A while back I decided to plunge into an area I’ve long wanted to learn–Upholstery!  A lady named Jennifer, who is an expert upholsterer, offered classes in Houston.  I was lucky enough to be her last student before she moved her whole operation to Navasota, TX.

For the classes I chose a chair with a carved wooden frame that I’ve had for ten years, and selected a jet black silky velvet to replace a faded floral.  Refinishing the chair was included in the lessons, so I went from a natural wood to a romantically distressed shabby chic.  Jennifer was a strong, excellent teacher and the lessons were fun!  Here is a before and after:

BEFORE

AFTER

I’m thrilled with the result!  If you don’t have classes near you, I can recommend a comprehensive guide that will lead you step by step with tons of pictures and lists of tools and resources:

Spruce:  A Step-by-Step Guide to Upholstery and Design.

It helps to be strong–tugging on the webbing and fabric is not easy–but with proper tools and instructions, you can transform the furniture you already love. Give it a try!