everyday for 2 weeks to confirm that both of my pieces were still there. I also convinced the Mister to let me have them both!! Score!! When we agreed that Saturday 00/00 we'd be able to pick it up, I went down the Thursday prior to purchase my "girls". When the clerk asked me what i was interested in, I pointed out both pieces and she says "I'll give you both for $50", I jumped and shrieked "Sold!" The China cabinet alone was tagged at $75!! I knew I just made the deal of my life!!

So here they are:

Here they are after I convinced The Mister to help me haul them home :)

Clearly they need some TLC. Yay! A project!! I am saying this with a twist of sarcasm and enthusiasm :)

UPDATE! To see the "After" of the Kitchen sideboard, check out this post!

Sincerely,
Sarah