Monday, March 7, 2011

Fabulous French Arm Chairs

So, you may remember this pair of fantastically French arm chairs I picked up a few weeks ago.  Even though upholstery and working with fabric gives me hives and makes me curse, I absolutely could NOT pass them up, since I snagged both chairs and an additional armless French chair for a total of $15 at my favorite local thrift store.

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The second of these chairs in still in process, but I finished up one so I could share it with you good people.  :)  I painted the frame a high gloss white.  The upholstery is a very small and subtle charcoal gray check.  I’m absolutely over the moon for these chairs!!  I hope they make someone very happy.

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I even whipped up a cute little bolster in a fun charcoal and yellow stripe, with rosettes on the ends made from the charcoal upholstery fabric.

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I used my favorite of all trim tricks on the chair back.  It’s called two string shirring, and they sell it with all the curtain and roman shade making stuff at your local craft store.  I usually buy it at Walmart, but mine was all out this time, so I picked some up at Joann’s.  I used it on this chair (I tea-stained it to go with the ivory color) as well as this pair of chairs.  Just make sure you get double what you need for a length so it’ll work out once you gather it up.  It makes such a nice, wide, forgiving, and super-cute ruffle trim.  Try it out sometime!

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I think I’m going to try and get a few painting projects cranked out before tackling the upholstery on the second chair, but I’m really hoping to get them both done for the Junkrestore Vintage Market in Scottsdale, March 31, April 1st & 2nd.

I have a couple of random before and afters to leave you with.

Here’s a table I actually finished up right before the morning sickness struck me down.  It was a pale and pickled before:

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I stained the top my fave Dark Walnut and painted the bottom with an ivory oops paint and added a subtle antiquing glaze:

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Next is this little, very traditional two-tiered side table  (I had already started sanding here):

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I wanted to do something a little bit unexpected with this cute little table, so I decided to go against it’s super traditional form, and paint it a high gloss red (Kabam!!):

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It’s so exciting for me to do these transformations!  I get so excited planning them, and I hope you all have fun seeing them too.  :)  Thanks again for reading!

 

Linking to:

C.R.A.F.T., Thrifty Décor Chick, House of Grace, Primitive and Proper, Domestically Speaking, My Backyard Eden, Miss Mustard Seed

Participating in the Upholstery Challenge over at the CSI Project!

Visit thecsiproject.com

23 comments:

  1. The chair is beautiful. I love the grey and white. Modern color on traditional design=brilliant!

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  2. I LOVE the contrast and all the textures! Fabulous job on all of your projects - it's always fun to see what y'all are up to! JenT

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  3. I love how you glammed up those chairs. They are heavenly! You've got some great pieces there to bring to Tara's market.

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  4. i love everything you do !!! just started my own blog, hope to see your comments too!!! you have encouraged me to paint today!!!!

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  5. the chairs are beautiful!!! and i love that little round table, too!
    but the cherry red- NICE! what a fun pop of color!

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  6. Awesome deal - and awesome transformations! That red is gorgeous!

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  7. WOW!!! ALl of it is absolutely gorgeous! Great job!

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  8. Hey Batman-the checked fabric is fab. I've been wanting to do a chair in hounds tooth for a long time. This reminds me of it and looks very sleek. Just one of those urges a girl has, right? All of the pieces are very tasteful and fun, as always.

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  9. Darling! The chairs turned out so well. What great idea for trim, I'll definitely have to try it sometime. Great (and fast) work!

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  10. Well, upholstry might give you hives, but you sure are good at it!! So pretty!

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  11. I am so in love with that char and the red table too :)

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  12. Love them all! Great job! Super jealous of the chair, I have been looking for one to try my hand at reupholstering for a while, but can't ever find a good deal. I know there's a deal out there for me!

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  13. I love the red table. I have the exact table from my husband's grandma and think that a coat of high gloss red paint is just what it needs. Very cute. Love it!

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  14. you've been busy...it all looks lovely. that table is beautiful.

    blessings,

    alison
    stuff and nonsense

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  15. I love the chair and that is a fantastic tip with the shirring tape. The table and side table are fabulous too, I love that you used red on the side table it gives a traditional table a modern vibe.

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  16. The chairs are beautiful! Love them all!
    dreaming-n-color.blogspot.com

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  17. I LOVE this! Its FAB!!! Come on 'ova and share this at my Linky Par-Tay!

    *ENTER LINKY PAR-TAY Here! *

    xoxokara

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  18. I need to find chairs like this to go with my latest upholstery project. They turned out so beautiful.

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  19. I am in LUUURVE with that chair. I have one just like it and have been waiting for inspiration - THANK YOU!!

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We love lovely gals showin' some love!