It’s been a week of lethargy around here and the start of summer is totally to blame. We’ve spent most of the mornings just lying around and then sometimes we find the energy to do something fun but I admit it’s been nice being extra lazy the past two weeks. Ever since the house tour I’ve had a few questions, namely about the furniture in our home and especially in the family and dining rooms with other inquiries like how we live the way we do with kids and pets and my answer comes down to one word or choice that I’m sure several of you endorse and that word is this Slipcovered furniture is a mom’s BFF and I’m a true believer. What’s better than a washable piece of furniture when those oops and spills and mistakes of life occur? Slipcovers buy me piece of mind because I know (like last week) when applesauce gets spilled on them, they can go straight to the wash. I prefer the tailored fitted versions, the ones that mimic upholstered pieces but have the benefit of easy removal when “oh no mom I spilled on the couch” moments happen.
Our family room sofas and dining room chairs are our most used pieces and as a result, limbs and hands and paws are on them constantly so naturally they’re bound to get soiled. So here’s the slipcover report after all these years of living with them with kids and pets and life’s circumstances and the lowdown on my two favorite pieces of slipcovered furniture. First the family room sofas. I bought these sofas five years ago – they are the Pottery Barn Basic sofa and loveseat and worth the investment. They were manufactured by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams (in partnership with Pottery Barn according to the label) and still are as comfortable as the month they were delivered. This color of slipcover is (sadly) no longer available, they are the “Slate Blue” brushed canvas fabric, and as you know I’m a sucker for anything in the blue gray family so the choice was easy. The cushions are polyester which are more firm and hold the shape a bit better than down blend as I understand (but tell me your experience if you have the down blend versions).
They’re not in direct sun, so I have no idea how the fabric color holds up those circumstances, but ours has been consistent through the multiple washings. I’ve washed these slipcovers more times than I can count and they still keep their shape, but a few tips: don’t wash all the cushion slipcovers together if you have both a loveseat and sofa, I’ve confused them before when they come out and struggled with which belongs with which. It’s better to wash the loveseat cushions and loveseat cover together, then just the sofa cushion covers, then just the sofa cover, in three separate washes. That’s my routine anyway. Also dry them on a low heat cycle and pull them out when ever so slightly damp so you can smooth any wrinkles away. Also, the sofa is the foldout version, which we love for family movie night or kid sleepovers when we move the loveseat back a foot and move the coffee table out of the way and they all pile on top in front of a movie with blankets and pillows and popcorn.
In the dining room are the Ballard Designs Couture Chairs that I bought seven years ago and still going strong. I have three of the pleated slipcover sets for them, a dark brown velvet which is yummy in the fall, a cream velvet which I love in the winter, and then a spa linen (seen below) in a pale gray blue which I use in the spring and summer and complements the family rooms sofas nicely. The regular price on the pleated slipcovers is $49 but I wait for the $39 each sale or use a 15% off coupon (find it in House Beautiful or other publications). I like that the flirty pleat adds a feminine touch and that the chair legs are visible. They’ve gone through multiple washings as well and have held their color and shape for years. So there you have it, the secret to sanity in my house: tailored slipcovers. Fitted and washable, I couldn’t ask for more!The lovely and talented Caitlin emailed to say she was inspired by this old post and took a sharpie to her IKEA slipcovers.
Talk about bang for your buck! And I’m really liking the more open pattern she went with here. It’s a little more subtle. (also much easier to pull off!) The rest of her home is so lovely. Check out her full house tour here. PS Caitlin mentioned she has a new color in her Deco pillow line – mint. Nook ChairsIkea ChairsDining Room ChairsOffice ChairsDesk Chair IkeaIkea Clear ChairClear Office ChairLucite Dining ChairsTiny Dining RoomsForwardTOBIAS Chair - transparent/chrome plated - another transparent chair, this one from IKEA. I've sat in it so I know it's comfortable. Mestler Side Chair in Antique White (Set of 2) Antique style inspired side chair made of durable wood in rustic finish. Features classy frugal design utilizing solid frame for stable support, padded seat in quality cover to provide comfort, and profiled back for added convenience. Chilton Side Chair (Set of 2) An armless side chair that is designed for use in dining rooms. It features a solid wooden frame with stable, decorative legs.
Its seat is soft and supported by a backrest. The whole sitting space is finished with decorative nailheads. Parsons chair slipcover tutorial! Great idea, I can cover the parsons stools at the island with a wipeable cloth fabric until the kids are old enough not to spill every meal! tutorial: how to sew Parsons chair slipcovers {includes pattern to fit IKEA's Henriksdal dining chairs} Capital E easy parson chair slipcover tutorial with chevron fabric!!! Two chairs for 10 bucks. DIY Tutorial: Diy Dining Chair Slipcovers / Diy Slip Cover Chair - Bead&Cord a place of gratitude: How to Recover a Parson Chair I'm not usually a fabric covered dining room chair kind of person, but I like these slipcovers.Parsons Chair Slipcover PDF format Sewing Pattern by StudioCherie pink gingham chair--LOVE :) Parsons Chairs With Arms Parsons Leather Dining Chairs Parsons Upholstered Counter Stool I want to make this! DIY Furniture Plan from The easiest slipcover pattern ever!
Make the chair too! How To Create A Custom Look Without The High Dollar Price Tag chair cover for parsons chairFreshen up an unfinished stool with white paint. To add comfort for the cook, finish with a skirted seat cushion and lumbar pillow. Love the fabric on this chair. Clean, whimsicle, and fun. Great redo from a table cloth. This chair is an element that is functional, but it is also able to modernize the arrangement of indoors. This piece of furniture is a combination of comfort and elegance. A hardwood frame and wooden legs enhance durability and stability. Parsons Chair Slipcover in Stocked Fabrics, $59-$99, Ballard Designs. Paola McDonald likes these for entertaining. "Have those extra folding chairs hidden somewhere and then put a slipcover over them. Get a rectangular Parsons Style cover [for folding cha PINTEREST CHALLENGE: REUPHOLSTERED PARSONS CHAIR - love the contrasting chair idea! Louis-style chairs and a gilded mirror and chandelier with a streamlined Parsons table make this dining room exquisite.
Landlocked: Build Your Own Parson (ish) Chair For my dining room chairs! I want parsons but not in the budget :/. I would bring the batting and fabric as far down as possible so theres no gap to make it even more parson like! yellow chevron and floral chair with nailhead trim...love the idea of reapolstering the back of a chair ! Love the two different fabrics on this chair! It will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine... How to Recover a Parson Chair Shabby Chic Parson's Chair Slipcover Glamorous on a Dime Britany used her DIY skills to create this chic dining area on a budget. She designed and built this white Parsons-style table for extra countertop space and recovered the homeowner’s existing dining chairs with a fun trellis patter DIY Project Plan: Build Upholstered Dining Chairs via @Katie Hrubec Hrubec Cleveland Office chair makeover ~ I'd love to redo chairs like this (in a different color) to go with my grandmother's old square table!
Black and Ivory Toile Chair Cover This is an inviting dining space. I love the fabric chair treatments. The contrasting table color makes a bold statement and grounds the room easily. Parson chairs for the dining room Red Toile and checks slipcovered dining room chairs #cottagestyle window treatments ... drapes & soft romans: classic, simple, elegant and related in fabric / trim in the same room GEORGICA PONDDIY Furniture Plan from These Parson Chair plans do not require any special cutting and all sewing is straight lines. Very sturdy and lightweight, but the chair is overall a compact chair. I need chair covers for my dining room! Parsons Chair Slipcover PDF format Sewing Pattern Tutorial Adelaide Dining Chair - Jacobean. Love this pattern and I need two parson chairs for the kitchen table because I currently only have four chairs and once Noah outgrows the high chair he'll need a place to sit. Adventures in Dressmaking: SO proud of my little upholstery project.
Nailhead Parsons chairs makeover! Beautiful and eye-catching chenille fabric upholsters this set of two parson-style chairs. These beautiful chairs are finished with durable rubberwood legs with an espresso This is exactly how I want my dining room table to look when I'm done. I have the white chairs and the wicker end ones. We restrained our table too! Love the end chairs with patterned fabric and the middle with solid fabric. no sew slipcovers which will come handy for when I have to redo our dining table chairs Upholstered Parsons Dining Chairs Upholstered Parsons Dining Room Chairs Parson Counter Stool Chair Countertop Tables And Chairs DIY Paris Burlap Chair from ~ her instructions on how to print on burlap (or any) fabric: Cottage of the Month February 2013 Marian Parson's Home This stylish chair will decorate any interior design. The product features stylish and solid wooden legs for better stability and solidity. The chair is 38 inches high x 19 inches wide x 23.5 inches deep.