Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Multiplying Egg Chairs…

I’m back as promised with:

    1. an egg chair update (since I just tossed pillows on it but promised to share the rest of the details once we figured out a real seat and all that jazz)
    2. three new egg chairs that we recently brought home

I guess we should skip right ahead to those huh? Don’t worry, our living room doesn’t look like an egg chair family reunion. They’re of the dollhouse variety (you can read more on Clara’s DIY dollhouse here):

Egg Chair2

When a super sweet reader (thanks Nicole!) told me CB2 had them on clearance for 50 cents each (wahooo!) I couldn’t resist. They’re actually Christmas ornaments (hence the super sale price so far into the year) and all I needed to do was clip off the string that was meant to hang them from the tree and they became serviceable chairs for a certain small pig family. So that’s how three of them somehow ended up in my cart and I just clicked “buy” – and the rest, as they say, is history.

Egg Chair1

The fun part is that Clara loves putting Olivia and the rest of her family in them since they’re a bit more “hold-y” than her other chairs (they don’t slip out as much as they do in the smoother and smaller brass chairs that she has in a few other rooms). So that’s the dollhouse upgrade that’s going on.

Dollhouse Wide

But back to the real-person-sized egg chair in the corner of the living room. Remember when we got it from a local thrift store and he looked like this?

Egg Chair2

And then we painted him and tossed a few already-had-them-around pillows on during the “just for now” phase?

Egg Chair Now2

Well, we’re finally in the “taa-daa, it’s finished” phase thanks to a pretty simple and cheap-o update.  Yup, we landed on a permanent seat cushion for the guy. And oh happy day, it doesn’t look like a feminine hygiene product anymore.

Egg Chair8

Although I thought I might end up buying foam and fabric to make a custom seat, we ended up finding a seat cushion on sale for $14 at Pier 1 in a soft blue tone that’s pretty much a neutral in our house (it’s in nearly every room in some form – like art, pillows, curtains, etc). We weren’t sure if it would fit the chair though (it has a pretty unique rounded shape) so we just bought it and hoped for the best. Turns out it totally didn’t fit at all:

Eggchair1

Womp-womp.

But then I wondered what would happen if I turned it around so the rounded part that should be the back of the cushion was facing out towards the front. Lo and behold, it sat a lot better and actually looked like it made sense!

Eggchair2

So I cut off the ties and the tag which were screaming “this is the back of the cushion” and didn’t look back. Oh yes, I’m such a rebel. It actually kind of looked like a custom cushion made just for the chair since it’s such an unusual shape and it laid so well on top of the chair. Then it was just back-pillow time and I tossed a few different options on there. Like this blue and white back pillow from HomeGoods a while back:

Eggchair4

And this faux fur pillow from Target last year:

Eggchair5

And this bunny pillow from HomeGoods a few months back:

Eggchair6

I finally landed on this rhino-meets-pig combo (the pig pillow is from a local store called Buford Rd Pharmacy a while back):

Eggchair7

So that’s the story of our egg chair’s quickie new cushion solution with a bonus dollhouse egg chair update tossed in there for good measure. Ten points for anyone eating an egg sandwich while reading this post.

Egg Chair9

Is anyone else out there buying chair cushions or turning things around to see if they work better backwards than forwards? Any other dollhouse decorating going on?

Comments

  1. mary says

    I love that you use your faux fur pillows around the house. I have the same exact ones on my bed (to create a pseudo-padded headboard) and my boyfriend HATES them. I can confidently tell him “Well, they add texture and are all over the home design sites. I’m fashionable!” Ha ha, thanks for helping me win!

    Reply

  3. Ginny @ goofymonkeys says

    The chair looks great with the backwards cushion. I prefer the blue/white HomeGoods pillow to the furry one, but that’s totally a personal preference. And I do like the pig pillow.

    Do you guys just shop all the time picking up cute/interesting things without knowing where you’d put them? Or do you always have a place in mind when you buy?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I always try to have a spot in mind for most things, but the funny thing about pillows is that they move around a ton, so one spot can become another since we love a lot of the same colors and modern shapes!

      xo,
      s

  4. Kristen says

    I LOVE your pig pillow- you definitely have major animal-love around your house!

    I was going to say you have so much animal-themed goodness at your place you could rename your blog Young Animal Love, but 1.) After a round of Good Idea/Bad Idea I determined that was a bad idea and 2.) It makes you sound like you participate in barnyard debauchery…

    not cool

    Anyway, I’m not buying new cushions- but I have been re-upholstering “old cushions”. I took an ugly office waiting room chair, painted it white, and used a bright blue patterned fabric to beach-ify it!

    Reply

  8. jessica says

    Lol my girls have those same chairs. We paid 1.00 for those and a couple of the other chai r ornaments for their dollhouse! It was still a good deal! My youngest (3) loves the round ones better too because her lalalloopsy’s actually sit in them. (No we don’t have a traditional dollhouse family either. There’s lots of ponies, lalaloopsy’s and other misc animals that reside there!)

    Reply

  9. Amy says

    It just so happens that I am working on egg chair cushions of my own today. I have to buy an invisible zipper foot first. (Can you imagine how difficult that’s going to be? Where are your invisible zipper feet!”. “Over there.”. “Where?”. “There.”
    Anyway, zippers make this girl with 25 years of sewing experience feel like an absolute train wreck.
    I can tell you that my nast feminine product cushion was identical to yours but my chair is like the one that was sold before you could make it back to goodwill. So there was definitely some swapping going on. I can’t wait to show you my done photos AND to buy your book!

    Reply

  10. Kellee says

    They are so cute! I totally just clicked over there and picked up two for my little girl! Thanks for all the inspiration – since you guys made one, it has been on our list of things to tackle. My husband and I are currently in the beginning stages of making a plan for a doll house and hope to have it all done by Christmas. Love your site!

    Reply

  11. Cara W says

    I’m dying to see an updated house tour (the video kind, where Sherry ist he guide!) I feel like there are so many awesome new additions to your house – the chairs in two new corners, the new light basket fixture, double scalloped rugs in the kitchen. HOUSE TOUR! HOUSE TOUR! HOUSE TOUR!

    Reply

  12. Lindsey says

    I love the similarity- pig family in the dollhouse egg chairs, pig pillow sitting on the real-life egg chair. Well… bacon and eggs DO go together quite well!!!

    Reply

  14. Melissa says

    Haha! The first time I read this:
    (you can read more on Clara’s DIY dollhouse here)
    I thought you set Clara up with her own little dollhouse blog. After all the talk about time management and keeping your priorities in line, I didn’t think that could be true, so I clicked the link and found that it was just the story of you building the dollhouse. You had me going for a minute there… :)

    Reply

  17. Chris says

    How funny….10 points for me because I was eating a scrambled egg sandwich while reading this post and couldn’t help smiling when I got to the end!

    Reply

  18. Holly says

    Proofreading alert! Sound the alarm!

    “But THEY I wondered what would happen if I turned it around so the rounded part that should be the back of the cushion was facing out towards the front.”

    You guys are awesome, make me laugh all the time! Thanks for that!

    Reply

  19. Sarah says

    I seriously love your house! This comment really belongs under the basket light post.. but I waited too long. :)

    I just imagine you guys love coming and being home. And that cleaning and doing dishes is something pleasant when doing so in such an awesome house!

    I’m getting ready to buy a Karlstad sectional (in the light grey).. Basically I want to copy your entire house.

    Imitation is the best form of flattery right?? :)

    Reply

  20. MJB says

    As a “frozen with indecision” decorator, I give you props for just going for it and tweaking as necessary. I’m trying to be more like that… bought a Craigslist dresser the same day I saw it because it was affordable and I liked it and if I waited too long to think things through, it would be gone.

    I’m so proud of myself! Really, if you knew me, you would be amazed….

    Reply

  21. Pippin says

    Wow Clara is one lucky girl! What a dreamy hip doll house. How does a wife convince her husband to put an egg shape chair in their house? Please share your secret…

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, John actually demanded to sit in it first (scary cushion and all). For him, comfort comes first. But once he realized it’s not as tilted back as a papasan chair (you’re much more upright in it) and it’s actually pretty supportive and tall (it goes up to his shoulderblades in the back) he was thankfully down! Assuming I did all of the painting/cushion work. Haha. I said “deal!”

      xo,
      s

  22. Rochelle says

    J&S – LOVE the chair and that Clara’s doll house can echo design elements from your home! There’s an awesome Etsy artist who makes custom peg doll families that I think could be PERFECT for Clara’s doll house! How cute would that be?!

    Her name is Brenda of “Once Upon a Peg” and they are absolutely darling!

    Reply

  23. Julie says

    I wasn’t eating an egg while reading but I had scrambled eggs for breakfast and I’m taking care of chickens this week, which means I get to gather eggs later today! Horray! Thanks for the inspiring egg-post to get me ready! (not to mention a few of the eggs will be the same neutral blue your nice egg chair is sporting as a seat cushion.)

    Reply

  24. Ally says

    J-Boom “demanded” to sit in the egg chair first before you could purchase it, $herdog?

    He doesn’t strike me as an egg-dictator :)

    xox

    Reply

  25. Megan says

    I love her dollhouse. I think I may have my dad build one for my daughter. He’s already built her an easel, a three piece kitchen (very similar to Pottery Barn) and a tree house/swing set combo. I’m running out of things for him to build her (and he loves it!). I love the Pottery Barn book case that looks like a doll house and it would be perfect for my girl.

    Is the big egg chair comfy? It looks like it might not be or that the pillows would move around. But that’s just my opinion.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thankfully it’s totally comfy! It cradles you! I have some pics of Clara and I in it in the post that I linked to from this one (about painting it) which might help show how it sort of snuggles you like you’re in someone’s arms. Haha.

      xo,
      s

  26. Erin says

    Speaking of a chair cushion search… I am starting my first year teaching Monday and I am trying to find about 5 or 6 small chair cushions to use as the reward for the team that receives the most positive behavior points. MY teacher friend calls it “Cush for the Tush.” They don’t have to be especially nice. I have searched the local thrift stores with no luck and am trying to think of other places I could find them on the cheap or if I should try to make them myself. Any suggestions?

    PS – Love the egg chair :)

    Reply

    • Wendy says

      Erin, I used to do similarly… I bought 8 IKEA stools when they had the “bucket” ones and also yoga balls in my middle school classroom. Amazing times.

      We found our seat cushions for our bar stools at Costco- 2 for $10. They’re not very “pretty” with bright colors (dark brown, light brown, and a green were in stock). You could always paint them or have the kids stamp paint them or other for a special reward (time permitting).

      I once had a bulletin board of 5 pannels of fabric. Each kid stamp painted a star on it and wrote his/her name in puffy paint. Our goals and class data were on that board and they all took ownership of their learning as was expected. Yet, they also took pride in their class’s pannel.

      Good Luck with the upcoming school year! :-)

  27. Tracie says

    Oh, how I wish my little girl wanted a doll house! I miss those toddler years, no matter how terrific it is to see my tween and teen develop into even more amazing big people:) Please tell me I can still get that birdie print “wallpaper” somewhere. I’m kind of a bird freak – living creatures and design-wise.
    Thanks:)

    Reply

  28. how2home says

    We are still looking for the perfect size/style chair for our bedroom! Gr……
    absolutely love the pig pillow…..love how theres a pig in Clara’s doll house too!

    Reply

  30. Meg says

    I know you guys name your furniture, and you keep calling this one “the chair” or “egg chair”… how about mEGG? GrEGG might be more fitting as I’ve noticed you refer to this chair as a “he” or “him”. ;)

    Reply

  31. Jane says

    It is official. This blog has jumped the shark. I used to be the biggest fan but there hasn’t bee a decent post in months. This entire house is a hot mess. Perhaps John was a bit hasty in quitting his job–perhaps he should head back out on the market.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We share 2-3 projects each week just as we’ve always done (it’s only Tuesday and we shared a homemade pendant light yesterday along with a DIY video for it!). That’s the pace that got us here and for that we’re forever grateful! Thankfully, since John quit his job two years ago our readership has doubled. We couldn’t do what we do without the awesome and amazing support of the folks who enjoy what’s going on at our house enough to keep coming back – but no pressure if it’s not your thing, we know we can’t win ’em all :)

      xo,
      s

  32. Sarah@SBrandesDesigns says

    Personally I REAAAAAALLLLLLLLLYYYYYYY like the first pillow combination (the one with the blueish color in the top pillow). Nothing wrong with the furrier one, but the first one totally looked like they were made to go together on that chair.

    Reply

  33. kate says

    i walked into my local thrift store last friday and saw the same chair, with the same fem. hygiene cushion. It was $35. Too expensive, but you had one, and suddenly I had to HAVE it! I walked in today (Tuesday) and there is sat, begging to come home with me…and BONUS, today only it was 35% off! Sweet! It is already primed and waiting for its paint job! thanks!

    Reply

  34. Sheena says

    looks egg-ceptional sherry! :) we just had twin girls and i can’t wait to put your dollhouse inspiration to good use! random question: do you know the name of the fabric you used as a rug in the dollhouse room with the egg chairs? i love it!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh man, I got that as a sample for a curtain project a long time ago. No idea what it’s called. Anyone recognize it?

      And congrats on the twin girls! So sweet!

      xo,
      s

  35. Koliti says

    Hysterical! Laugh out loud FUNNY!!
    I quite enjoy your Ham & Egg theme (just don’t tell Olivia).

    Brilliant cushion fix! Hey just turn that puppy around – how many of us would’ve been disappointed and just stopped at how we thought it was “supposed” to go? Gotta remember to check out all of your options. That cushion looks like it belongs there.

    And I say “TWEAK AWAY” – life’s too short not to shake it up once in a while – if it makes you smile then go for it. After all, you always shop your house first and you guys are some of the most responsible-think-it-through people I wish I was blessed to actually know. :)

    Reply

  36. Tiffannie says

    No egg sandwich here but I do have a quiche with ham in the oven right now!! Love the new look for the egg chair and the adorable mini egg chairs for the doll house.

    Reply

  37. Chrissie says

    I think I want to move into Clara’s dollhouse. Has anyone invented a shrink ray yet? That bird wallpaper is so pretty, I think I’d spend a solid week just stroking it.

    Reply

  39. Melinda KE says

    Wow, that original cushion…splatter some red paint on it and you have yourself a halloween costume in a pinch! ….Sorry, gross, but I just couldn’t resist going there. Ha! :)

    Reply

  40. Georgia says

    I love how that first photo totally looks like it is out of some fancy schmancy decorating catelogue! Seriuously, Clara’s doll house is so freakin’ hip. My son is actually friends with the real Olivia and Ian (their uncle wrote the books sbout them). And in our house we call her “Olivia the pig”, but not to her face. When he first met her (they were at school together) I was so excited because we LOVE those books.
    Love the look of the egg chair. Well done on dressing it up. Did you do anything with the old slouchy cushion that was on it? I kept thinking that would be a fun floor cushion for Clara in her reading cupboard with a bit of dressing up…

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      No way- that’s so cool! Clara will not believe that someone commented who knows the real Olivia and Ian! Haha. As for the old cushion, I’m afraid I tossed it. Let’s just say it had some questionable stains and odor that I didn’t even think were worth donating…

      xo,
      s

  41. Kitty says

    It might not be a papasan chair, but it’s definitely not an egg chair. Egg chairs are way more vertical and come up over you head. I noticed that CB2 refers to theirs as an igloo chair, but I don’t think yours is quite that either. I would love to see you attempt to sew a one piece cushion for that chair. I’ll check back!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, I just call him an egg chair since since he’s egg-ish looking – I’m sure he has some other formal name (igloo chair is cute, actually!). As for a one piece cushion, we just worried it would look sort of overstuffed and papasan-y, so we went for a base cushion and something we could switch out when our mood changes on top :)

      xo,
      s

  42. Steph says

    This is so weird, because ever since you guys posted about the egg chair it’s put the idea in my head and I can’t stop wanting one. On my run tonight, I was so excited to see someone left one out on the curb for trash! (I guess I should point out that other people’s trash doesn’t bother me, it’s just like going to the thrift store except, on the curb!) I ran my fastest time yet running back to the car, and when I got back it was gone :( Now I regret not looking like a wacko and running with the egg chair. Apparently egg chairs are something you really have to work for!

    Reply

  46. Victoria says

    Eating scrambled eggs with bacon on toast! We’re all getting our protein on (as I humbly suggest you might put it Sherry).
    And I’m loving the dollhouse chairs even more than the real one.

    Reply

  48. Sherry says

    I love the bird wallpaper in Clara’s dollhouse! Where did you find it? I would love to use it for a project for my screened porch!

    Reply

  49. gail says

    I am enjoying your house and blog. Just looked at your wedding memories, so I am getting NOTHING done around here this morning. Admire your creativity and resourcefulness. Thot Clara’s egg chair/bird wallpaper room was an actual room, and was thinking how much I liked it. You are teaching me to look at things in a more creative way. Thanks! My problem is, I have too much stuff, and once I get something, I never want to get rid of it. A decorator friend once told me I had too much furniture in my house. It’s a small house, so I justify the furniture because it gives me more storage. Any advice on that? I liked the open shelving in one of your posts–have been talking to my husband about that.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I remember when we learned that lots of small furniture can look much more cluttered than a few large furniture pieces (even in a small room) so my advice would be to try switching a few small things out for some larger ones to keep a lot of storage but let parts of the room breathe a little. You want a nice easy flow without something in every corner and crevice so things look airy and easy! Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  50. Lidia says

    Whoa. I was literally taking a bite of my egg and toast breakfast when I read that line. I almost choked! Hahaha. 10 points for me!

    Reply

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