i’ve got slipcovers…covered

A few weeks ago, I was enjoying a really lovely dinner at my friend Sally’s house. She’s got one of those beautifully appointed dining rooms, graced with silk-upholstered chairs that do not respond well to things like eggplant parmesan and house pets. (Fortunately, I had brought neither with me that night.) However, Sally, who had spent a considerable sum having those chairs professionally designed, confided to me that she rarely makes use of the room because she fears exposing the chairs to her toddler.

To wit, I suggested a trick I use to camouflage my own dining chairs, which are neither pricey nor beautiful (see photo, below, for proof): inexpensive, custom slipcovers from www.slipcovershop.com. The advantage of these quick-change-artists is that unlike the ill-fitting, pre-made pieces you can buy at stores like Bed Bath & Beyond (really lousy faux denim always comes to mind), these are stitched up specifically for your chairs, so they fit like a dream. No need to be intimidated by the measuring task, either. Though I’m spatially challenged (you don’t want to know what I did to—barely—pass geometry), following the simple directions was a no-brainer.

The price is the real bonanza here, though: $159 for a set of four in cotton twill, or $45 per chair cover, and you choose from 178 different colors, patterns, and fabrics. I went with white denim, which sounds high-maintenance, but I routinely throw the things into the washer and dryer and they come out spotless. Not an eggplant stain in sight.

Red-wine disasters? Guests without grace? Do tell us about those moments you wished you’d passed on pricey upholstery….