Around the Web
enter your email


powered by FeedBlitz

Around the Web
Design Sponge
October 15th, 2008
before and after: kim’s ottoman


kim from conflicted thimble sent over this fun before & after. after finding this ottoman/stool at a goodwill store she painted the frame and upholstered the top in a tufted toile fabric. such a fun makeover. click here for kim’s full post and more process photos.



Blog Widget by LinkWithin
30 comments
ag said:
October 15th, 2008 - 12:20 pm

well that’s awful.

HS said:
October 15th, 2008 - 12:38 pm

wow. It went from boring, to classy. I am now inspired!

kristin said:
October 15th, 2008 - 1:48 pm

every time i go to a resale store, there is always so much rattan! i’ve always been convinced that there was no way you could refurbish rattan anything…obviously i was wrong!

Julie said:
October 15th, 2008 - 2:16 pm

What a great makeover! Very cute!

wendy said:
October 15th, 2008 - 2:51 pm

I’m with ag: I’ll simply add “downright” awful.

Valentina said:
October 15th, 2008 - 3:18 pm

It was much better before. Blerg!

October 15th, 2008 - 3:27 pm

Wendy and AG, you’re right, this is pretty bad. The cain seat was so cute, a fresh coat of paint would have done the trick. The tufted toile is horrid.

Laura said:
October 15th, 2008 - 3:29 pm

This makes me so sad! The caning was in such amazing shape. Destroyed for…that awful black and white overdone print. Ay!

Stacy said:
October 15th, 2008 - 3:31 pm

Why is everyone so sad? I think the Toile is so pretty- the caning looked worn out and uncomfortable. I could have done without the white bottom part but I like the Toile.

Jess said:
October 15th, 2008 - 4:10 pm

I really think it was better off before as well… It looks a bit odd having the puffiness on top…

Tara said:
October 15th, 2008 - 4:17 pm

The “after” reminds me of one of those hideous 80’s white powdercoated metal stands. I definately think if it was painted it should have been painted another color. And the cushion should have been a more structured shape than the tufted toile. Maybe if the cushion had actually had sides? or a seperate matress edged cushion that could have been removed. My adjective of choice is ghastly.

Mary Kate said:
October 15th, 2008 - 4:28 pm

I am in complete agreement with the sad people…I am missing the character of the rattan…and the toile is just blah.

Camilla, swedish architect said:
October 15th, 2008 - 4:39 pm

I can’t be anything BUT sad when someone does a thing like this with a nice old ottoman like that. Thonet (or one of his followers) who designed it will rotate in his grave. …

If the owner doesen’t like it the way it was, why not sell it to someone like me or Laura who would have appriciated it?

Sorry, but this ‘remake’ is an abomination…

Maggie said:
October 15th, 2008 - 5:36 pm

AND…did you destroy an authentic Thonet? That would be the worst part. Better check for a stamp.

Kristan said:
October 15th, 2008 - 6:08 pm

What a cool looking ottoman! Personally I would have gone with a solid color fabric, probably something bright. I also love the marked up dresser in the back.

juliana said:
October 15th, 2008 - 9:24 pm

i’m scared.

dolly said:
October 15th, 2008 - 9:35 pm

Yeah, that’s pretty wretched. The caning did not look worn out at all, and the tufted toile sort of looks like a victoria magazine hell.

:(
sorry kim!

lt said:
October 15th, 2008 - 11:33 pm

yes, much cuter before (which i harder ever think is the case).

mchl.mchl said:
October 16th, 2008 - 1:15 am

oh, that’s a shame.

paul said:
October 16th, 2008 - 7:40 am

Too iconic to bastardize like that. Tweaking a classic design takes a more sophisticated effort than this to be successful. Better to have left this one be…

InspireMe said:
October 16th, 2008 - 9:25 am

I believe that is a Thonet. I have one in my antique booth (specialize in mid-century) and it’s painted a glossy red. To each his own though — if you’re not going to use it in it’s original state, then adapt it to suit you!

katherine said:
October 16th, 2008 - 9:57 am

I used that same material but I think the style of chairs I used worked better with the material.

Nancy said:
October 16th, 2008 - 9:59 am

Ouch! This one scares me. White painted metal? 80s for sure. And it kind of looks terrible with that sweet looking old trunk/dresser thing behind it.

rob in chicago said:
October 16th, 2008 - 12:07 pm

I loved it before, appreciate Kim’s effort, but do not like it at all after her changes.

Why not just go with a separate, removable round cushion and leave it at that?

Tomash said:
October 17th, 2008 - 7:12 am

Simple and beautiful. Toile is great

October 17th, 2008 - 10:34 am

Increíblemente geniales… y el de ratán es genial, hasta parece un truco de Photoshop!

liz said:
October 18th, 2008 - 1:53 am

have to agree, I’d prefer the original thonet (or thonet-like) stool over this… it was so subtle and graceful as it was :(

Geri said:
October 21st, 2008 - 9:17 am

Even in its delicate condition, B4 was better.

Sophie said:
October 15th, 2009 - 11:50 pm

I own this piece of furniture and I use it (it is in much better condition) as a little table. It’s pretty as is but I think the ottoman idea was creative, not neccesarily my taste though.

PDisco said:
March 14th, 2010 - 2:45 pm

I think that it was better before. It had a lot of potential but i think the white paint ruined it and the combo with the fabric just makes it look 80’s.

Write a Comment:
Design*Sponge reserves the right to restrict comments that do not contribute constructively to the conversation at hand, contain profanity, personal attacks or seek to promote a personal or unrelated business.

Name (required)

Email (will not be published) (required)

Website