https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 06 May 2026 11:14:53 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-168291 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:17:02 +0000 londonkiwi (now back in NZ) 168291@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Or, you could have a stall in Greenwich market...I would be there with my credit card!</p> <p>Those are fantastic - are you planning to do a full set? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-168290 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:15:34 +0000 Angie 168290@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'll bring my credit card, Ele! After all, you have me in mind to purchase the Theory dresses in your shop. Right? :0)</p> <p>What a beautiful job on the chairs. Very KILLER. Well done! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-168214 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 09:59:45 +0000 Katiepea 168214@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow Ele, you have done such a beautiful job with these chairs - I can't believe you are a beginner.</p> <p>I really am so impressed and just had to add that they would look so nice in my house..... (if they disappear, you'll know where they've gone!)</p> <p>Do you think you have caught the upholstery bug? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-167922 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:13:00 +0000 NK 167922@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That is amazing! The chairs are so beautiful, and it's incredible to think of the history they must have.</p> <p>I was just looking at my kitchen table this morning and wondering if it was worth it to refinish because it's so 'old'. I guess 14 years isn't that old, is it? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-167896 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:14:20 +0000 Ele 167896@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Julie, have you been reading my mind again? You description of "my shop" is one of my dream future businesses! A little place in Toronto, owned and run by me and the bff, where we stock of mix of designer/bridge/vintage/handmade items, both fashion and accessories and stuff for the home. The kind of place where you can go pick up a refurbished vintage ottoman, a Theory dress and a handmade necklace by a local designer. You are all invited to the opening! (Bring your credit cards ;)</p> <p>Tam, I have no idea yet. My instructor asked me the same thing yesterday! She thinks I have a talent because I work quickly and am a perfectionist (it didn't feel quick to me, believe me). Sometimes there are just too many things that I love to do, and not enough time to do them! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-167748 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:02:03 +0000 Queen Mum 167748@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>gorgeous Ele! What beautiful pieces you have and you should be so proud of your lovely work! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-167747 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:00:59 +0000 greenglove 167747@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You are so talented- I love the new chair! I want to come to your shop! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-167745 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:57:34 +0000 RoseandJoan 167745@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ele, I can picture you owning the most beautiful little boutique/ workshop with handbags on your re upholstered chairs and rails of limited edition vintage inspired clothing. When you open may I visit? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-167741 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:15:19 +0000 yublocka 167741@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow Ele they look amazing. I think upholstery is a great art. You really can breathe back life into some amazing pieces. I didn't know you could do a course in it though - that's wonderful!! Are you planning to do this as a hobby, or something more?? Is there an upholstery blog somewhere in the near future? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-167347 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:38:34 +0000 Ele 167347@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ooops, thanks Louise! Fixed that now. </p> <p>I definitely recommend upholstery to anyone who's interested. It's time-consuming, physically tiring and frustrating at times, but really rewarding. I love my chairs and plan to keep them for a LONG time.</p> <p>Susan, I think certain products could be tackled with a good book and a lot of patience- think drop-in seats and the like. But anything with springs or buttoning and I'd want an instructor (I haven't tackled either yet). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-167345 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:37:47 +0000 Inge 167345@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Respect Ele!!!-)<br /> I wish I were more handy (and patient), I could never do something like this, so thanks for sharing these pics with us. The colour of the fabric you picked is gorgeous!!</p> <p>What are you going to tackle next? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-167343 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:37:22 +0000 Polly (thunalata) 167343@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You've done a really amazing job. The wood didn't look that great in the before picture but it's really glowing afterwards. Wow! Not to mention the upholstery! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-167333 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:29:31 +0000 Louise 167333@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow fantastic<br /> Ps the before link takes us to the finished chair x </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-167228 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:38:25 +0000 susan 167228@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nice! Learning to upholster is on my list of things I want to learn to do. Haven't found a class yet, but I have looked at some videos on youtube. Do you think it can be done without professional guidance? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-167206 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:05:01 +0000 Rosie 167206@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I saw the picture with the gorgeous blue seat first and thought, hmmm this is the before? I think it looks spectacular! Then I saw the real before shots. They look gorgeous! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-167204 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:03:32 +0000 Anonymous 167204@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I tried dining chairs once without any guidance (just stapled new fabric over the old cushions). Yours look so much better! I love how thick and cushy they turned out. Your album shows all the work that goes into them so that they don't go flat with use. Well done! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-167203 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:59:31 +0000 Debbie 167203@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Beautiful job! I've always wanted to try this but new have found a class </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-167201 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:54:11 +0000 Anonymous 167201@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That is so interesting Ele. Congratulations on a job well done.<br /> My step mother reupholster furniture in her houe even the sofa. She's a tiny light weight woman, but she is not afraid to tackle a sofa anytime.<br /> I love the beautiful blue fabric you chose. The chairs, wow, where did you find those? So beautiful and so old. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-167200 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:49:52 +0000 Vani 167200@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, Ele! What a fantastic makeover. You breathed fresh new life into those chairs. Kudos to you for being able to see the potential in them. I love how neat, precise and polished the end result is. Absolutely fantastic! *bowing to the master* </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-167199 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:47:35 +0000 chewyspaghetti 167199@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nice job- what a cool skill to have! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/before-and-after-ot#post-167197 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:40:15 +0000 Ele 167197@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>No, not a makeover. Well, sort of. </p> <p>A few of you might know that I've been taking an upholstery class since September of last year. It's something I've always wanted to learn, and my local community centre runs courses, so I thought I'd give it a go. </p> <p>Here is the result of my first project, a pair of late Victorian bedroom chairs, circa 1880.<br /> <a href="http://s641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/EleYLF/chairs%20-%20before%20and%20after/?action=view&amp;current=before.jpg">Before</a><br /> <a href="http://s641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/EleYLF/chairs%20-%20before%20and%20after/?action=view&amp;current=after1.jpg">After1</a><br /> <a href="http://s641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/EleYLF/chairs%20-%20before%20and%20after/?action=view&amp;current=after2.jpg">After2</a></p> <p>(*Editing to add- there is only one chair in the After pics because I can only carry one home at a time! Will have to wait until next week to collect the other.)</p> <p>You can see a couple "during" snaps in the complete <a href="http://s641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/EleYLF/chairs%20-%20before%20and%20after/">album</a>, to get an idea of what was involved. </p> <p>I had to strip and repair the frames which were basically falling apart, and build up the upholstery using traditional methods and materials. It was a LOT more work than I ever imagined, even though part of me still can't believe that it took me so long to finish them (really though, it was only 2 hours a week and there are people in my class who've been working on the same project for YEARS.) </p> <p>At least now I understand why getting things re-upholstered is so expensive! </p>