Weekend Project = Chair #3

Here's chair #3! This will be a tougher project for me than my first two, but I'm up for the challenge. I'm going to start removing the old upholstery today. I also found THIS old paint....

Weekend Project - Chair #2

After

Before

So I was planning on using a pale blue fabric for #2, but I just wasn't in love with any of the blue options. Once my plan went out the window my lack of decision making abilities became glaringly obvious as I spent WAY too long wandering the fabric store...picking up things...putting them back...touching everything (Eric loves/hates that I do this). I finally came across this green graphic print and it just felt right. I love the shades of green and mustard yellow and how the circle print mimics the chair back. 

I'm happy to report that this chair took way less time than the first (aside from the fabric selection) which means I am learning. The gold paint was interesting to work with. It makes the wood grain of the chair pop, which I actually find quite beautiful especially in the sunlight. I could have used different techniques, but they would have been much more costly and time intensive and it just wasn't a practical approach for now but I do want to try some gilding techniques in the future. Anyways, enjoy!

Current Love = Brightly Painted Chairs

Design*Sponge

Design*Sponge

Chair #2 is still awaiting its transformation. I know, I know, I've had it for a week now and can't decide what to do with it! I'm dying to try something bold. From the start I was considering attempting gold (a la French chairs at the Getty) but now I'm also playing with the idea of picking a beautiful bright color. I love these examples I found on Design*Sponge. So many ideas, so little time!

Weekend Project = Chair #1

After

Before

Finally got around to refurbishing my first chair ever...and I tell you it feels pretty good! In one weekend we (being myself and Eric, my oh-so-amazing boyfriend) had to make about 8 trips to various hardware and fabric stores before we finally had everything necessary to paint and reupholster this vintage chair (see before photo below). Being a man's man, I'm sure Eric never imagined himself in Joanne's fabric store searching for trim all weekend...but he was a trooper and I made sure we were stocked up on cold beer and sandwiches from Bay Cities to keep everyone happy. 

This being amateur hour and all, the following list is a sampling of lessons learned:

1. We had to try various foam/batting thicknesses to get the right amount of cushion for the seat. After playing around with various options we managed to pull some batting apart to get what we needed to layer with the foam.

2. It took about 3 more coats of paint than anticipated to cover the previous dark wood stain.

3. We learned to ALWAYS bring the fabric with you everywhere when buying supplies (which is obvious, but if you know me you know I'm bound to forget the most important thing when I leave the house). We guessed on a trim color without the fabric on the first try...as anticipted, it didn't match so we had to return it. 

4. When buying supplies, check your supplies before check out. We were all geared up to assemble the seat and realized our newly purchased staple gun was missing an important piece. Back to the hardware store we went, and then we were finally set.

It was a true learning experience and all-in-all a great way to spend a weekend (for me at least!). I anticipate the next chair will take half the time without the amateur mistakes. Once I have it down I want to try a more difficult upholstery project. I'm so glad to have taken the first step :)