When we bought our home 8 years ago, I fell in love with the breakfast nook. It was upholstered in a laminated fabric. It worked, but it wasn’t my taste. After a year of settling in, I was ready to re-do the kitchen. So began my search for laminated fabric options. WELL, believe you me that 7 years ago this was my only option. The old school tablecloth option–
NO MORE OF THIS!!!
Breakfast Nook
I was scared 🙁 Now, I love vintage, but this wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. Many people get nervous with the Oil Cloth look because we are accustomed to associate Oil Cloth as our vintage inspired tablecloth or a bad version of grandmas 1970’s vinyl/plastic like upholstered kitchen chairs.
Seven years ago my only option was to purchase fabric and have it laminated. Well, the price of laminating was more than the total cost of the fabric. At that point, I gave in to outdoor fabric by Sunbrella. It was a great alternative and served it’s part. BUT, as you can imagine, with 2 boys and their lack of knowledge of what a napkin is used for (they always wipe their hands on the seat), I had to change out the fabric within a year.
Off to option two, I reupholstered the benches with a stronger Solarium Outdoor fabric in darker colors. It lasted 3.5 years. Not bad you say? Well, I spent days cleaning stains. When food, i.e. chocolate, found it’s way on the seats, I would spend time scrubbing away. Finally, after 3.5 years it looked UGLY to sit on.
That is when I learned through Pinterest how to laminate your own fabric. Okay, so I buy the fabric, buy the clear vinyl and supplies, and spend hours or days doing it myself. I knew it would most likely turn into the “after” picture horror story-“pinned it, tried it, failed.”
BUT, I was in luck. Seven years later, it turns out demand and supply has worked. People apparently have been demanding more updated styles of the Oil Cloth Fabrics. I must not have been the only one.
I began my search as Oil Cloth Tablecloth. Since many think you can only use it for tablecloths or accessories. But, I needed yards of 54″ fabric to cover my large built-ins. AND I found numerous Oil Cloth options in transitional fabric patterns all over the net. Here are my top 3 favorite sellers of Oil Cloth fabric.
1- www.fabric.com (they did not have more than 5 options 7 years ago and now they have over 401) like these below.
2- http://www.etsy.com/shop/oilclothbytheyard This site has some fun options at good pricing
3. http://www.etsy.com/shop/oilclothaddict?ref=l2-shopheader-name This is my favorite, she is basically the one on pinterest who knows how to do it right! and her style fabrics are great! Here are some of her options
NOW!! You don’t need a kitchen built in to need Oil Cloth fabric. You can reupholster your kitchen stools in oil cloth, or your kitchen chairs. Or event just that one dining chair your kid always sits on. Cover up the existing dining chair and when they are a little older you can simply remove it. Saving your dining chair from kid stains. Or maybe, you just want to be a fashionable hostess and pull out a large stylish vinyl table cloth this summer for your backyard BBQ. Either way, check out these great options.
Oh, and if you are wondering about my kitchen nook and which one I went with, stay tune.
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CJLeahy says
YAY!! I have to reupholster my kitchen chairs, and was looking for a solution to the messiest person on earth, aka my toddler. THIS IS PERFECT, and much better than the Sunbrella stuff I was looking at. THANKS!
Cecilia C. Cannon says
SO GLAD you will use the idea! it is great. I finished my bench and will post soon about it. The boys already spilled lemonade on it (I think on purpose to see if it "work") and it was a quick wipe and all done!