Remember this recent story about how to reupholster vintage dinette chairs affordably? Well, reader Melissa used the video shown to tackle doing the upholstery herself — both on the dinette chairs and a vintage Cosco high chair she found for $3.12. Melissa also used steel wool to polish the chrome, and achieved what looks to be perfect results. Oh my goodness — her DIY project turned out beautifully — you go, girl! Read on for Melissa’s story of triumph…
Mel writes:
Hello!
I’m always checking out your website, because I love retro and mid century modern style. I know your always putting people’s projected on your site. And I thought you might like to put mine up 🙂
I have refinished a 1950’s table and chairs as well as a high chair. I bought the table and chairs off craigslist about two years ago for about a $100… I bought the fabric for about $50… and then the steel wooling started. I thought it was going to be much harder than it actually was, and I was pretty worried it was not going to turn out well. But I surprised myself. and everything turned out better than I could have ever imagined.
Then a few weeks ago I spotted a retro high chair at the thrift store for $3.12. I thought to myself well I don’t have any kids, and that would be stupid for me to buy. But I could just couldn’t resist it for only $3.12. So I thought, well, I could refinish it and sell it. But now that I have it done and it looks so good, I feel like I need to save it for when I have a child lol.
I asked Melissa whether she used the video I featured on my site, and also quizzed her on where she got the supplies. She said:
I did use her video. But I did not know it was on your site, I just googled “reupholster retro chairs” and eventually found that video. I bought the fabric from Beatrice, the lady in the video. I had originally emailed her to find out where I could buy that type of vinyl, because the only kind I was finding was the kind with backing or non plyable. Then she just told me I could buy it from her. So I did 🙂 I also got the white piping-piece from her. I had my mom help me with them, I thought four hands would be better than two. And we did it in the middle of the hot summer on my front porch with the heater on us — lol it was HOT.
Mel
Thank you, Mel, for this inspiration. Of course, I asked Mel what else she had going on in her house. More to come maybe! 🙂
Just another Pam says
Everything in the photo is bsolutely beautiful, Mel!
clampers says
Ugh ADORABLE!!!
Mary Tatum says
This is the happiest kitchen dinette I have ever seen!
The Atomic Mom says
Those colors are so fabulous! And I wish they still made high chairs like that, so good for her to buy that now. The ones they sell these days are so big and bulky.
Sara in WA says
Agree regarding the high chair. My mom (great grandma that she is) has one and has used it often when needed. Great that it folds up and not so huge as others. Stainless tray cleans well too. You’ll like it! Love the colors too – just heard tangerine is the 2012 color of the year.
Jenny says
Looks fantastic! I love the shade you have hanging there, too!
gsciencechick says
Congrats on such an awesome job!!
Nancy says
Beautiful job!! Everything looks great! I am SO excited to learn that steel wool will work on table & chairs. The set in my kitchen has so much rust & I just tried the steel wool & it looks great- who knew?! Thanks so much!
peggy miniard says
by the way….I love that window shade. the dinnette set, the shade and the vinyl all look so good together. very well put together! so bright and cherry. love it!
Peggy Miniard says
That dinette set is just so beautiful, what a wonderul job you did! I found a gray one the same style with the vinyl intact, and I passed it up becasue it had some rust on the legs….perhaps I will check and see if it is still there now that I know the steel wool works!
ChrisH says
Beautiful job!