.
{Did you know it's now super easy to pin images from ReMarkable Home?! Just hover over any image on the site and you will see the Pinterest icon show up in the top right hand corner. Just click and PIN ....even if you are on the homepage. The correct link will be pinned}

4.01.2011

Refinished Chair for Desk

I found this chair in someone's trash pile.  It was painted a creamy yellow that was pretty thrashed.  The seat was ripped and nasty.  But I knew it had potential and I could not pass it up at the price of $0!
So, I shoved it in the back of my minivan and took it home to sit in my garage until my husband threatened to divorce me if I didn't do something with it.  So, I decided it was time to refinish it!  I got out the mouse sander and smoothed out the paint, taking off the top layer and smoothing out the chipped parts of the paint.  I wiped it clean and proceeded to spray paint it this lovely torquoise color.  It was a Rustoleum spray paint, which is the brand I prefer.  I added enough coats until it was covered.  Duh!



Then I glazed it.  To glaze it I used Ralph Lauren Faux glaze mixed with some black paint.  I did a section at a time.  I brushed on a layer of the glaze, getting in all the nooks and crannies and cracks.  Then I wiped it off with a barely damp rag.  I repeated this one section at a time till the whole chair was glazed.  Once that dried I sprayed it with a clear spray paint to seal it.
To recover the seat, I removed the seat by unscrewing it from the bottom and then pulled off the nasty fabric and padding.  I bought a new piece of foam padding at the fabric store.  I got the 2" thick piece, but most people use 1" thick foam for chair seats like this.  I also bought a piece of canvas fabric in a natural color.  I cut the piece of foam the same shape as the board for the seat.  After I finished, I read a tutorial that said you are SUPPOSED to cut the foam 1/4" bigger than the board on all sides.  So, mine isn't perfect because you can kindof see the board underneath the fabric on the front corners.  If you cut the foam 1/4" bigger you won't have this problem.  So, trace the board onto the foam and then cut 1/4" outside your line.  Then glue your foam to the seat. 

For the damask design, I used freezer paper to cut out this shape on my Silhouette.  If you have a Silhouette, you can cut things like this that are wider than 8" by cutting half the design and then the other half and lining them up.  This is what I did.  If you don't have a Silhouette, you can print out your design you want to use and then use an Xacto knife to cut your stencil out of freezer paper.  I then ironed on the stencil to the fabric.  Then i applied black fabric paint with a sponge brush.  Once it was dry, I pulled off the freezer paper.

I then took my board with the foam glued to it and placed a piece of quilt batting over it and the fabric over that.  Then I used a staple gun to staple it into place on the back, pulling it tight as I went. 
I then sprayed the seat with Scotch Guard to hopefully repel the dirt it will inevitably be inflicted with by my children standing on it and using it as a napkin!  I still haven't reattached the seat to the chair.  It is so hard for me to completely finish projects!  I need to get it done.  Also, this chair has these holes on the top.  They had a little piece of metal in each of them which I pulled out. I'm not sure what was originally on this chair, but I am hoping to find some thing cute to put on them....maybe some glass knobs or a glass knob and a cute bird knob or something.  I am sure I will find something someday!  This chair is now the chair I use in my craft space/office and I love it!
Next time I refinish something I will take pictures as I go.  I did this before I started this blog.  Let me know if you have any questions about the process.  It was really easy!

What furniture do you have sitting around that you need to refinish?

15 comments:

  1. That chair is AWESOME! I love the aqua color. Nice job on the cushion, too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a great transformation! I love the color and the damask print on the cushion.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love the chair! Great job!!! I love everything about your blog! I am now following you! I hope you will drop by my blog sometime and follow me!! :-) I am participating in my first "Before & After" with Thrifty Decor Chick!
    Looking forward to getting to know you!
    ~~~rhonda~~~
    My before & after:
    http://bit.ly/hFEJgJ
    Follow me on Twitter: Twittle__Dee

    ReplyDelete
  4. i love the back of that chair- it's awesome! and i lvoe what you did with it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Visiting from TDC's Before & After party. Lovely chair.I hate to say it, but I painted a chair the same colour and posted it....but yours is NICER! Really.

    ReplyDelete
  6. You did a GREAT job. Wish I could see a before pic, but I can imagine a dumpster chair was pretty hopeless in appearance! Love the vision. Nothing is better than dumpster revamps. I am a new follower. Stopping by to invite you to join Thrifty Thursday. Have a wonderful day. Blessings!

    Johnnie

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very nice! The stencil totally made it awesome. I would be thrilled if you stopped by my Commercial Break Thursday at http://www.suzyssitcom.com and link this project!

    suzy

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is gorgeous!I have a link part going on...I'd love for you to link this up

    Simply Creations Link Party

    ReplyDelete
  9. Looks great! I found your blog over at Miss Mustard Seed.

    ReplyDelete
  10. oh man this is gorgeous. I love diy home projects.

    kathryn
    -thedragonsfairytail.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love everything you did with this chair. It's just awesome from the color to the seat. I am your latest follower. I would love for you to come by and check out my blog and follow me back at www.diybydesign.blogspot.com. Thanks so much.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have a set of chairs sitting in my basement that were a steal from GW that I have been putting off refinishing because I was not sure what to do with the seat. Too much pattern or color would ruin the effect I wanted. Your pattern is devine and will grace my chairs and I love the glazing. It really brings out the character of older pieces. Thanks for the inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great job on the chair. I love how it turned out. :)

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate comments so much! I love to hear your thoughts or answer your questions. Thank you for taking the time to comment! Some Firefox users have had trouble commenting. PLEASE email me at remarkablehome@gmail.com if you have any problem commenting. Thanks so much!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
 
Blogging tips