Hello, lovelies!! I’m back today with another piece from my Storage Room “Haul” of Shame! It’s a chair that I picked up at a yard sale the Summer before last. Yes, I’ve held onto this chair for two years!
Can I just tell you again how much I love that these “hauls” are helping me tackle all these pieces I’ve been hoarding?! If you need to move a few pieces along, maybe try gathering a few and snapping a photo…then print it out and cross out each item in the photo as you tackle it…it really works!
Here is the chair as I found it:
I knew exactly what I planned to do with this chair. This dressing table/desk and mirror are still sitting in my booth, but they are missing something…
The chair I used in this photo is one that I keep for staging, so this set is currently missing a chair.
I know from past experience that this will sell more easily if it has a chair with it, so I set out to give this yard sale chair from my hoard a simple white makeover that I could pair with this set:
It was quite boring before, but it was solid and the cane seat was in great shape. I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
I knew this would take three coats of paint for solid coverage, so I gave it a coat of Rustoleum spray primer first:
I probably could have given it one more coat of primer and then only had to hand paint one coat of paint, but I ended up going straight to painting after priming. (You definitely want to prime the cane first either way.)
This is Bit of Sugar by Behr made into DIY chalk paint. (Recipe HERE.) I haven’t been using my DIY version much since I started carrying Dixie Belle in my shop. It still works great, but it has been so convenient not having to make my own! I used this since this is what I used to paint the dressing table and I wanted them to match.
After following the primer up with two coats of paint, everything got a good sanding with 220 grit sandpaper.
Then I sealed with Dixie Belle’s Clear Satin Topcoat using their blue applicator sponge. SO much easier than wax, and it is the only sealer besides wax that I have found that does not yellow over white paint!
I’ll be sharing how I apply sealer with a sponge on Thursday!
I love a simple white makeover!
Now I have a complete set to sell in my booth! I wonder if I should price them all together, or keep them priced individually? What do y’all think?
If you have a broken cane seat, you might like what I did with this one!
Visit this simple chair fix HERE!
And one more piece is complete!
If you missed any from this haul so far, see them all below!
$6 Thrift Store Bench Makeover
I’ll be back on Thursday with my Furniture Fixer Upper crew sharing how I updated this drop leaf table:
I’m ashamed to say that I have absolutely zero recollection about where I found it or what it cost, and no, I wasn’t drunk when I bought it lol, it has just been THAT long ha ha!
UPDATE! See how this drop leaf table looks now HERE! š
XOXO,
P.S. If you want to give Dixie Belle products a try, or if you already love them, visit my online shop and enter the code FREESHIP50 at checkout to receive FREE SHIPPING on orders of $50 or more, and as always, anything under $50 is $8 flat rate shipping! I appreciate your business! š
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Mary Kaiser says
Wow what a difference some white paint can make! I Love how that turned out. I will be so cute with the set. I think you should price the pieces individually but offer a small discount when purchased all together as a set. I wish I lived closer so I could purchase them.
Christy says
Thanks, Mary! Yes, white paint is like an instant refresh! I like the idea of pricing separately, but offering a deal for the set, thanks! I wish you lived closer too!! XOXO
Christina in SW FL says
Cute, cute, cute! I get it wanting the chair to match. You could price the chair separately but put a tent-like card on the dressing table/desk with a price for “all three for only $X.xx! š
Great job as always Christy!
Have a great week!!
Christy says
Thank you, Christina! I like that idea, thank you! Enjoy your week as well! XOXO
Cecilia from Georgia says
Iām sure the desk and chair will go quickly as a set. I love the desk and the chair does finish it off. Well, I learned something this week. NEVER-NEVER put paint in the refrigerator ????. I had the idea that if a paint brush can be stored in the fridge, then the paint should be good there too. NOT!! It is so hot ???? down here in South Georgia that my paint got a sour smell to it. It is a homemade chalk paint and when I removed it from the fridge, it was very thick. I have a hand mixer to mix paint and after I mixed it for a long time, it turned grainy. My problem was that I was in the middle of painting a night stand. Of course I used the horrible mess to finish painting my piece and was able to lightly sand the gritty stuff off. What a nightmare! And I didnāt just make up a single batchā-no, I made a double batch. My favorite color too! Lesson learned. Hope this helps someone else to avoid making the same mistake. XOXO
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! I have had paint sour as well and I realized it was because I used an old food container that must have still had remnants of what was in it, even though I cleaned it really well. I buy empty paint cans from the Home Dept ever since that happened…they are $3. I’m glad you were able to salvage your nightstand, but I’m sorry you had that trouble! Thanks for sharing! XOXO
Janice Holt says
Yes you are right; a few simple coats of white paint makes anything so clean and pretty just like this chair.
Christy says
Absolutely! I would paint it all white if I could lol. Thanks, Janice! XOXO
Kalli says
Hi there! I have been following your blog and really enjoy working with the DIY chalk paint. I havenāt used it on furniture because I wasnāt sure it would hold up. Iāve seen you use different sealers but what type of sealer is best for white furniture that may be used frequently? Thanks so much:)
Christy says
Hi Kalli! I have used the DIY version on hundreds of pieces and it works just as well as the name brands, so you can absolutely use it on furniture without fear. I used to use wax on just about everything that I painted white because it was the only thing that I found that did not yellow over white. Then I discovered Dixie Belle’s topcoats…game changer! You could probably get away with using their clear satin topcoat, but give it two coats on the top surface. That should work for most pieces. If you are needing it for a very high traffic piece like a kitchen table, Gator hide is waterproof and super durable. They can both be applied with a sponge. I’ll be sharing a table and how to seal it on Thursday that you might find helpful. XOXO
Mary W says
I love watching your array of ‘trash’ turn into treasure! I have a question for you. I bought two reed chairs 15 years ago for $35 each and love how comfortable they are. They have been on my porch (outside in Florida) for 13 years and I’ve never done anything with them – same old dark brown. We have redone a lot of metal furniture and made an outside living room by our porch and the much loved reed chairs have been moved to the backyard to enjoy? some outside time. They were spray painted grey, then dark brown and still not used. I want to paint them again and bring them into our outside patio (Florida) where they will be used no matter what color but will they last? What should I use? Should I treat them with some conditioning stuff first to make them last. They are still unbelievably sturdy and no sign of loosening – what a buy that was. But I really want to have them in our new patio with dappled sunlight. What should I use to make them last another decade?
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! If they are already painted, the conditioner likely won’t penetrate the paint. I would clean them well and then go for spray paint again. That will be easiest and spray paint is perfect for outdoor furniture, even if you plan to bring it inside! XOXO
Leslie Connolly says
Beautiful as always! I received my Dixie Belle order yesterday! Thank you!
Christy says
Thank you, Leslie!! And yay…thank you for supporting my little shop!! XOXO
Robyn Wright says
I’m thisclose to starting to do some of my own “hauls”. I think I’m going to try your Dixie Belle products mentioned in this post. You’ve already done all the research for me so I might as well start with the best, eh? What do you think would be the best to use on a pair of barn doors that I used Verathane Weathered Wood Accelerator on. It’s water-based so I was thinking Polycrylic? I don’t think a wax would work for this project.
PS. It might be time to make an inventory of what’s in your stash…that is if your memory is as “good” as mine these days. š
Christy says
Yes I have tried it all ha ha! I agree…a Polycrylic would work better than wax. Thursday Iāll be sharing how to apply sealer with a sponge and you may find that helpful! Yes, an inventory would be smart! XOXO
Marie says
The chair looks so pretty painted white and the beautiful cane and spindles steal the show now. I bet it’ll look stunning with your dressing table.
Christy says
Thank you, Marie!! Hoping it sells now! XOXO
Mary says
The chair looks wonderful, good job. I have caned a few chairs but never even seen that style with a caned seat?? Looks much better white. Thanks. This is just my opinion but the other chair matches the style better (more round-y) so separate pricing is a good idea. Also just my opinion, I really dislike that blue print applique on the dresser, it is just too much and takes away from the fabulous curves of the dresser/mirror; sorry sorry sorry, I think you are absolutely wonderful with these makeovers so don’t mind me….I know if it doesn’t sell you will fix it anyway! Thanks so much and please don’t ban me!
Christy says
Ha ha you are so funny, Mary! I always appreciate your input, and what a boring world this would be if we all liked the same things all the time! Thank you! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
I love the look of the painted wicker, Christy. I’ve been wanting to try it on a pair of sad 1970s dining chairs and, as usual, your enthusiasm has me convinced.
I’m for pricing the chair separately because someone who doesn’t need the table might want that fabulous chair. And when it sells, you’ll find another chair to paint (you might even have one squirreled away in storage!)
Christy says
Thanks, Marcie! Yes, go for it! Be sure to spray prime at least the cane part first. And yes, I like the idea of pricing them separately, thanks! XOXO
Tina Sommer says
Christy,
I am always in awe of your great eye for extraordinary potential for ordinary things. I have been collecting wooden shutters for awhile and have them in various places throughout the house. Iām getting ready to use 3 nice big ones as a headboard. I want to paint them white, but I donāt want to deal with waxing the chalk paint because of all the slats. What would you recommend? Spray paint?
Christy says
Thank you so much, Tina! For shutters, I vote spray paint!! What a great headboard they will make! XOXO
Sandi Wagner says
LOVE the chair! Cannot wait to see the table…I have one that was my grandmother’s…very similar! Also, FYI…I bought this cute little wood, painted in a VERY icky way….double wine holder box today at my favorite thrift shop for 50 cents…I felt like I was you! I volunteer once a month and I was scouring the place…when I saw it! I am currently redoing a mirror of my grandmother’s and TOTALLY copying one of your mirrors….just like I copied my table…until I didn’t get the top right…so, I chalk painted it gray! I don’t think I ever sent you a pic…so, I am going to try and attach it! Can I tell you how happy I get when I see an email from you….with a makeover!!! No clue how to attach it…ugh. I will email you!
Christy says
Thank you, Sandi! You are so funny! And your table seriously turned out SO beautifully!! I’m so happy you shared it with me…better watch out…this painting thing is addicting ha ha! XOXO
Mrs Mike says
I’ve been enjoying this series but this particular post reminded me that I bought two similar chairs at an online auction a few months back! One of them needs to be recained, but I found an excellent youtube tutorial for that. I had planned to give one of the chairs to my daughter to use as a vanity chair but was hesitant to paint it. Your chair looks so cute, now I’m excited about the project!
Christy says
Oh yay! Glad I reminded you about your chairs! XOXO
Becky says
What a pretty chair!
I think I need to have my son take a picture of HIS stash and work through it! Everyone needs inspiration to GET IT DONE! ????
Christy says
Thanks, Becky! Oh yes, it really helps!! XOXO