Form and Function

09 Aug Form and Function

A month or so ago, I walked into the living room after changing the diapers and clothes of my two girls, to see my two boys with markers in hand writing on the chairs.  I was completely horrified, and baffled, since they have never drawn on any furniture.  After my control-yourself-and-be-calm inquiry, my oldest, looking completely bewildered, replies, “But Mommy, these are our cars, and we needed to draw a radio and some steering wheels and some turn-y knobs!”

Meet the steering wheels

And the turn-y knobs

And the radio

I, of course, immediately fetched my trusty Folex (GREAT stuff!) and a rag and went to work.  I scrubbed and scrubbed to no avail.  Finally, I called in the big guns – the professionals.

They took one swipe of their cleaning device, which removed quite a bit of color from the fabric , and asked to see the marker.

“Oh, a dry erase marker?  On cotton fabric?  Yeah, this is never coming out, this is permanent.”

As permanent, permanent, permanent, permanent, permanent was resounding in my brain, I looked at my oldest, who understood the situation.  Knowing his mother well, he cheerfully pipes, “Come on, Mommy, now we can go get some fabric.  Neeeeewwwww fabric.  Mommy, you llllooooooovvvvveeeee fabric!”

Smart boy.

It took me this past month to resign myself to recovering chairs that were recovered only two years ago. (Sweetheart, if you are reading this, I am sorry, – probably difficult to see the hard facts in print, especially if you are reading this at work, sigh)

However, I do LOVE fabric, so now I am mulling over samples.

Say hello to the options.

I like the fabric on the chairs currently, but I think I want to put a more classic pattern on them this time.  I can update with throw pillows if so inclined.  Gray and white/cream will remain the color choice.

I am torn because I love linen, and I would love these to be a linen fabric.  But I need something that is pretty indestructible and can be cleaned of little hands pretty easily.  Also, I know these chairs are not going to stop being cars anytime soon.

Here’s Option #1, 100% Linen, a classic ticking stripe.

Option #2, an indoor/outdoor Sunbrella fabric.

Option #3, 100% Linen Wide Stripe.

I love Option #3, it looks so fresh to me.  My husband says it makes the chairs look like an outdoor piece of furniture so that means it is probably out.  Option #1 I like, but I just feel “eh” about it.  The main problem with #1 and #3 is they may be difficult to clean, and may not wear as well over time and after multiple cleanings.  Option #2 is the perfect choice in regards to ease of cleaning because I could literally bleach it without any color coming out.  The pinstripe is definitely classic, and that is my husband’s preference. However, I’m still not sure.

What do you think?  What would you choose?