We have a large family, so when it came to formal dining room chairs of course I knew I wanted ornate and heavy. Preferably with a Tuscan or Spanish flare since that’s my thing. Quality dining chairs are expensive, I would never spend $200+ per chair especially since I needed at least 15. I found a set with 8 chairs and the table for $300 on Craigslist. Casa Mollino by Ashley furniture.

A great deal considering the set was almost 3k new. 8 chairs is not enough so I searched until I found another matching 8 chair set for $200. So $500 for 16 chairs and 2 gorgeous 104”carved tables. We had a huge dining room, now all I had to do was reconstruct the tables into one larger one, but then as life goes we ended up moving states and our new house has a circular dining room so the 2nd table would not be in use (for now) but will be a project for later.

I split the chairs between the formal and kitchen dining room. I made simple slipcovers and recovered the bottom cushion for the kitchen chairs. This is such an easy way to update chairs and you can pull the slipcovers off to throw in the laundry. (make sure to wash your fabric before you sew the covers so they wont shrink on you) Trace the pattern of the back of the chair, I used newspaper to do this add for your seam allowance. quick and easy project.

For the formal dining room 2nd set, I recovered the seats in a rich gold chenille. I reupholstered the top in gold/ivory zebra chenille. A fabric that was reg $50 a yard but I bought a big roll of it when a fabric store was going out of business for only $80. I made matching curtains, recovered an ottoman as well and have plenty left over to recover the kitchen chairs if we move again into a house with a nice big dining room so they will all finally match as was intended.

Blessings,

Eden