Is there such a thing as a happy chair?

Of course not, but a favourite, reupholstered chair can bring some happiness to its owner. Happy looking chairs exist.

Extend the life of your furniture by updating it with new fabric. When you think about the cost of reupholstering a chair versus buying a new one, you may be further ahead to change it up. If you have a piece of furniture you can't part with, the obvious solution may be to update the fabric. 

This is a sad looking little slipper chair. No nice fabric, no piping.....the only thing it had going was that it was comfy. Sometimes that's enough, but Faye was hoping to enjoy looking at it also.

Sad but comfy!

This is a fabric from Clarence House that's available through Lee Jofa's Chicago showroom.
It's not a new fabric, but it is timeless. It came from a friend that loves fabrics and we loved it too.

Clarence House Arts and Crafts 

Happy and comfy chair with self-piping.

This is a happy looking chair!

How do I know? Faye is smiling and Roy (Faye's hubby) even likes it too. Now that's something!

Read our guide on choosing fabrics.

Visit Houzz for more ideas on reupholstering a chair.

Stuff! Designing for good!

People don't often realise that their physical surroundings play a huge role in their every day level of satisfaction. Changing a person's physical surroundings can bring inspiration, motivation, a sense of pride and the idea that someone else sees value in them.

Reveal from 2011 Extreme Makeover Kindness Edition

When you get engrossed in the world of design and decor, it can seem like it's all about the stuff!

Sometimes stuff (choosing fabrics, furniture, the latest decor items) can be overwhelming. Stuff certainly doesn't satisfy but the end result of what the stuff can do, can bring great results.

Take the Ottawa Extreme Makeover Kindness Edition for example. Here's a great opportunity to make designing and decorating about enhancing someone's life.

The design team partnered up with the United Way and is setting out to enhance the surroundings of a community that can benefit from it greatly.

The Foster Family Farm House Homework club is in need of repair. With some new construction, paint, furniture, window coverings and time, this homework club is going to be inspired to get their homework done!

By choosing certain finishes and colours, Sonya Kinkade is helping inspire these young minds with a space that causes them to want to be there.

Generous people and companies have donated new furniture and needed items for the rooms, these kids will be motivated to do their work and put forth their best.

Have you ever had someone else do something for you that you couldn't do yourself? Designing a space for someone else is a gift that designers and decorators can share with others.

Having someone else see value in you is without a doubt the best feeling in the world! Stuff helps accomplish this, people bring it to life!

It's not too late to get involved and see what you can do too. Visit Ottawa Extreme Makeover Kindness Edition.