the tufted wonder

We got a little ambitious this weekend.  You know we like a little DIY and it had been quite a while since we'd tried anything.  A few weeks ago I got the supplies for Matt to refinish his old weight bench. (Which is at least 50 years old . . . his grandpa's . . . the thing was just a BOARD . . . much better now!)  That little reupholstering project inspired Matt and he suggested doing something similar to our coffee table.  I had started to see 'coffee table to ottoman' projects on Pinterest, so I showed him the pictures but of course he did not want to read and see what anybody else did . . . he prefers forging his own way.  But that didn't stop me from reading a bunch of other people's experiences!  

The table:

It was pretty scratched up because we use that thing all the time.  I wanted something softer for Bo to protect his little noggin.  

So.  What we did.  

Matt took the top off the table:

And suggested we cover it with this fine fabric.

no.

He measured and drilled holes for what would eventually be the tufting. 

After Bo woke up from his morning nap, we took a family trip to JoAnnes to pick up the necessary supplies.  While there we grabbed foam, batting, button kits, heavy waxed thread, giant needles, and of course- the fabric.  We discussed some of the patterns but couldn't agree on one, and our house is so eclectic (since it's primarily 'found objects') . . . so we decided on a solid blue.  

I made grilled cheese and Matt cut and arranged the foam:

He put foam on the top and three of the four sides, since we wanted the drawer to be accessible.  Then he covered the foam with batting to smooth it out.  He then cut the fabric and upholstered the table.  

So, yes, it would appear that Matt has done the brunt of the work up until this point.  That is because it's true - he did it all, while I kept the baby happy and out of trouble.  When Bo went down for his second nap, I got started on the buttons.  I first covered the buttons with the same fabric . . .

Giant needles for sewing through inches of foam and batting.

Then I started the arduous process of sewing the buttons into place.  It's harder than it looks, and this guy was no help whatsoever:

I got most of the buttons in place but it took both of us to pull the string taunt and tie it to a washer underneath the table to keep the tufting in place.

And . . . voila!  

Except, not quite.  The once-perfect height of the coffee table now had an extra three inches added to it, so Matt had to cut the legs down a bit.  

And so!  Now, finally, finished! 

A close up of those sweet tufts and the reason we did all this in the first place - that precious noggin.  Stealin' somebody's phone and trying to make a run for it. 

And with a tray (a Vday gift from my mom, how timely) to hold our stuff:

How do you like that styling?  Dog toy on the floor, rumpled pillows, baby bottle on the side table . . . that's life!

So, we are pleased.  My feetkins are propped up in comfort and Bo's little head is a bit safer.  Matt said he was chasing Moose around the table when Moose tried to pull his usual move of diving under it, but our doggy got a little stuck and had to army crawl to the other side.  Ha!  What a hilarious animal.