Two Chair Makeovers: Victorian to Western Chic and French Provencial to French Country

If you know me by now, 

you know I just love a chair makeover.

I'm always on the lookout for chairs to redo.

Here are two I finished this past weekend:

 Victorian style frame with vintage flamestitch fabric…
I purchased this from RVA Antiques.
Love that place!!!

 Yeah, yeah, I know the wood is nice…
 But I'm painting it!

After ripping off all the edging,

I painted a base coat in chalk paints: 

Maison Blanche Peacock
mixed with a little Annie Sloan Old White.

 After that dried,

 I dry brushed on some Annie Sloan Paris Grey.

 Particularly over the detailed areas.

 This looks pretty rough now but just wait.

 After drying, I sanded lightly
and then added waxes: 

Clear and dark.

Painting in different colors takes on a wonderful faux aged patina

after adding the dark wax.

 Once the frame dried and was buffed,

I proceded to the upholstery...

 I love this faux cowhide I purchased from U-Fab.

I pulled taut, stapling around edges, then trimmed excess.

 On the bottom edge, 

I fabric glued striped trim to cover the staples,

and then added antique brass nail heads.

 After the seat was completed, 

I moved to the front and back..

 I used gimp to finish off these areas.

 And again added antique brass nail heads in the corners.

 It's finished!

In my booth at Greenwood Antiques and Uniques.

$335.

Love the unexpected combo of turquoise

and cowhide!!!!!!!!

Moving on to chair number two:

This was a tufted blue velour french provincial

style chair purchased at an estate sale.

Has the classic french provincial painted wood finish:

Yellow with specks of brown/gold.

Blech.

 

I painted the frame in Paris Grey.

And added lots of dark wax to age it.

 First up, the seat cushion.

 I kept this simple. 

No piping.

I used this striped ticking fabric
I purchased online from Decor Steals.

 Now it's time to rip apart the chair.

So I can put it back together…

I removed all the buttons from the chair front,

added polyfil in the holes,

then batting to the front, and stapled

an undergarment of white muslin.

The seat, I covered with this blue and white striped ticking.

I can make a mess!

Next on to the arms/sides.

Losing light, so I'll have to wait to finish..

I used the same striped fabric 

on the back and outside arms.

Now it's finished except for the trim!

I used a long strip of the fabric - the striped part -

 and folded back/glued the edges,

and used this to trim out the front and sides.

I glued along the raw edges to cover the staples,

and then I added oversized nail heads in the corners.

Here's the inside arm.

Outside arm.

I used white gimp for the outsides...

I do believe this young lady is finished!

It's perfectly beautiful.

She sold today!

Have a favorite chair that needs new clothes?

SheShe, The Home Magician

Sheila Fox

sheilafox@aol.com

804-402-4370