So today started out well enough. Did I wake up thinking I was going to do something worthy of Martha Stewart today? No, but boy did I! It all started out innocently enough. I woke up at about noon (no class on Thursday!) and Elle wanted to go to the bank so I got showered and everything so we could go. Anson ended up coming with us and we ended up at the DI (sorta like Goodwill) so that they could each get a white shirt for their weird neon dance party on Saturday. I didn't walk in expecting to buy anything, but I have been keeping my eye out for a half decent looking banana chair. (Up until about this moment as I am searching for a picture I've always thought that the chair was indeed called a banana chair. However, google images literally pops up with pictures of chairs that look like a banana such as the one below...Now I'm slightly jealous I don't have one of those)
So correction, it is called a gamer chair and this is what it looks like. Jessi's roommate bought one from the DI at the beginning of the semester for like 10 bucks and it was in excellent condition so I decided we needed one in our apartment.
I decided to go check and see if they had one and to my surprise they did! I was super excited as I saw it across the room. I ran (probably in slow motion) toward it and checked the price tag....3 DOLLARS! I was excited. I was ecstatic. I may have exclaimed my joy verbally (I don't remember.) Then. I. Looked. At. It. Closer. Oh goodness. If chairs could have STDs (and they very possibly could) then this one had at least two. It was revolting looking. It had stains, it was ugly, it was sooooo nasty. I really wish I'd taken a picture of the horrifyingly gross chair, but alas I did not and I'm full of regret. My heart broke. I was crushed. I wanted to cry. I might've cried. Lightbulllb. I could redo the entire chair! it couldn't be that hard right? Just strip off all the disease infested fabric, take out the cushion, put in a new cushion and put a new fabric over it. Easy as pie. Done deal. I bought the nasty thing while Elle and Anson scoffed at me. Elle wouldn't let it go that the chair was the nastiest thing she'd seen and she wouldn't sit by it. She told me that I would just bring it home and never touch it and it would slowly infect our entire apartment until we all died of unknown causes. (alright, I'm exaggerating slightly, but she definitely didn't want it to come home) All of her doubt and lack of faith in my ability may have upset me a little bit and so I was determined to prove her wrong. I went to Walmart and bought some new fabric and two pillows. I had a picture in my head and although the realistic finished product rarely looks like the ideal finished project, I was super excited. It took about 20 minutes to strip off the nasty cloth and about an hour to redo the chair, but I was left with a product that is both satisfying to know I made and comfortable to sit in. I would also like to give an honorable mention to Daviana and Anson for helping with the actual reupholstering. Anson helped for about 5 minutes and without Davi it definitely wouldn't have turned out as good as it did. Here are some pictures of the process.
Here is the disgusting fabric. You can't see all the nasty stains, but I definitely had to wash my hands a few times after ripping it off the frame of the chair. It should probably be incinerated. |
This is the process of redoing the chair. I am actually quite proud of this. I did this part all by myself.
This is the finished product. It's a black and turquoise polka dot pattern. There are two pockets (one on each side) for various snackage and possibly hidden contraband (I haven't really thought about what I want to store in them yet)
I am overall very proud of the chair. It is quite comfortable to sit in and if given the chance I would definitely take in another leper chair and restore it to it's former glory.
Also on a side note I'm addicted to Now and Laters (perhaps I'll store some of those in the pockets) I can't stop eating them and they are so bad for my teeth! I got to go see the new x-men movie at the drive in theater today too! I've never been to a drive in movie before, but I'm addicted. I can't imagine watching a movie in the regular theater anymore. Overall it was a pretty good day. I'm glad it happened and just so excited about my chair! Thanks to Elle for doubting me and driving me to prove her wrong. I hope you all had as good a day as I did!
