Before + After: Purple Printed Side Chair

I'm so excited to share this special before + after today. Refurbished furniture is at the heart of Kanibal Home. It's how I started this company, teaching myself to upholster and sweating over damaged wood. So obviously I love a good transformation.

I'll be honest: I like my chairs like I like my men -- strong interior with a quirky exterior. This baby has great bones, but a bit of a busted exterior. Perfect for me, but probably scary to a regular buyer.

(Before. I saw this baby's beauty even though at this stage she was still an ugly duckling.)

(That's not my hairy arm, I promise. I was unloading the chair from my truck when I random dude on the street said, "Let me brush my fingers across that woodwork. Just lovely." I felt slightly violated, but let him cop a feel.)

And a few weeks and a lot of work later ... ta-da!! The after view:

(Oh yes I did. That's two-tone upholstering at its best -- the side panels have a grey menswear inspired fabric, while the front and back are adorned in that lady-like purple pattern.)

So she may have been a beast when I uncovered her, but look at this darling side chair now. She's gotten a makeover. It's like Pretty Woman. This streetwalker is ready to sit pretty in your living room and stun guests. Or something like that. Either way, it sure is a lovely change.

Before + After: Ikat Chair

Ooo, I haven't done one of these posts in awhile! Long overdo.

BEFORE: I picked up the following chair in one of my many hunting expeditions last month. I'm always on the look-out for seating that's both functional and fun. More importantly, I'm looking for items with great bones. It doesn't need to be pretty or polished because that will come later.

This lovely lady was a perfect specimen. Around 100 years old with spindle legs and carved, delicate detailing, she was a little rough on the eyes when I first found her. The wood needed to be conditioned and a few supports needed to be fixed. Per the usual, all the fabric was gutted and the seat required some strengthening.

AFTER: But all the work was worth the final product, because -- cleaned up, conditioned and custom reupholstered -- she really is a pretty side chair. Plus how great is that ikat printed fabric? As soon as I saw it, I knew it needed to go on this chair. And, if I do say so myself, I think the final product is pretty stunning!

(This detailing is my favorite -- so special!)

(At rest inside the shop. I'm really pleased with how this turned out and, from my vantage point behind the desk, I get to start at this beauty all day.)

 

Summer Revamp: Kids Corner

Sometimes I get so involved in a project that I forget to record the "before" product. Because -- in my opinion -- something is only "wow"-worthy if you have an idea of what to compare it to.

So just trust me on this one. This was a disaster. We're talking a piece of furniture that should have been dragged out back and shot. But I'm a softy and I like to take in the damaged and the dysfunctional.

 A couple coats of paint, a little love, some stain and a few decorative details later and something that was destined for the junk pile is now a display piece at Kanibal Home.

I'm selling off the shop's existing shelving units to make room for some new updates, but in the meantime I needed something to fill the space. I was a little nervous about the look-and-feel of the final product, but I think it blends well with the shop. All in all it was a design success.

Here are some detail shots of the new area:

I love that moose/elk/woodland animal sculpture.

Check out this amazing vintage trunk from the 1950's. Here's a detail of my favorite part:

Before & After: Throne Chair

Another new chair in the shop! I wavered on this one a bit. Leave it as I found it or completely redo it?

Well the vintage nature of the chair and I completely redid it. And I mean completely. Down to the wood work. This baby needed a lot of new support, but it's as good as new and ready for a home. Check it out and let me know what you think:

BEFORE

AFTER

Before & After: Raspberry Cane Chairs

A lot of work goes into Kanibal Home, so I thought I would treat you all to a little "before & after" business. These chairs were hunted, dragged home, cleaned, reupholstered and ... pow ... here they are in the shop in all their revamped glory. Enjoy!

(The "before" shot.)

(And the "after". Minor face lift equals major results.)

(With a little help we stripped it to its "bones", put in all new cushions and ripped off the bland, brown and updated the whole look with some modern fabric.)