Decorating with Faux Finishing

From Trash to Treasure!

 Though our website focuses on creative wall and ceiling decoration, it's also about things you can do to make your surroundings more beautiful all by yourself.

At the swap meet last summer, I came across a booth of what appeared to be "junk". There in the back of the booth, covered by yet more "junk", was a chaise lounge just waiting for little ole me to take it home and give it new life!

She let it go for a mere $35.00 and I thought I'd made the steal of the century as I loaded it in to my truck.

Covered in 1970's red, white and blue flowered material, it sat there in my dressing room until last month when I went to find just the right material for it.

There at JoAnn fabrics, I scored heavy, upholstery material in a rich cream with a brocade pattern for $6.99 a yard on sale! (Yet another score!).

Some braid, fringe, tassels and two gold buttons later, I went home to transform my treasure.

The Christopher Lowell show is one of my favorites and I watch pretty faithfully. One day, he was showing how to easily recover furniture using Heat and Bond. This is a sheet of adhesive that is covered on both sides with paper. So I gave it a whirl.

wow! did it ever make this recover project a cinch!

I cut the heat and bond to match each "section" of the chaise. Ironed it over the section, peeled the paper off, ironed my new fabric right over the top of it, trimmed the edges and moved on to the next section.

Once I completed all of the sections, I trimmed them in matching cream colored braid.

With the cushions, I simply laid them on the floor, over the fabric, pinned the fabric round them nice and snug, and then stitched seams together that gave it a nice "fit".

Fringe around the bottom and two little tassels at the ends of the cushions, gold buttons on the arms finished the whole project and gave my new chaise a very elegant and quite "expensive" look!

So next time you are thinking about selling or throwing away that beautiful old arm chair, that lovely shaped chaise...at least give this method a try!

This chaise is now my most favorite place to sit and just read my decor magazines, write in my decor diary or read letters from friends..heck, I've even napped here a time or two! My efforts are worth the wonderful new piece I now have to move to our new home in Idaho when it's time to go.

Exciting News!
Victoria's husband Dana has finally released his fabulous "Smooth Jazz" CD that includes Victoria's single "Gravity".

Give a listen for free at
cdbaby.com
today!
Click here!