When the Cow Came Home

$70
10 Hours
Medium
It's no secret that I have a soft spot for "hopeless cases". As a physical therapist, I was drawn most to patients who had been told by someone or the other that "they couldn't" or "they wouldn't" or "they shouldn't".
Those bullies who said "you can't" "you won't", "there's no hope", etc...those guys are like Biff. You remember Biff, right? Back to the Future....remember that dude?
Anyways, I happened upon this "hopeless case" kicked curbside a couple of years ago.
Of course it couldn't stay there. I took it into the rehab wing (AKA the garage) at the Heathered Nest. Admittedly, it was in bad shape. Rusted frame...
Rotten wood...
Still, I knew that someday, this little baby could shine again.
But then, my husband....we'll call him "Biff" in this story. Biff got home. He sees my new patient and says to me "Hey, what are you thinking McFly?" "You think you can fix this piece of junk up?" "Why you gotta be so gullible McFly?"


I seethed. I waited for inspiration to strike. After two years, it finally did.


I live in the country, and happen to have kind of a thing for cowhide. I had wanted one of these sleek, modern looking cowhide and chrome chairs for years. You know those kind of chairs?


Like this one...
the lovely Maison Jansen Style Chrome and Cowhide Chair for $2800. No, I did not just forget a decimal between the 28 and the 00. That's really a TWO THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLAR chair. And trust me when I tell you there are PLENTY more examples of these kind of chairs at these eye popping prices...we're talking serious "cash cows"!
So, hey diddle-diddle, I knew that unless those cows could actually jump over a moon, there's no way "budget-conscious-Biff" would allow one of these bovine beauties to cross the threshold of our home.


Heavy on inspiration, and light on funding, the rehabilitation of my curb-side-chair began.


Above is a catalog shot of an Ikea cowhide rug. Instead of paying full sticker price, I snagged one from craigslist for $70. Don't worry, I scoped it out, and the sellers were very clean-type folks, and this rug was almost new. Yes, I get it if you'd be totally skeeved about re-upholstering with a used rug...I kind of am, too, now that I'm reading that back. BUT, you can have these professionally cleaned. And, in my penny-pinching mind, even though a new rug from IKEA is reasonably priced (as far as cowhide goes), it will still run you $200. So I opted (as usual) to be as thrifty as possible. What's great though is that no matter which rug I would have chosen, new or used, there is SO MUCH MATERIAL leftover for more projects!!!


There are several tutorials on the blog for how I accomplished this transformation. On a scale of 0-10, if 0 is napping on a beach in Hawaii, and 10 is climbing Everest, this project was about a 3.6.


For now, I'll just show you how it turned out, after taking the bull by the horns, as they say. It's my big "take that" moment to that ol' Bully, Biff.
BA-BAM! Knockout. Take that in the ol' kisser, Biff-O.


** NO MORE RUST! (Wanna see how unbelievably EASY getting rid of it was? CLICK HERE) **
I don't know if you'd ever have guessed this beauty had been put out to pasture, once upon a time.


** If you want the scoop on how to upholster with a rug or cowhide, HEAD HERE. **


While I no longer treat living, breathing patients, a good redemption story is still something I live for.
Don't tell me something isn't worth saving, or fixing. Anything, and anyone, can be rehabilitated, if given the chance.


You can quote me on that.


For now, I'll sit here in my cowhide and chrome glory, relishing in my victory. I'll count the money I saved, savor the "told you so" moment I had with "Biff", and smile at the dignity I've restored to this little bull of a chair who is now fit for any china shop. It's been a good day here at the Heathered Nest Center for Rehabilitative and Re-Uphosterative Medicine.


Come see us on the blog, or on social media in these spots:


On pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/heathernest


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathered_nest


**Please note, all references to the aforementioned "Biff" were made purely in jest. Anyone who knows my sweet as pie husband...since we're speaking of cows here, would call "Bull-s$%^" on this character assassination, as he is truly the nicest guy around, and puts up with my malarkey on a constant, most agonizing basis.
Heathered Nest
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  • Dee Dee on Mar 02, 2015
    I too love the chair AND your writing style. I suggest short stories/anecdotes (as above) compiled into a book 'Life at the Heathered Nest'. I'd love a copy!! I have a couple chairs with potential, and horse hides from when my dad was a child (thirties). One of them would be in condition to be used for this (a little ragged), though the other (Prince) is 'too good' and I use as a bedspread. I may give this a try with old Blackie!
    • Heathered Nest Heathered Nest on Mar 02, 2015
      @Dee I love that idea for the horse hides. It's so important that our family relics have ways to stay in our homes in places we can see them, use them and continue to cherish them. And thanks for your kind words...very appreciated :)
  • Kat Rogers Kat Rogers on May 05, 2019

    Oh My Gosh, McFly (aka Mrs. H. Nest), YOU ARE HILARIOUS~ Your Double Entendres are Fabulous AND THE REHABILITATION ON THAT PIECE OF... BROKEN DOWN, RUSTED OUT GARBAGE CHAIR~ WELL, THAT WAS NOTHING SHORT OF MIRACULOUS! Seriously, I have a HARD time passing by a homeless, sad derelict piece of furniture, BUT The Way THE SEAT OF THAT CHAIR LOOKED in the picture WAS ALMOST Nauseating.😁 (Crap, I suddenly feel really bad for saying something so mean about a helpless CHAIR.) 🎆KUDOS TO YOU FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE YEAR!🎉 If I had a Furniture Infirmary I can only imagine what I'd be tempted to bring home.


    As @Dee had also acknowledged about your Oh So Entertaining Writing, PLEASE ADD MY NAME TO YOUR LIST OF FANS Should You Decide To Publish A Book! "Don't Listen To Them... Nothing Or No One Should Be Tossed Aside"... just a thought from an un~caffeinated brain, so just ignore THAT.


    THANKS FOR SHARING AND ENJOY YOUR DAY!🌞🌈🌷🐈

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