Kmart Hack
Who doesn’t love a good Kmart hack!
Ever look around your home and wonder how to luxe it up, without getting it ruined by the children? Well my quest for a home revamp coincided with needing some ‘me time’ to recharge. So, when I discovered a one-day upholstery workshop only an hour’s drive away, I knew it was time to get this dream off my wish-list.
First up, fabric as it’s BYO for the workshop.
My heart was already set on something from Florence Broadhurst Fabrics and this iconic Australian designer. There are 20 designs to choose from which can be printed onto three different types of base cloth.
This is what I went for… 4 Colour Palm in Teal, printed onto Palermo velvet.
Lush Velvet
Not only is the velvet absolutely gorgeous but it’s kid-friendly too! The fabric is washable and you can even tumble dry it as a loose cover or cushion. As a high performance textile developed by Materialised and used in commercial jobs for decades, you know it’s durable.
So, I grabbed a friend and we headed off to Jamberoo, enjoying non-stop chat in the car on the way.
The Kmart Hack
The Rapt Upholstery workshop was calm, which I loved.
Kate was also calm and super professional, focussed on teaching us a sound knowledge of upholstery (no shortcuts here!) And we enjoyed a great day on a Kmart hack, transforming a $35 scandi shoe rack / bench seat into something super glamorous. There was even delicious cake and tea provided.
What I Learned
Admittedly I’m one of those people who doesn’t read all the instructions first. I hate tacking before I sew. I think I’m listening and just want to hop in and get it done!
But what was really proved to me during this workshop is that you can’t cut corners and even when you think you know what to do, it isn’t always the case! Even with Kate’s expert guidance I still had to undo some of the staple tacks. It was actually a brilliant lesson in going slow. Something I struggle with.
The Result
What started as a decently made Kmart shoe rack ended up as a beauuuutiful piece which I’ll use as a kids bench. All I need to do is upsize the IKEA tables which they have pretty much outgrown anyway.
It was SUCH a joy leaving with such a stunning seat for my home and every day since I just stare at it, in love. Even better that I can tell people, “I made that!”
If you’re in Sydney, check out Rapt Upholstery for more courses and if interstate I’m sure there will be a great upholstery workshop near you.