Here There and Everywhere

Expat wanderer

Upholstery Class

About ten years ago, I was in school and didn’t like what I was studying very much, so I took a class in upholstering furniture. I loved it.

First you take the old furniture and your have to undo all the nails and take all the worn and dirty upholstery off, until you get the furniture down to the bones. Trust me, it is very hard work, and it is dirty. You can work at it all day, and your muscles ache at the end of the day.

If there are exposed wood surfaces, you have to strip them and sand them down and refinish them. That is very painstaking work. Then you have to re-foam and re-pad the seating and back surfaces. Finally, at the very last – you get to put on the new fabric.

Why am I telling you all this? Because that new fabric makes all the difference. I saw some new fabric today, and I have nothing to re-upholster. I love this fabric! I could see it on dining room chairs, I could see it on a sleek couch in my bedroom! It is so bright, so cheerful, so upbeat!

I am not sure AdventureMan would like that fabric at all. It’s probably a good thing I didn’t buy that fabric!

May 20, 2008 - Posted by | Arts & Handicrafts, ExPat Life, Experiment, Family Issues, Kuwait, Living Conditions

7 Comments »

  1. I have always wanted to be a chef, a photographer, or an architectect (but work in museums and on furniture restoring and fixing stuff… redo and give new look to old things)

    Ansam's avatar Comment by Ansam | May 20, 2008 | Reply

  2. That color is pretty bright, even for me! I’m thinking the seats for kitchen bar stools would be enough.

    momcat's avatar Comment by momcat | May 20, 2008 | Reply

  3. Ansam, I love having something to do with my hands and my sometimes nervous energy, so the upholstering turned out to be just the thing! Rather than get anxious about things, it is so satisfying just to rip into some upholstery! 😉

    Momcat – I am thinking one accent chair, or one bench at the foot of the bed – just one bright flash of color . . . and it is all purely intellectual; I have nothing I can upholster right now!

    intlxpatr's avatar Comment by intlxpatr | May 20, 2008 | Reply

  4. Oooooh. I looove that shade of orange. It makes me crave tangerines. I can see that on a dainty little empire settee. *wistful sigh*

    C's avatar Comment by C | May 21, 2008 | Reply

  5. Hmmmm, C, now you have me craving tangerines! I was thinking orange and raspberry sherbet!

    intlxpatr's avatar Comment by intlxpatr | May 21, 2008 | Reply

  6. I’m thinking we can work on something when you move back. My mom used to reupholster when I was very young. I would love to learn some tricks.

    momcat's avatar Comment by momcat | May 21, 2008 | Reply

  7. Momcat, I think that is a great idea. I took a class at Pacific Fabrics – and I wouldn’t mind taking it again, there is so much variety in furniture. The class – you brought in a piece and re-did it. I did a chair, and later, on my own, did a hide-a-bed couch! But I think I could use some continuing education! It was a while back when I took the class. It would be fun taking it together!

    intlxpatr's avatar Comment by intlxpatr | May 22, 2008 | Reply


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