Shabby chic

We continued to do "vital" Thanksgiving preparations today. J. finished the last coat of paint on the family room walls before dinner and I spent some time pondering how to make the room less depressing. I know the new paint will help with that significantly. 

The other issue with the room is that it tends to be where couches go to die. We tend to replace living room couches when absolutely necessary and then move the old couch to the family room where many children lounge on them. I don't think we're quite at a point where I'm willing to chance new furniture in there. We also have two chairs that were my grandmother's which I love. They are the perfect short person chair, but they are in desperate need of re-upholstery. 

When my grandmother had them last recovered in the 1930's, she chose upholstery based on how long it would last. Up until the last six years, it held up. I think she obtained her goal. But I suppose it's too much to expect fabric to last 90 years and it was showing significant wear. (Remember those children I mentioned.) 

You can see some of the damage under the fabric I have draped over it. 

Someday I want to get them re-upholstered, but that someday is certainly not now. We also don't have any place where we can store these chairs to keep them out of harm's way. It has been bothering me that they look so bad and I don't want them to deteriorate anymore. 

I remembered that quite a few years back, when we lived in the Big Ugly House that we were walking home from church one day when we came across the leftovers from someone's yard sale that they had marked for free. I spotted a large bolt of home dec fabric and happily carted it home. 

Because who passes up free fabric? I hadn't used it, but moved it anyway. For the last six and a half years it has been living behind the door of my studio. 

Until today...

I have managed to cover the seat so that it looks better and helos protect it. I also patched the spots where the cats couldn't keep away from the loopy fabric. It's not perfect, but will serve as a temporary fix. Now to do the same thing to the other chair. 

(And we haven't completely forgotten about fixing Thanksgiving food. L. made cranberry-orange relish on Monday, D. made six dozen rolls yesterday, and we cooked the first 25-pound turkey today. It will be fine.)