When I spot French chairs that have never been rescued from their 1970’s splattered wood and harvest gold or burnt orange velvety upholstery, I get giddy. Most people won’t give them a second look and most people don’t see the potential. Seeing potential in furniture is one of the things I do best.
When I spotted a pair of these old girls on Craig’s List…
…I knew I could give them the attention they needed. I took off those tufted cushions the minute they came in the door. Behind them was a great caned back. One was intact, but unfortunately, the other wasn’t. I stripped the chairs down, painted the frames and then reupholstered them…making the detached tufted cushions one attached cushion. It’s still cushy, but has a more refined look. I upholstered the back of the chair with the broken caning and left the intact one painted.
The frames are painted in Paris Gray by Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint. I then distressed and waxed them.
Of course these are coming with me to the fair to sell. I’ll be honest, though. My heart won’t be broken if they don’t sell. I’m a sucker for a French chair with pretty legs.
Tomorrow I’m getting a hair cut, picking up some more furniture from my Northern Virginia picker, running some errands and then it’s back to painting. My parents are here to help and I have a babysitter lined up for the next few days.
It’s crunch time!
53 Responses
Lovely makeover!
me love me love me love!
You should get a citation from the government for keeping all these things out of the landfill. I think there are an endless supply of 1970's chairs for you to work you. They are really nice after you fix them up. I wish I could come to visit this weekend, but my brother is coming to visit from Seattle. Take lots of pictures, please! Ann
Beauti-Ful~I have a chair that I painted black and upholstered in greens. This makes me want to redo it again, like yours. Hmmmmmmm
These chairs are amazing! I just bought some that are fairly similar for $5/chair at a tag sale. Thank you for being such an inspiration!
Pretty!
I ♥ that pale blue!
Good luck!
Beautiful makeover, I adore these French Chairs! Great job!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Come and enter my New Giveaway from Serena & Lily! You will love it!
Gorgeous Marian!
Pretty chairs– glad to see you have re-enforcements abounding with all the help you could use!
So I guess having a picker is a good thing? I remember you mentioning be approached by someone to do this. Is this your only picker? How is that working for you? Did I miss any posts about this? I'll have to go and see!
have a great week, don't get crunched –during crunch time! Pat
Loved the close up view of the distressed and waxed front of arm rest photo. It is so your style.
Your parents are a blessing! They are the best.
– Joy
Just beautiful! They are sure to be snatched up in a heartbeat!
Oh, this makes me sick…but let me explain. I JUST saw 2 chairs like this, but in teal blue at a yard sale on Friday. She wanted $25 for the pair. They had high backs though. But the arms felt a little wobbly; is there a fix for that. I actually (because of you and your blog) DID see potential in them and was tempted to get them, but the loose arms stopped me. Would you have gotten them? I didn't think glue would do the trick.
Marian, you are incredible…that makeover is so inspiring! I love it! You are so much fun to see in action…..Can't wait to see you and your loot in person! Me and my girlfriends are coming to Lucketts for the big Spring Market….from Chicago and Connecticut! Can't wait!!!
Marian,
These turned out so great!
Your paint finishes are amazing.
xx
A
Need to find out more about this spring market where you are selling things!
Another beautiful makeover…man, what I would give to live near Luckett's so I could buy, buy, buy…then again, maybe it's a good thing that I don't! 🙂
Can't wait to try this chalk paint, I would love to win the "Provance" and Old White. Since finding your site I have been picking up cute pieces to paint 🙂 Thanks for your inspiration!
I love it! I went back to get one at the Flea Market last weekend and it was gone. Still hunting for one!
Those chairs are gorgeous! You did a fabulous job with them, as always!
Be-u-ti-ful! simply beautiful 🙂
By the way, you know I am a blog stalker when I mapquested how long it would take me to get to Lucketts from central NY just so I could see this all in person. 5.5 hours…very tempting!
So beautiful! You never fail to impress me!
xo, Mallory
Waiting to see some Old Violet used. It's awesome! Dilutes down to all kinds of gorgeous.
So this means parents brought the Armoire. Cool!
so gorgeous!
awesome transformation. love chalk paint! just did my laundry room cabinets in chalk paint. I LOVE that paint. thank you so much for introducing it to me! i am going to be their best customer.
Wow, that's so beautiful! I would be so embarrassed if you saw my awful chair…wanna help me fix it?! 😉
Lauralee
The chairs look gorgeous now! What a great makeover!
Wow! This is an awesome one! Love the new upholster. It looks a lot lighter.
Oh my! I am tired just thinking about all you have left to do!!!!!
And that chair…wowzers! Beautiful!!
Hugs
SueAnn
Beeee-you-teee-ful !! You're truly the paint whisperer. 🙂
I love the shape of the back of those chairs! Can't wait to see the caned one!
ellery
medusarossa@hotmail.com
You know I am a sucker for YOUR chairs!!! I told the hubs I wanted to paint an antique chair that I have…didn't go over well, so I figure that I am just going to have to look for another chair 🙂
Love the paint choice, look great!
Oh Oh Oh MY !! SWOON……Swoon !! Stunning !!
What a great transformation. I have a chair close to the same style and you have given me inspiration of what to do with it!
Marian, I love those chairs. Your paris grey looks a lot lighter than mine..did you water it down or mix it with old white?
Good luck! I know you are excited and ready! So exciting…Xo, Meme
Your furniture just makes me smile! I love it all. You have quite a gift.
so, so gorgeous. You do have a great eye!
Love it! Good luck with everything! Have a blessed week!
Beautiful, Marion! Love that color and the fabric you used!
It is my goal to have these chairs stuffed into my little car and coming home with me after the Luckett's fair on Saturday 🙂
I'm with you…love French chairs! Your chair turned out beautiful. Amazing how paint…new fabric and a lot of love can transform an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan.
Cathleen alyce
C'est magnifique!!
Wonderful, as always.
Hope there's security…a rowdy crowd is going to be in a full Miss Mustard seed frenzy! : )
See you there! Can't wait!
What an inspiration. You make is sound so easy! Love the color
Stacy
BEAUTIFUL! You actually make me think I could whip one of these make-overs off………but then I give my head a shake and know it would take me a good week or more to complete the paint job!
Keep the inspiration coming; you're so motivating I just might give it a try!!!
Just lovely, love love them. What fabric did you use? Looks similar to a drop cloth almost? Your work is always inspiring!!!
What a difference from the gold..Simply beautiful..You do awesome work..I am always in awe of your projects..
Janet
Wow, as usual, a beautiful transformation! So nice that your parents are there to help. Have a great productive week! 🙂
Very Pretty! They have great lines. I would have snatched them up too! I just bought four diningroom chairs for $15 at a local thrift shop. I've had my eye on them awhile. The seats were broken on 2 of the chairs (that doesn't scare me!) and they had been sitting there for weeks. The frames were sturdy and I figured they were sick of them being there and were ready to make a deal. The guy was in shock I wanted them! I just started pulling them apart and will be redesiging them this week. I can't wait to get them in my diningroom!
I love Harvest Gold French Chairs. I have two of these in my Family Room! They are now SW "Soar" blue and have lovely new upholstery and seats. My friend found them at a tag sale for $5 each. They were soooooooo ugly. What is someone's eyesore is our gain!
Why oh why do I have to be in Ohio when this wonderful lovely chair is at Luckett's… SO far away from here. It would be absolutely PERFECT for my desk and as a prop for my photography.
I LOVE this. Your whole blog is amazing. I want to be like you somday! 🙂