Give your entry a fresh façade and create a welcoming foyer for guests with these joyful floral-inspired projects.
Fashion a dazzling entry wall with paper from York Wallcoverings. Their gorgeous Sea Floral paper adds color, pattern, a metallic shimmer, and abundant energy. And the best part? It’s removable paper, so it’s super easy to install and change when you want a new look.
The color palette inspiration for the entry came from a group of gorgeous, yet dainty fabrics by Liberty of London. The small-scale floral patterns create a harmonious whole when combined in the patchwork cover on a vintage Queen Anne-style side chair.
To make a similar cover, remove the seat from the chair (usually attached with screws through the frame from below). Cut squares (ours are about 5 ½ inches square) from several coordinating fabrics. Since the squares are so small, this is a great use of leftovers from other projects.
With right sides together, sew two squares together along one side about ¼ inch from the edge. Sew another on the opposite edge of one square. Press the seams as you go. Add as many squares to your row as you need to span the widest part of your chair seat, plus enough fabric to wrap around to the back on both sides. Sew several rows (4 or 5 should do it), then, with right sides together again, sew the rows into a large square piece.
Center the finished square of fabric smoothly over the seat. Turn it over and attach the seat cover with staples and staple gun. Pull the fabric taut as you go, paying special attention to corners.
Replace the seat and you’ve got a chair with a whole new look.
We found this vintage sofa table at a tag sale for $25. Loved the lines but it was a dismal flat black overall. We brought it back to life with paint and stain. Here’s how to renew an old piece like ours:
Gather Your Materials
- Medium and fine-grit sandpaper
- Tack cloth
- X-I-M spray-on primer: 400 White
- Rust-oleum Painter’s Touch Semi-Gloss spray-on paint: Ivory Bisque
- Minwax Gel Stain: Walnut
- Spray-on finish sealer
Use fine-grit sandpaper to sand all surfaces of the table and wipe thoroughly with a tack cloth.
Spray one coat of X-I-M primer on the table. Let dry.
Spray on one or two coats of Ivory Bisque. Let dry.
Use medium-grit sandpaper to sand all areas where distressed look is desired.
ipe thoroughly with the tack cloth.
If desired, antique with Walnut gel stain. Let dry.
Spray on one or two coats of finish sealer letting dry between coats.
Give a plain-Jane lampshade an instant upgrade with another floral pattern fabric attached with spray adhesive.
Housetohome.co.uk
If you’re using a simple drum-shape shade, it’s an easy matter of wrapping a length of fabric around the straight sides. But if your shade has a taper, it takes a little more finessing to get a smooth cover. Try this simple method.
To make a fabric cover template, lay poster board on a flat surface. Place your shade on the board. Starting at the seam, mark the top and bottom of the shade as you roll it across the board until you arrive again at the seam. Add an extra half-inch to each side and end. If you’re working with a tapered shade, you will end up with a semi-circular pattern. Cut the template you’ve made from the poster board.
Lay the template on the wrong side of your fabric and with a pencil, trace the pattern. Cut the shape from your fabric.
Spray the surface of your shade and then the wrong side of your fabric with the adhesive spray.
Smooth the fabric carefully over the shade, starting and ending at the seam. Fold the end of your fabric under and press secure with a spray of adhesive. Starting from the center, smooth the fabric toward the top and bottom to eliminate any air bubbles. Fold the fabric edges over the top and bottom of your shade.
Allow the adhesive to dry. If necessary, you can secure the fabric to the shade with clothespins at top and bottom during the drying process.
Scraps of fabric add zing to a glass dish, turning it into a coordinating key tray.
More floral fabric scraps taped into vintage frames bring more fantastic blooms to the wall.
Silvers and grays in the fabrics, wallpaper, and plush rug keep all the floral patterns and pink hues on the sophisticated side, not too girly but not too serious, either. And welcoming—that’s what it’s all about.
© Caruth Studio