A client had recently been looking for fabric to slipcover an old chair. She had a tough go of it, looking for a unique fabric that worked with the craftsman style home. There is a masculine edge to the space and that perfect fabric did not present it self at the usual fabric stores.
She had interest in a blanket or rug that were not what they seemed. A puzzling mixture but it made sense. Texture, muted color and a fringe of some type & the fringe not really being fringe.
I had recently worked with another client who sells textiles at
Antique Company Mall in Booth 498 called Gathered Well -They are Turkish towels. They come in many sizes, many colors and can be used from anything that requires a unique fabric. Her towel/blanket fabric was a perfect match. My club chair client went to Antique Company Mall, found her booth and that was that.
It was the color, the perfect texture and could not have suited the client’s home better.
Visit Antique Company Mall in historic McKinney for your next project!

Finding the perfect chair for a small living room can be a challenge. Obtaining a chair in the perfect fabric is another. It's time for an update with reupholstered seat cushions. The inspiration piece looks nothing like the homeowner's chair, however, it's the look she wants. The cream linen blend with an asphalt grey, linen piping is perfect for the chair.It's the little things in home design that add up to complete the big picture. Inspire. Desire. Acquire!
​

The problem with slipcovering your living room sofa is that it makes the rest of your furniture look dated.  In a previous post I showed you The Beast -- a giant sectional with a re-imagined style.  Now, the homeowner was inspired to update her arm chairs.  She found inspiration in an Ethan Allen designed slipcover.  She loved the vintage style.
The homeowner's version is a much better look for her home.  This design & fabric mix are the perfect companion to tame The Beast.  

Working with a client is an opportunity to collaborate.  I get to facilitate their ideas & turn them into design reality.  
For these bar stools, my client had a clear vision but did not know how to capture the look. Using vintage linens, we designed Edwardian style dinner jacket slipcovers to complete her kitchen update.  This double-breasted look is accented with loops & matte black buttons.  This is a sharp, clean concept with a masculine quality to coordinate with her black counter-top.  No room is complete until the chairs are tailor-made!   

There is a fine line between wanting to do things yourself & hiring a professional to execute a project. That line can involve budget, time and desire. All are equally important.  Online references can be time consuming & unreliable.
Where does one go?  That's where I come in.  Through personal classes or the HTLYH YouTube Channel, I give DIY'ers the skill set to complete their own projects.
This client had a two hour personal class to learn to reupholster her dining room chairs.  Working with a client on their own chair gives them the confidence to push through.  A personal class allows my clients to take notes, photos & video allowing them to take the "how to" home and make it happen -- in this case, five more times.
I love my job.
If you are interested in learning a new skill or brushing up on an old one, email me at hens_chix@yahoo.com.
To see examples go to ​HTLYH YouTube Channel.  Subscribe to the How to Love Your Home Channel to get notifications of our latest videos.

The stripe is tiny and from from a distance the lines are quietly obscured. Close up, you see the texture of the lines and softness of the fabric. It's really the perfect chair now! Adding subtle color with a vintage feel.

Historic McKinney is like living in a small town.  Being a Sewologist & Design Consultant here allows me to become a shirt tail relative to my clients.  My referrals are constant & I have my own 6 degrees of separation.  
It was by accident that I was told about this article in D Magazine.  I was installing custom drapes in a client's home when she told me her sister-in-law's cottage restoration was in print.  When I looked at the photo layout, I recognized my handiwork.  Sofa & wing chairs slipcovered in drop cloth--the staple of McKinney Slipcover Style!
See some of my other work in print:
Upholstered Headboard Makes Southern Living Magazine
Charming 1930's Texas Cottage Country Living Magazine
​
Outdated Furnishings + Sewologist = The soft side of restoration!

It's always a good time to take a new look at your furniture and rearrange it in your space to make it the best possible fit. Sectional sofas pose numerous restrictions in relocating because of their shape. It's time to step back and see what separating that sectional can do for you.
The original black denim slipcover easIly came off and I created a white duck cloth replacement with top stitching around the seams. Simplicity is the key for this modern rustic space.
This client, not only took a "sectional" piece into her kitchen, she elevated the legs to pair with a restyled table. The results created the perfect nook for a small space. With a large dining room at the opposite end of the kitchen, utilizing this space for comfort makes perfect sense. Never underestimate what you can do to make furniture work for you!
This homeowner is a vendor at Antique Company Mall, Booth 498, at the Historic Square in Downtown McKinney.