Hello, dear friends! I really enjoyed having my sister time over the last ten days with her visiting, but I have to admit that I really missed working! Has anyone gotten “fooled” today?? No tricks here, just another piece from my haul, an antique chair that I picked up for $10 at the same yard sale where I found this gorgeous antique china hutch I shared in the fall!
It started out like this:
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
The first thing I did was remove the seat that was held in place with four screws from underneath.
It looks pretty good in that before photo, but this chair had been banged around quite a bit over the years…
Sand
To smooth everything out, I started with a good hand sanding using 220 grit sandpaper wrapped around an old foam sanding sponge:
Clean
Once I had all the imperfections smoothed out as well as I could, I gave it a good cleaning using my favorite prep for paint, White Lightning:
It’s as easy as mixing one TBSP into a half gallon of warm water and cleaning! Be sure to swap out your dirty water for clean water and give it one more wipe down to remove any residue. Gloves are recommended.
Prime for bleed through
The tannins in these antique pieces are known for bleeding through the paint, so one coat of Bonding BOSS will prevent that from happening.
The directions on the jar say to apply two-to three coats…NOPE! I rarely have to use more than one. Just be sure to allow it 24 hours to dry before painting to allow it to do its thing. Even if you see bleeding through the BOSS, that is okay!
Paint
I wanted to try another band new color from the new Southern Roots Collection from Dixie Belle.
I already used Olive Wood HERE and Thicket HERE. There are five more colors left:
The images and samples of the colors provided by Dixie Belle haven’t looked quite the same in person, so I took that photo above myself. I think the colors are a bit more accurate except for the Ecru on the left (which is darker in person), but I have a comparison of the whites coming up.
For today’s project, I chose one of the new whites, Gardenia!
And here is a comparison of the whites that Dixie Belle now has to offer:
Compared to the others, Gardenia has a touch of gray in it.
Here’s how I would describe the rest:
- Cotton: The brightest white
- Fluff: More of a vintage white
- Magnolia: A warm white with the slightest touch of yellow in it.
- Buttercream: A creamy, buttery color with a bit more yellow in it.
- Dropcloth: An off-white/cream with no yellow undertones.
- Ecru: A bit darker version of Dropcloth.
- Cucumber Ice: Has a touch of green in it.
I was able to cover completely in two coats over the white Bonding BOSS.
Sand
To make the surface buttery smooth, I once again sanded all over using 220 grit sandpaper. I did want to very minimally distress it here and there, but if you prefer no distressing, these fine grit sanding sponges are the great for smoothing out your chalk-painted finish.
Seal
I then sealed with Clear Coat in the satin finish using a blue sponge applicator I had cut into a square for easier application…
The Seat
Now that the frame of the chair was complete, I could focus on the seat!
This staple remover tool is great for removing staples:
That pretty clean layer was covering whatever this was!
Not so clean! I removed that carpet looking fabric next which was held in place by small nails as well as the very thin cushion layer until I had the bare wood left.
Cut new foam
Next, I cut a new seat cushion from some foam I had saved using the wood as a pattern. Then I used my electric carving knife to cut the foam:
This one runs about $20 new, but I found mine for a few dollars at the thrift store many years ago. It cuts through foam rubber like butter as you can see!
Cover the seat
I chose this gorgeous fabric that I had originally purchased to line the drawers of this Smoky Mountains dresser about a year ago.
Using my el cheapo staple gun, I secured it in place:
I have used this light duty staple gun for so many upholstery projects over the years, it really works great, but I’m considering finally buying an electric one. If you have one you like, let me know in the comments!
I like to cover the ugly, even on the bottom of chairs, so I added a piece of fabric on the bottom to do just that:
Then I screwed the seat in place and done!
$10 Antique Chair Makeover: the After
Here is how this sweet girl looks now!
Can you get a good read on the color here? It is more of a gray-white and I just love it!
And I did add one more thing…I couldn’t help myself! The seat was a tad warped, so there was the slightest gap where the seat met the chair in the front, so I added this pretty gimp trim to fix that!
I found a large roll of this trim at a yard sale many years ago, but HERE is one similar.
It really adds a pretty detail across the front…
That is actually two strips of the gimp trim, one slightly lower than the other. I hadn’t added the first layer down far enough, so I added another. Both are held in place with hot glue.
And how pretty is this fabric??
The seat is nice and comfy now with the thicker foam as well…
And if you ‘ve never seen this table before, it is painted in Steel Magnolia from the Moonshine Metallics:
You can see that makeover HERE.
It lives in my office!
Check out the difference in that seat:
More cushie for the tushie!
And that’s one more piece crossed off this huge list!
See anything you might have missed below:
Painting the Smalls #33
Three thrifty frame Upcycles
Estate Sale Toolbox
Lowboy turned Dressing Table
Vintage Picnic Basket Makeover
Flatware Box & How to Remove the Lining
Vintage Louis XVI Armchair Makeover #2
$10 Vintage Folding Game Table Makeover
Painting the Smalls #32
Longaberger Basket Makeover
Bunny Rocker Makeover
Small Glass Door Cabinet Makeover
Estate Sale Dresser Makeover
HUGE Estate Sale Tool Box
Estate Sale Mirror Makeover
$5 Yard Sale Night Table Makeover
Update a Thrifted Box for the Holidays
Black Painted Antique China Cabinet
Turn Old Frames into New Holiday Decor
How to Upholster a Louis XVI Armchair
How to Repurpose a Table Top (&bonus…see what I did with the rest HERE.)
Dated Bar Stool Makeover
Update a Yard Sale Tote for the Holidays
Painting the Smalls #31 (the dollar edition)
IKEA Bookcase Makeover
$5 Yard Sale Night Table Makeover
I’ll be back next with this steal of a box I picked up at the thrift store:
UPDATE: It is SO pretty now, y’all! See it HERE!
See ya then!
XOXO,
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Michele M. says
She’s a beauty now, Christy!!
So glad you enjoyed your sister time. My sister is my dearest and bestest friend – we refer to our time together as “sledging.” As in Sister Sledge. Yep, we can be such 80s music geeks sometimes. Sledge on! ♥♥
Christy says
Thank you, Michele! Ha ha I love that! XOXO
Mary Kaiser says
Oh so beautiful now! I love that you did a comparison of the whites, that makes it nice when you see them together. I LOVE the fabric that you covered the seat with, it goes beautifully with the chair, and that trim is stunning. It looks so fresh and pretty now!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! That really helped me to be able to tell the differences between the whites as well. Isn’t that fabric so pretty?? I originally found it at Hobby Lobby and I thought it worked so nicely with this new white! XOXO
Kathy W says
Love the chair, Christy!! It will be very comfy for someone’s “tushie”. ???? The fabric on the seat is very pretty!! When I saw the after picture and noticed the detail on the front of the seat, I thought I didn’t see that in the before picture. The gimp really adds to the look of the chair!!! Love it!!! Beautiful, as usual!!!! Oh, thanks for the comparison and description of the colors of paint. Yes, I can see the gray tone in the Magnolia. All are very pretty!!! I’m so happy you had a nice visit with your Sis.
Kathy W
oxox
Christy says
Thank you so much, Kathy! The gimp does add a pretty detail to the front for sure. And I’m glad the “chart” of whites was helpful…it really helped me to sort them too! XOXO
Janet says
Thank you for posting the white comparisons. That is a huge help.
Christy says
I’m so glad that was helpful, Janet! It helped me too! XOXO
Jackie C says
Thank you so much for using the new paint colors. As you mentioned, they have been quite a bit different than what I first thought. I appreciate the time you took to give us a more accurate representation. It’s interesting to see how this one looks more white in the light, but gray in the shadows. I didn’t expect gray. The chair turned out lovely!
Christy says
Thank you, Jackie! Yes, I was bummed that the colors weren’t quite turning out like the sample photos, so I did a little photo shoot of my own lol! I love the mellow tone of this gray-white! XOXO
Janice Redden says
Christy, the chair is beautiful! The new color brings out the details on the back; gives me inspiration for a similar chair I picked up for $6 with a caned seat in excellent condition- yay! Love the fabric choice – getting rid of that “last forever” heavy duty velour-like fabric!!
About the stapler, I recently bought an Arrow Cordless T50DCD; with a charger. I love it – so much better than the old Stanley I was using.
Love your spring nail color!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Janice! I’m guessing that heavy duty fabric was the original judging by the small tacks holding it in place…they really wanted it to last lol! And thank you for the stapler info! I love that it is cordless. I’m going to check it out! XOXO
Becky says
What a beautiful chair now! Your attention to detail is so far above the crowd. Covering the bottoms, insides, backs, adding trim… Your work is absolutely excellent. And then you add excellent taste… fabulous!!!
Christy says
Aww I appreciate that so much, Becky! Thank you, my friend! XOXO
Cecilia says
I love how the chair turned out! Nicer cushion, pretty fabric, and a beautiful color of paint! Thanks for showing the different whites. That’s very helpful. And a giveaway! Yes, please. ????
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! I needed that comparison to tell all the whites apart too lol, so I’m glad it was helpful! Y’all deserve a giveaway…it’s been too long! XOXO
Cyndi says
Another beautiful job, Christy. So pretty! That shade of white is perfect with the fabric, and the gimp edging gives it a special touch. I, too, am so happy and grateful you did a comparison of the DB Whites. That’s a big help!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Cyndi! As I was going through my fabrics, I new this was the one when I saw it. And yay! The comparison really helped me too! XOXO
Linda says
I must admit I’m loving that table! Never seen side drawers like that before. The top almost looks like a removable tray. What a treasure!
Christy says
Thank you, Linda! I found that at an estate sale for $60 many years ago. The top is marble…I just love it! XOXO
Sandra W Magle says
The lace gimp finishes off your chair perfectly. Always the little extra touches that set your projects apart from the crowd. Thanks for inspirations! Sandi
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Sandi! I appreciate that! XOXO
Lizzy says
It’s beautiful, and I also love the table in the staged photo next to it.
Christy says
Thank you, Lizzy! That table was a lucky estate sale find many years ago! XOXO
Liz Shivel says
Hi Christy, such a cute chair! Thanks for the displays of “creams & whites” in the paint selections. How thick is the foam for the chair seat that you used? And your white shutters in your photo, did you clean up & paint those? I bought 2 pairs of old creamy shutters that I’m using for a French looking design, and I should clean them, but was wondering how you cleaned your shutters, if you did at all. Thank you! Glad you had time with your sister!
Christy says
Thanks, Liz! You are so welcome…laying out the whites like that that helped me as well. The foam is 3″ thick. The foam I used was from an old foam topper my son used in college, but you can buy a square of foam for chairs at Walmart for a very reasonable price. The shutters were purchased just like that on Amazon, so I did not clean them. And yes, we had such a nice time, thank you! XOXO
Carroll Xavier says
Love the update…Gardenia was a perfect choice, and really lets the material shine! The chair is beautiful and looks super comfy 🙂
Thanks for always including links in your blog; I’ve got great ideas and the perfect item to make them happen…much appreciated!
I don’t have enough hand strength for my hand stapler, so replaced it with the Ryobi Cordless 3/8 -Inch Crown Stapler. Love it, and use it for so many things! It might be right for you, too 😉
Christy says
Hi Carroll! Thank you! And I appreciate the suggestion for the Ryobi stapler!! XOXO
Susan M says
That chair looks 1000% better! I was hoping you’d put a pretty fabric on the seat, and you didn’t disappoint. Even while the wood looked pretty good, from a distance, in the original photo, that seat was a total snooze! What an opportunity they missed to make that chair really shine! Plus it looked like it would hurt to sit on, lol! I love how the paint makes the carving details pop!
And thank you for the comparison paint colors-so helpful! Monitors can be deceiving; but hvg pics that show side by side colors really shows the difference. I appreciate your extra effort! ????????????????????
Christy says
Thank you, Susan! I was so happy to see this fabric in my stash when I was looking to match this paint color…it is a pretty one! And yes, absolutely no padding at all lol. You are so welcome for the color comparison. I too found it very helpful! XOXO
p says
Ohhh. The trim was the 1st thing I noticed. Such a gorgeous finishing touch. And that fabric is Beautifull, and perfect with the Gardenia white.
It definitely stunning now 🙂
Thanks for the color comparisons. I am always amazed how many shades of ‘white’ there are. I do appreciate that you’re using all the new colors. It really helps.
I’m looking for a perfect green to bring together all my odd wood pieces I’ve accumulated over the years. (too much hodge podge of shades !)
I really like thicket – but the Olive wood might be a good neutral green.
Any other recommendations..?
I usually have to go thru your posts 4-5 times ! So many things to absorb.
I think you were born to do this. Thanks.
I have an Arrow electric stapler I like – a little heavy tho. Works well.
I was also given a Stanley Sharpshooter. Lighter and a good grip / ballance.
Christy says
Thank you, P! That means so much to me…I feel absolutely blessed to be able to do this as my job! It is crazy how many whites there are…I think I needed that side by side comparison to sort them out myself lol. I absolutely love Olive Wood! It is green, but almost a neutral also. You can always order a 4oz size and test it out first. And thank you for the staple gun recommendations…I will check them out! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
I was hoping for Gardenia this time and that fabric is beautiful with it, Christy! All I could think of when I saw the finished chair was My butt feels so much better just LOOKING at the increased padding, I can only imagine how much better it feels to sit on it. Great minds, ya know ????
Christy says
Oh perfect! It’s like I read your mind lol! As I was looking through my fabrics, I just knew this was the on. Ha ha it is so much cushier now! Thanks for the chuckle! XOXO
Jackie C says
Hi Christy, I’m not finding the giveaway. The button to click on takes me to the post for the chair and I don’t see a link there ????
Christy says
Hi Jackie! That was my error! I resent it shortly after with the correct link.????
Jennifer says
Hi Christy, The chair looks fantastic-love the fabric. Can’t wait to try some of the new colors. Unfortunately, painted furniture isn’t selling as well in my area of the country-North Texas-as it once was. People are now looking for natural wood furniture. While that can mean less work for me-if I don’t have to refinish a piece-I really miss getting to try new colors all the time. Smaller accent pieces are still selling painted so I’m trying to have fun with those. Oh and I have a Dewalt electric stapler that I have used for awhile. It works much better than the old manual one I started out using. Can’t wait for the drawing on Thursday!
Christy says
Thank you, Jennifer! That is a bummer…at least you can play with the smaller items. And thank you for the stapler recommendation! XOXO
Ruth Daines says
Oh my goodness Christy this chair is absolutely gorgeous!! I always love everything you do. I’ve taken a few years off from furniture makeovers at my house, but I’m excited to get going with new projects and painting again! I’m glad you posted all the white colors-my favorite! I love the gardenia and that beautiful chair!! I need to drive up and see your shop sometime. Looks like a beautiful new space! I’ve always been thankful for your furniture ideas and how you helped me out with my dining room table makeover during Covid.
Thanks agin for the inspiration to be creative.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Ruth! That means a lot! It always feels so good to create something beautiful like your dining table! XOXO
Ruth A says
Lovely fabric, beautiful chair, as always! Your vision is amazing.
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Ruth! XOXO
Heather McMurtry says
The chair looks Fantastic Christie! I love the combination of Gardenia and the fabric! Well done!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Heather! I love this new white! XOXO
Geri Davis says
The chair looks absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for showing the difference in the whites, that helps when considering what to buy for my next project!
Christy says
Thank you, Geri! I’m glad the comparison of the whites was helpful! I hope you entered the giveaway…I know you would put it to good use! XOXO
Jody says
Hey Christy, I’ll be stopping by your shop again in VA Beach the week of Easter cause we’ll be visiting my daughter who lives down the street from your shop and I’m so excited to be able to go in and shop and buy things from you. I do have a few questions about some of the stuff I bought and some things I want to buy so I will contact you about that. One day I hope to see you there.
God Bless
Christy says
Hi Jody! That sounds great! XOXO