Welcome back, sweet friends! Thank you for all the love on Tuesday’s glass door cabinet makeover! That was a fun pause in my current haul! I’m back to it today though sharing a painted press back and cane chair makeover.
I needed a quickie makeover that I could easily get done since hell hath seemed to freeze over here, and this chair was perfect!
I just learned that this is called a press back chair, and it seems similar chairs are going for $100 to over a $1000 online. What??
Well, I found mine at a yard sale last year for $5:
There likely isn’t as much value in a lone chair like this, unless someone was looking to complete a set, so I did what I always do…I painted it, of course!
Paint is my favorite way to bring a little life to these older chairs!
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Clean
Before I could get to that though, I gave it a thorough cleaning with White Lightning, mixing one TBSP into a half gallon of warm water:
I gave it one more wipe down with plain water to remove any remaining dirt and residue.
Paint
It was freezing here…in the 20’s, which is very unseasonably cold for us here on the coast, but I knew I wanted to prime that cane seat and get a quick first coat on this chair the easy way…with Rustoluem Spray Primer. And I definitely couldn’t do that indoors.
I put my medium spray tent right up against the opening to our garage and went for it!
In my latest Painting the Smalls post, I blended up a new blue by combing equal parts of Vintage Duck Egg Blue, Sea Glass, and Cotton to get the perfect beachy blue!
I had some left over, so I gave this chair just ONE coat, followed by a good sanding all over with 220 grit sand paper once it was dry…
I wanted some of the white and some of the original wood to show through.
Seal
After cleaning up any sanding dust, I took it indoors to seal it with Clear Coat in satin using the blue sponge applicator to apply it:
Painted Press Back and Cane Chair Reveal
Here is how this little cutie looks now!
What better way to make a chair feel more special than with a gorgeous color!
I love the spindly leg details…
I love this detail too and how just one coat distresses so nicely…
Remember this shelf I made from the top of a $6 thrift store table?
You can see more of this repurposed piece HERE.
And how about this basket?
It was a pie basket that I cut in half and added a wood back to!
See more of that redo and what I did with the other half HERE!
I love painting chairs for my booth. Hopefully, this one finds a home quickly!
And that is another piece complete!
See anything you may have missed below:
Painting the Smalls #39
Make an Old Flatware Box Beautiful!
Painted Pine Dresser
Update Lamps with Paint
Give a dated Shelf Vintage Charm
Update a Jewelry Box with Paint and Decoupage Paper
$10 Night Table Makeover
Update a Mirror with Moulds
Update a Flatware Box for the Holidays!
Yellow Painted Chair
Trashed $10 Thrift Store Table Makeover
Round Wooden Storage Case
Washstand Cabinet Makeover
Meet me back here for Trashy Treasures Tuesday to see what I did with this recent find:
Yes, I’m cheating on my haul again ha ha!!
UPDATE: See how SASSY this piece is now HERE!
XOXO,
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Mary Kaiser says
Oh so simple yet totally amazing in the after. Love the color, and love the white and wood showing through the paint. I hope your weather warms up, as well as mine here in Michigan. A few weeks ago we had -23 degrees!! That has made Hell freeze over! There is a Hell Michigan and it has froze over before LOL!
Christy says
Oh that is so funny and crazy!! I don’t know how y’all do it, but I suppose you’re used to it? It’s getting down to 15 this weekend here, and I don’t think I’ve every seen it that cold before, so I cannot even imagine what -23 feels like lol! Thank you, my friend…stay warm!! XOXO
Janice Redden says
Christy, so cute and I love the color – nice and fresh for spring…which will be so welcome when it gets here!!! You’re right – these chairs have been showing up in the thrift stores — vintage as well as repro. Loved the look-back of the shelf and basket half – so clever. Wasn’t that little stool a project, too?
P.S. received my order with bunny transfers – can’t wait to use them!
Christy says
Thank you, Janice! I just love how these chairs paint up, so I always grab them when I see them. And yes, the stool was a project too…good memory! I added a hydrangea transfer to the top. Have funny playing with the bunnies! Aren’t they so adorable?? Enjoy, my friend! XOXO
Cecilia says
I think pressed back chairs paint up so pretty. This one looks great in beachy blue! (That reminds me, I have one in the barn needing a spindle repaired.) I’m impressed you got this one spray painted in the cold. Still love your tabletop shelf! That was a good repurpose!
Crazy weather – we had ice and freezing temperatures last week and this weekend we will be back in the 70’s. Crazy. And lol, I’m seeing a trend here – cheating on your haul. Funny. 😄
-Cecilia
Christy says
Me too! I just love these chairs! I was sure the spray priming wouldn’t go well in below freezing temps, but it actually did ok lol. I’m so glad I kept the table top shelf for staging! Wow… from freezing cold to flip flops! That is crazy! I told myeslf no more cheating after the next piece ha ha! XOXO
Nana Diana says
Much better!!! Love the color and it gives new life to an ‘old fashioned’ chair. Have a great day- Diana
Christy says
Thank you, Diana! It sure does! Enjoy your weekend, my friend! XOXO
Cyndi says
So cute! I love the soft, beachy blue. It changes the whole feel of this chair.
Christy says
Thank you, Cyndi! Right? Paint still amazes me! XOXO
p says
That IS a really pretty beachy blue. Good job – even w the cold.
Gotta love the crazy weather. Here too in high plains CO – just beyond the foothills. Almost no snow yet here, but more usually March-April.
I do love your table top shelf 🙂
Been having issues commenting to your post …?
We’ll see if this works
Christy says
Thank you, P! I think many of us could really use some beachy vibes right about now lol! I bet you guys get a ton of snow! I’m sorry you’re having issues commenting, but this went through perfectly! XOXO
Michele M. says
It is sooooo cute! Love the color combo with it and that chair is just fabulous. Hey, we’re nearly due for another tour of your shop, too.
Christy says
Thank you, my friend! Color alone can do so much, right? I had a great January in my booth, so I need more inventory STAT lol. Working on that now! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
I do love a chippy finish, Christy, and this chair looks like it got banged around for years to get that way 😁 It is hard to sell solo chairs but when you have one this beautiful, it can be used as a display piece as well as a seat.
Christy says
I do love a chippy look too, Marcie! And yes, a chair in a pretty color is great in a corner of the kitchen or for use in a bathroom to hold clothes, etc. I do like them as staging pieces in my booth also since they can be stacked on top of furniture to add height. Thank you, my friend! XOXO
Sherry says
Love all that you create ❤️
I also have a spot in a shop in the thumb of Michigan which is a vacation spot. Would you ever consider letting us know what price you will be selling the item for when you post the piece completed? To me that is always the hard part knowing what the right price is. ❤️
Christy says
Thank you, Sherry! Pricing is always a difficult task! I rarely have my items priced and ready to head to the booth by post time, but I did write a post on pricing several years ago that you may find helpful! https://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/how-to-price-items-for-resale/ At the bottom, I link to another for pricing the smalls. I hope that helps! XOXO
Caye says
I learned a new phrase from you today. Thank you. I had never heard about this type of chair before.
It sure does look wonderful now and I bet it’ll sell fast!
Christy says
Oh yay! I had to search a bit to learn what it was called, so I learned something new too! Thanks, my friend! XOXO
Ly says
Good morning, Can you please tell me the difference between clear coat stain and gator hide ? When do you use each application ? I’m doing a baby’s chair right now, and I don’t know which one to use. Thank you for all your wonderful showcases !
Christy says
Good morning, Ly! I used satin Clear Coat for just about everything. It is water resistant and holds up well. Gator Hide is for when you need a super tough finish like a kitchen table or a bookcase that will take a ton of abuse, and it is also water repellent making it a great choice for outdoor items. Use items with care for a couple of weeks to give them both time to cure for maximum protection. I hope that helps!