Spark

Bored with your not-so-new or hand-me-down chairs? Give them a fresh makeover with a can of paint and some fun new fabric! I inherited a pair of  iron bar stools from a relative years ago. When they fell into my hand hands, the stools were white and gold with almond colored “pleather” seats (yikes!)

Immediately, I painted the stools iron gray and recovered the seats in fabric remnants. This is a very affordable option for recovering smaller seat cushions or pillows.  Some fabric stores have bins of discontinued fabrics that are dramatically marked down or sometimes even free! To paint a something like this stool, with lots of nooks and crannies, I suggest several coats of spray paint (primer first) rather than a brush application.

Recently, I had a change of heart and gave the stools yet another update. I repainted the stools a bright, spring green in a gloss finish for more punch. Then, I recovered the seats in Sunbrella fabric for its high durability and ease of cleaning. To tie the stools into the rest of my room, I even made matching pillows for my sofa. . . Instant update for my entire family room!

Moral of the story: Don’t be afraid of change. Always look at the lines and shapes of a piece of furniture before dismissing it. If you can see a purpose for the piece, then all you have to do is find a clever way to personalize it. And if you can’t think of way, call me and I will! There’s nothing better than breathing new life into an old piece and being able to use it for years to come.

There’s a Texas Tornado’s song that goes, “A little bit is better than nada, sometimes you want the whole enchilada”. Maybe it’s my craving for TexMex or maybe I’m just consoling myself, but these lyrics keep popping up in my head. When I think of all the decorating projects I want to do, the mundane [...]

The premiere of Million Dollar Decorators would get me blogging again after my mid-May hiatus (busy month,eh?) Really, there’s so much to say but it all comes out sounding rather catty. The decorators of the rich do not live in the same world as I do. I’d be much more concerned about my client’s well [...]

Ready to refresh your room but aren’t sure where to begin? I always love to start with fabrics from bedding, curtains, or upholstery as inspiration. The fabric is a ready made palette for choosing wall color and accent pieces. Pottery Barn has a new tool that makes the selection process even easier when it comes to bedroom fabrics and paint. [...]

Yesterday, I stopped by Best Fabrics on Burnet Rd. and Research, near Furniture Row. It’s not easy to spot the shop, but it’s worth discovering since Austin is short on good fabric stores. The inventory is neatly organized and includes quality fabrics for drapery or upholstery needs. According to our seamstress Leslye Womack, this is [...]