My 91-year old grandmother just moved into assisted living. I am having mixed emotions about it. Part of the transition, if any of you have done this before, is deciding what to do with all of her things. During this process I was offered her old leather couch. I’m thinking it’s at least 20 years old. Have you ever come across a piece of furniture like this:
- The bones are good… it is sturdy and still has good lines and design
- The piece is overall in good condition
- BUT it is worn on the cushions or arms, the well-used areas
If you have something like this, this repair is right up your alley. Here is what the couch cushions looked like when I picked it up from grams:
Yikes right? Well friends, if your furniture looks like this there IS a light at the end of the tunnel! I received quotes of $300-$450 to restore the cushions, so I took to google to solve my leather woes. After a fair amount of research I bought Leather Nu on Amazon for about $30.
I cleaned the furniture really well (this step is always so encouraging to keep going) and then I followed the directions to mix the paint to the color of the cushions:
I used a plastic cup and a popsicle stick. After about 1/2 hour of mixing and trials in inconspicuous areas of leather I finally got the color close enough to give it a go. I am such a Picasso. The result was awesome:
After drying the paint didn’t rub off on any clothes and I think the couch is worth saving afterall! For $30 there is new life in gram’s old couch. I am going to touch up the leather in my house now… try it on one of yours!
Happy Creating!
Happy Friday! This might be my last Fix It Friday post because, well, it’s more fun to make a new project than fix an old one! We had a huge windstorm/rainstorm blow threw a little bit ago (okay, not hurricane big, just desert big) and it left our drain pipe looking like this:
With winter creeping up, making sure your drainpipes are clean from leaves and debris and working well is vital. Plus, let’s keep the water in our showers and pools, not in the foundation!
A disclaimer before I start, water can be a beast on homes. I’m talking a little bit over a long period of time can bring the whole thing down. You probably knew that already, make sure you patch and direct water well and if you doubt your ability, ask a professional first!
Materials:
- stucco patch (or a patch for your specific exterior)
- drill
- ladder
- rain gutter brackets
The first step was to patch the stucco exterior where the previous screws ripped out. Don’t skip this step, you really don’t want water in your walls!
I used stucco patch from the hardware store. You can tint it to match your walls, but I knew mine wouldn’t show, so I just went cheapy white. After applying allow it to dry well, check the instructions of your specific product. A second coat may be needed, take your time and do this step correctly to avoid water damage.
The final step is a two-person job, one to hold the drainpipe and one to drill. We re-positioned and reused the drainpipe brackets that were used before by moving the bracket about two inches, drilling, and reattaching it, then adding additional brackets for extra stability. You can purchase the brackets at a hardware store, they catch on each side of the drainpipe and drill into the exterior wall:
This is a necessary project, but not necessarily fun… I hope the info above helps.
Have a great weekend… go fix something!
I am starting a new Friday tradition… Fix it Friday. I can just hear ya’all cheering. The toilet paper holder I blogged about a while ago has me on a rampage of fixing stuff, I hope some of this comes in handy for you. If not, I’ll stop. Girl Scouts honor (mmmm, now I want a cookie)
I think we’ve all pulled out an old toy or something else battery-operated only to find that the battery has leaked or corroded and the darn thing won’t work anymore. Well, wipe those tears girls, it might be an easy fix! Try these three steps before you give it away. But before you start anything, turn off the toy/item. Electrocution is so not cool. Also, rubber gloves and eye protection is recommended. This toy was not too bad, but still, not working:
1. Clean the area with vinegar and an old toothbrush. Just give it a good scrubbing. This cleans it and neutralizes alkaline so it won’t cause further damage. Wipe away any debris with a paper towel
Allow the item to dry completely (hours if needed). And if it still won’t work…
2. File down the springs with a nail file and then rinse the area with vinegar on a Q-tip.
Allow the item to dry completely. And if it still won’t work…
3. Fold some tin foil and put it between the springs and the battery to make sure the connection is tight
And if it still won’t work…
I can’t help you. But you could always take it apart and see all the cool parts inside or run over it in your car to teach your kids not to play behind cars… the possibilities are endless really. Martha Stewart said all bloggers are not experts after all. (hope I never gave you the impression that I might be!) This toy started after step 1. Old toothbrush + vinegar = happy baby
