Monday, October 21, 2013

my biggest diy flop...


I've been following along with this talented girl's fun Q & A series and was reminded I've
 never mentioned my biggest flop, I actually have a collection, but this was
 a the most expensive doozie! I was going to make a simple ottoman from a coffee table,
 people diy them all the time. Usually from inexpensive, thrifted tables.

I was inspired by this one from Ralph Lauren at $5,700.

  
My victim... our dated finish, $500 coffee table, with the most perfect legs!!!
 I unscrewed them and hacked them up with a saw as I reassured Mr. Simple that
the ottoman I was creating would be much more stylish.  



Perfection!!!  :)


Choosing fabric to go with a new rug...


New fabric arrives! I can picture it, it's going to be so pretty, let's style it up for fun...


This is a lot of work, 4" foam is expensive, covering buttons,
measuring, drilling, tufting...it's going to be SO worth it...eeeek...I can't wait! 












Ta Da!! 
Oh my goodness, I HATE it!!
 It looks like a spider, it's crooked and wobbly and ugly!
Mr. Simple thinks someone is going to sit on it, the legs are going to cave,
 they'll get hurt and sue us. Detail Boy has it figured that the proportions are all wrong
 and the legs are too high.


All I can think is...Great! No ottoman AND no table AND no blog post! :)

Have you had any disasters, do tell! 


38 comments:

Thehouseofhampton said...

I just don't even know what to say. I'm just happy to know I'm not alone. For the record, I'm pretty impressed that you even tried to do it.
Sharon
@novaraway

Anonymous said...

Oh dear! It is really strange, because in theory it should work. The legs are great, the fabric is lovely, and yet it just doesn't look quite right. I think Detail Boy is spot on with his diagnosis. How very disappointing for you.

Design_Fluff said...

I love this post. I've been there several times, thinking I had some great diy to share only for it to flop and have to scramble for some other post to come up with on the short.

Scrappy Pink Corner said...

This is a good post to warn us women that( think we can do everything we see), we cannot do anything and everything. I have been cracking up, because I have done this so many times. It happened to me with a hutch, I wanted to crackle it and it seemed so easy and inexpensive to do, but in the long run it was not easy, nor inexpensive. Hope you can fix it, I am sure you will, because that is one thing us women have determination. fingers crossed you can make it look beautiful like everything else you have done. Ana

Cindy @ a curious gardener said...

You have SO many more successes than fails, love that you are willing to share and laugh at yourself!

Jenny said...

I had to giggle when you described your ottoman as a spider! You have to laugh and shrug it off, right? Don't worry, you're in good company. I just recently blogged about my Epic Fireplace Fail - maybe we can start a 12-Step program. ;-)

Dana Frieling said...

It's all about learning from your mistakes, right? I had a screaming moment during my most recent project that may or may not have included the phrase, "I hate DIY projects!" ;)

Unknown said...

I love your post because I will think twice about just attaching the legs to a top. I've done a couple ottomans from coffee tables but I had found rectangular ones that were the right size and then you can use the box the legs are attached to and change the top. A few fails amongst a zillion successes keeps us DIYers humble ;-)

Joan @ nicerthannew.com

tljwlj said...

Now I have to say I'm impressed that you undertook this project. Your table isn't bad at all. I would suggest this if you aren't happy with it. The top needs to be thicker. Go back and add another layer of foam or even fiberfill. Then don't forget the nail heads all the way around. Make them dark like the legs. I think then you will be happy. Just needs to be thicker to get proportions right. Like your dear hubby said. Just my thought.

Andrea said...

Good thing you're not alone. I've got a whole slew of failed DIY projects. I should share some soon. Be sure to focus on your "Win" column. It's quite extensive!

Unknown said...

I agree with Andrea...so many wins! I do think there must be some way of salvaging this one..... I'll think on it!

Julia@Cuckoo4Design said...

LOL, sorry that this happened but it is funny. Yes stuff like that happens to me all the time and I'm so glad that I'm not alone.

Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles said...

Well, you definitely get an A for Effort! I think it's salvageable...have you already taken it apart? I'm thinking if you added some molding or wood pieces between the legs around the base of the cushion to bulk it up it would work! You could do pretty wood or straight boards and cover them with padding and your fabric, maybe a little nail head? Sorta like this... http://www.pinterest.com/pin/106890191129239597/ Oh, and maybe paint the legs white or gold so they don't stand out so much?

Unknown said...

There's a silver lining to the "spider!"-- just think of how many, many times the loss has been offset by all of your $ saving miracles. I'm so impressed with your effort.

Lori

Patty Day @Pattys Epiphanies said...

Great Post! Congratulations.....you are a better "person" blogger for showing us your flops! I have too many to even remember! I usually undo them before MC sees them, let alone anyone else!!!!

pam {simple details} said...

Oh you guys, I should have mentioned I took it apart long ago! I used the foam for Detail Boy's headboard when I did his room makeover. It was one of those things I was DONE with, and didn't ever want to look at again! :)

Leslie said...

You are so funny Pam and we can all relate to your ottoman flop;) Sometimes the visual inside our head doesn't come to fruition. My regrets are the costly ones and I've had plenty..

Lisa @ Shine Your Light said...

Pam!!!! Oh my gosh! I feel your pain girl! Great idea, how frustrating that it didn't come together like you had envisioned! SO many times I have been there! I am so impressed with the scope of this project, at least you learned some new skills and were able to re-use the foam!

Unknown said...

Pam, I have been there on more than one occasion. Sorry the ottoman didn't work out, but you really don't know until you try!

Albertina M. Cisneros said...

oh no!! I have had many a flops too...they are so disappointing...a waste of money and more importantly and more scarce...time and energy! but if they turn out well...there is nothing like the pride you feel in a good DIY. You win some and you lose some.

Cassie Bustamante said...

oh man! so glad you shared! and the way you wrote it i felt like i was reading a fancy nancy book. :)

Khammany said...

I don't want you to think that I'm laughing at your expense, but looking at the finished ottoman gave me a chuckle! It looks like it's ready to walk off! Thanks for sharing your flop! At least you're brave enough to try it! :)

Anonymous said...

I laughed out loud when you said "Mr. Simple thought someone could sue over a fall from it" How funny!! ...glad you were able to "part it out" Ha! I agree your a big blogger to have shared this little flop. ;)

therelishedroost said...

You are too funny, we have all definitely had one of those UGH moments!! I was glad when I had one that it was my flop and not for a client!! You always do great makeovers!!!

joanne said...

well, maybe no ottoman and maybe no table, but definitely a good blog post to remind us we are human and with that- no guts, no glory either! For a flop here and a flop there, we'd be a boring bunch without the crazy ideas too! Thanks for sharing and the inspiration that anything and everything is worth a shot!

Kim said...

It's okay. The spider image made me laugh out loud. My dear ... you have had so many wonderful diy's that this makes us less creative sorts smile and love you more! xo

Julie Taylor and Danni Greenwalt said...

Pam...its not that bad...try painting the legs white...it might do the trick!

Sew a Fine Seam said...

Paint those legs white and it will be all good!

SHERRY HART said...

I needed a good laugh and you gave it to me:) I am sorry to say that it does look a little spidery. But you will figure out something right?

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Dwellings by DeVore said...

I've been there so many times!

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