If you thrift shop, garage sale, or antique shop, I’m guessing you’ve run into the same situation I have. You see a piece of furniture with great lines, but terrible, horrible, no good, very bad upholstery. You love it, but it’s complex upholstery isn’t an undertaking you’re comfortable with. This exact situation happened to me just a few weeks ago. A disgusting chair with great bones. Atrocious fabric riddled with cat hair, but neat shape.
Even though the chair was only five bucks, I didn’t get it. Why? Fear. I’ve never upholstered something this intricate before. And I worried I’d screw it up. So I walked away. But the very same afternoon, I got the perfect book in the mail; Spruce, a Step By Step Guide to Upholstery and Design by Amanda Brown.
Amanda is an expert upholsterer, with her own shop, Spruce in Austin. She even writes an upholstery basics column on Design Sponge. Basically, if you want to learn upholstery, Amanda’s your gal. This is exactly what I needed! In Spruce, Amanda covers everything, soup to nuts. Or should I say, springs to piping. Seriously, this book is a one stop reference for all things furniture. If you need to tie springs, no problem.
Upholster a wingback chair, step by step with picture and text explanations? You bet!
Or create a custom tufted ottoman. Whatever your needs, this book has you covered.
I stopped in the thrift store the following day, armed with a new book and confidence, but the chair was gone. Womp, womp. I guess I’ll have to do something to this eight dollar number I found a month or so ago.
While not entirely hideous or in bad shape, the shabby paint job must go. I’m debating colors. I could paint it black for drama and a fun fabric. Or a bright color paired with a neutral fabric.
Upholstering around the arms should be fun. Probably not as terrible as I’m imagining.
Watch the book trailer to learn more about Amanda and Spruce. Love that she’d rather update an old piece of furniture than buy new. Then check out the Spruce Ugliest Chair Contest. You can add your chair for a chance to win prizes, design recommendations from Amanda, and a signed Spruce book. And a few social media links, too: Facebook: Storey Publishing, Spruce Upholstery, #SpruceBook Twitter: @StoreyPub, @SpruceHome, #SpruceBook
Blog Tour:
ourhumbleabodeblog.com 
This book seems very interesting. I might just have to get one! I’m scared of reupholstering furniture, so I might need the book!
Whaat! I neeeeeeed this book Amanda. I have 2 chairs staring at me right now in desperate need of reupholstery. I’m just too chicken to try it. This is such a great giveaway. And I’m sorry the $5 chair got away from you my friend.
I just transformed a chair myself, but I have a few others sitting around that need love too! So I need this book! Thanks for offering such a great giveaway!
Would help with some dining chairs we’re looking to work on over the next few months!
I used to do upholstering jobs with my dad, who fancied himself a fixer-upper. He would let me do the minor things. I always loved when he would gold-leaf something, because it meant glue and brush-smooshing action! That chair would be amazing with some gold leaf and a nice red velvet fabric over the seat – it would be totally glam and work amazing for a vanity/battle station!
I have a chaise that I would love to give a makeover. Thanks for the giveaway!
I would love a copy of this book! It would definitely help with 2 chairs in sorry shape.
I have four chairs with good bones and very bad upholstery. Would love to own this book to give them new life!
I have a few hand-me-down chairs I’d love to tackle. I’m so bummed that chair was gone when you went back. I was excited to see what you’d do with it.
Thanks for the opportunity!
Would love to win the book! I have a chair and sofa Id like to redo.
I’d love to learn how to reupholster- my kids ruin just about everything we own!
I really want to upholster an ottoman and this is the book I need!!
I’m a complete novice when it comes to reupholstering. But that doesn’t stop me! Although I’ve never attempted a whole chair…
Thanks for the great blog! We love all of the comments, too. Keep posted on our tour by following #sprucebook on social media!
I’ve been wanting to convert an old coffee table into a cushy ottoman. Please help!
I would love to be able to upholster! I have an ottoman that is in dire need for some new fabric!
I am so glad I saw this post! I have a couple pieces of furniture that I am excited about refreshing. I have done a couple of chairs before but kind of just made it up as I went along 🙂 This sounds like a great resource and very usable!
I love getting old chairs and fixing them up, but some of my attempts at redoing upholstry have been hideous! I need this book!
Just got a quote to reupholster for an old wing chair–$800 (yikes!). Would love to win the book and tackle the project myself.
I have a few absolutely hideous chairs that I want to reupholster. This book looks amazing!
I would love to get my hands on this book! Great step by step tips. Keeping my fingers crossed!! Thanks for the giveaway!
How cool! I have definitely passed up great vintage chairs because of upholstery fear. I’ve seen Amanda’s series on Design Sponge and love it. With this book in my repertoire I would feel more comfortable thrifting!
By the way, loving the white chair you want to fix up. My vote is for neutral base with colorful fabric!
Oh I think I need her book. I checked out a couple books on upholstery to try and recover a couple chairs, but they haven’t given me the confidence I need to actually jump in.
I, too, have some furniture I’d love to reupholster, but have been afraid to try. Maybe if I were to win this book, I’d be able to give it a try. Thanks!
I would love to know more about upholstery… It scares me! The book would be an awesome help.
I saw that chair at the junk store! I was paralyzed with fear/ intimidation on the reupholstery of it. The book would be great!!!! Love ur blog and look forward to it every am!
Yes! I would love this!
I’ve been so intimidated to reupholster, but this book would definitely help!
Thanks for introducing this new book, I’ve been looking for one like it for a while now. Oh, and good luck with your chair project!
Have some chairs that definitely need some reupholstery love! They’ve been in my family since I was in middle school I think (now in my 30’s) and my mom gave them to us before my daughter was born 4 years ago. They sat in the living room of my parents house and were minimally used. Needless to say, the everyday use they’ve received in my house has caused them to show their age. Imagine holes with stuffing showing through and whole sections in the front of the seat where the threads have just disappeared. I could definitely use this book!
What a neat book!!
I’ve had my eye on this book for a while and had a change to take a peek at an advanced reading copy. It would be a great addition to my collection!
I love her column on design sponge, this book will be the Bomb! 🙂
This is awesome! If I don’t win, I’ll buy it because it is exactly what I need!
Is the giveaway over? fingers crossed i am not too late!
Would love to learn how to do this. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway 🙂
Renee
fattybumpkins at yahoo dot com
The only thing I’ve ever upholstered was a bench, it’d be nice to have a how-to in order to tackle something more challenging.
I have an ottoman that we created by upholstering an old coffee table. It’s looking a little shabby so I want to redo it. I’d love this book to learn a better way and also to encourage me to tackle a few other pieces I’ve been hoarding, but haven’t had the nerve to tackle yet.
I would love love to win this book!! I have so many projects I could see myself tackling and it would be so awesome to have this resource at my fingertips 🙂 🙂
I’ve always wanted to learn how to upholster and I have a few projects that need to be done sooner rather than later!
Looks like an amazing read full of useful info!
Wow! I’d love a book like this!
I’ve done some basic projects but would love to learn more.
This looks like such a fun book! Thank you!!!
I am so glad this book is out!! I have my craigslist treasures sitting in the garage waiting to come into a nice warm house. I have looked for upholstery classes, but they are nonexistent in my area. Kudos to Amanda!!
How perfect, I’ve been wanting to reupholster my chair for months! I even have the fabric, just too intimidated to get started!
Please please!. i’d love this book! I’ve many projects that need a professional touch!
Great giveaway! Thanks!
i need this book!!
I’ve been eyeing a chair that my parents have had forever that is major need of some love. They hide it in a guest room, but it really could be lovely! Maybe with some step by step instructions I can get over the fear and tackle it!
I am sooo excited about this book! It’s on my list!
I would love to be entered. Not sure if this is closed or not.
It was awesome reading all of these wonderful comments about Spruce! If any of you (readers) get your hands on the book, would you be so kind to write a review on Amazon for us? http://www.amazon.com/Spruce-Step-Step-Upholstery-Design/dp/1612121373 Thank you kindly!