Friday, January 27, 2012

~the never-ending chair story~

Well friends, these chairs were a while in the making. Let me start at the beginning…

{this could be a longish post, grab a coffee}

Many years ago Mr RGV and I bought a handcrafted wooden farmtable and chairs. They have stood up to multiple moves and family dinners, but one by one the chairs were falling apart, literally. It was time to replace the chairs.

But new chairs are very, very expensive, and I’m not overly fond of new furniture anyways. So began the search, I had a budget of $100 and I wanted Queen Anne style chairs. Solid wood with tall backs and shapely legs.


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Easy right? Not really, I found plenty on craiglist and such but they were either way overpriced or sold with the table, which we did not need.

Finally, finally around 18 months ago (yes really!) I found a set of four chairs while out treasure hunting one day with my friend Janis, they were $24.99 each. Even better, they were reduced to half price. $12.99 each. 


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Perfect. Well within the budget. They started out looking like this:


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Good solid bones, shouldn’t take long. Only I had never actually completely refinished chairs before!


First step was sanding, BIG job, and I couldn’t figure out how to get the seats off them so eventually just pulled them off. BIG MISTAKE! In the process I basically stripped the screws right out the wood and wrecked the bases.


Soooo, Mr RGV decided we needed new wooden bases and kindly cut them for me. Then when I removed the fabric to reuse the foam cushions, the foam disintegrated into powder. So then I had to get new foam cut. My budget chairs were starting to get expensive.


Then on a whim I decided to use oil based paint, what a nightmare (this was before ASCP hit our shores, my BFF). Just my opinion and I know oil based paint has it’s place, but honestly it took forever to dry between coats and ruined my brushes. You get the picture. Now me and ASCP, we get along just fine!


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Anyway, you get the picture, lots of work and extra steps along the way. To be honest around this stage they kinda got put on hold, the staple gun wasn’t holding the fabric and I was about done with the chairs. 

Only problem was we were down to 3 of the originals, the situation was dire! I’d already pulled the bench in from the hallway and pretty soon we’d be perched on the floor!

So finally Mr RGV bought me a new staple gun, we upholstered them with a layer of osnaburg covered with a layer of burlap, so they’ll be easy and inexpensive to recover.


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Now I totally love them! They have that classic french country look I was after and I love the touch the ruffles and ties give. 


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I ordered these awesome chair covers from Paula and Erika's etsy store {Check out their store, the quality of their work is awesome and their pricing very reasonable.}



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Don’t they look fab!! Now if Mr RGV would just agree to me painting the table legs white it would be perfect, don’t you think….


I’m sure we’ve all had projects we start that become larger than life and we just have to walk away for a while. It was so worth finishing this one up! Plus now we don’t have to sit on the floor to eat dinner!!


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Hope you enjoyed the never-ending chair story!!

Tracey

24 comments:

Vintage Home said...

Oh Tracey...those are amazing! Wow to you . If you ever paint with oil again buy a cheap brush use it, wrap in plastic wrap, put in fridge for a few days while 1st coat drys, 2nd coat...then throw it away!..thats how we roll, we do numerous pieces a day tho when we paint.
I am crazy about the shape of your chairs!
So pretty now!...Funny what a little makeup will do!

The Polka Dot Closet said...

The chair is fabulous!! Oh, I never use oil base, what a pain that is! What a fun Etsy shop, I had fun window shopping!

Carol

raggygirlvintage said...

Thanks for the tips Colleen, if I use oil based again I will probably just buy cheap brushes I can throw away! Or I could give you the rest of the can:-) So glad they are finally done and we can use them!
Tracey

Blondie's Journal said...

Your dream came true! They are just beautiful! Hurray on your hard work!

XO,
Jane

Shanon at Vintage Sparkle Chic said...

I love your new chairs. They turned out amazing. I really like how you did the burlap and then a cover over. I will have to check out that site, the ruffles are adorable! Thanks for the great idea! I have still not checked out the ASCP, it's really worth it, huh? The chairs are perfect :)

~Shanon

Mona Kay Gorman said...

I feel like ALL my furniture re-do s are never ending!! Chairs ar just gorgeous!!

Courtney ~ French Country Cottage said...

Love your chairs and with the white paint- perfect!! Thanks for sharing at Feathered Nest Friday!

Lady Pamela said...

I bought my ruffled chair covers from the very same Etsy shoppe! I love mine. They do wonderful work.
Carrie from PH suggested we paint our table legs white, too. Usually what she says, My Dad does aroung here. Nice to have 2 handymen. I love your awesome price on your chairs. It was worth the wait for sure. They look beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Love the chairs, they turned out great. Thanks for sharing and thanks for stopping by simply home cents and leaving a sweet comment. I'm your newest follower, thanks again! Tabitha

Barbara Matson said...

Fabulous chairs after all that work! I use foam brushes for oil paint!

Traci said...

This is too funny... we must have good taste in chairs:) LOVE the ruffles.

Susan EvelynAndRose said...

What a wonderful makeover for these chairs! You did a great job despite the challenges, and I love the look of the ruffled slipcovers.
I can totally relate to projects getting frustrating over time. :)

Monica Roberts said...

Whoa! First of all I'm pretty downhearted you found those wonderful chairs for the first price, let alone for 1/2 off. Would never happen in my neck of the woods. You did a wonderful job restoring them and the slipcovers are perfect. Didn't know there were others out there capable of ripping seat covers of their foundations, other than me... but hey ... I love it, and love those chairs!

Victoria @ The FAT Paint™ Company and ÉdinHome said...

They're lovely Tracey; you've really done a fantastic job on them!! :-) I can't believe the price you got them for! Did you completely finish them in the oil or did you change to ASCP at the end?
Victoria

A Cozy Cottage in the City said...

Hi Tracey,

Love your story! Sounds like something I would do...actually scratch that; sounds like the kinds of things that I do! lol I can totally relate - but the end result was worth the journey! I think you did a fabulous job with those chairs and those ruffle ties just make it even more lovely. Thank you also for sharing the link to the etsy store for your covers. :) Wishing you a wonderful Sunday!


XO's,
Jessie

Shabby chic Sandy said...

I love this--looks just like one I recently did--now I need to finish the rest of the chairs!

Tracey Ayton Photography said...

Oh my goodness Trace, these ladies are adorable! It's like watching old women get younger again. Such a great find!

koralee said...

Oh me oh my....these are stunning...what talent you have!!!! Now you have really inspired me.
Love the price!
Happy February! xo

Tammy@Beatrice Banks said...

I enjoyed your chair story! You have the patience of Job to have waited and worked so long on them! They are just gorgeous! Love them.

Something Special said...

Just love those chairs. I am in need of redoing my dining chairs. I love the ruffled slipcovers too. Thanks for sharing. I am pinning this!

Cassie Bustamante said...

oh wow- LOVE those! those ruffled skirts are beautiful!!!

Megan Gunyan said...

Oh, I love the ruffles, too! What a great re-do!

Jennifer Williams said...

I love the transformation! Hmm, very inspiring...

raggygirlvintage said...

Thanks Jennifer!
Tracey

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