Amazing friends, I am so excited to have this project finally checked off my list!! Today I’m sharing the quick and easy makeover I gave to this pretty windsor rocker:
It was only $19.95 at the thrift store and it was solid, so I grabbed it right away. But then, it just sat taking up space in my storage room for probably two years!!
This is an odd shaped piece to store and I knew it would be one of the first pieces I tackled from my latest haul. I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
The first thing I did was clean this piece with White Lightning. One TBSP of White Lightning mixed with half a gallon of hot water and I was able to clean this chair and the table and chairs I shared on Tuesday!
This rocker was dark, but it didn’t have any red undertones and would probably have shabbied up perfectly had I painted it white, but I decided to go dark on this one and gave it two coats of Caviar:
Although I had toyed with the idea of painting it to match a nursery, I felt like the style of this chair was better suited to black than anything else.
Then I decided to add a wreath stencil to the seat:
You can find this stencil HERE. I sprayed the back of the stencil with spray adhesive first to keep it from shifting. Then I used white acrylic craft paint and a small flat brush to fill in the stencil.
You can see how I apply stencils here if you like:
If you have trouble viewing, find it on YouTube HERE.
I gave it three coats of paint and pulled the stencil off immediately after applying the third coat.
When the paint was completely dry, I sanded across the entire surface with 220 grit sandpaper to smooth everything out:
You can see I also decided to join the leaves and berries of the stencil with a liner brush. I think it makes it look a bit less like a stencil. It’s funny…I was wearing my flip flops when I was working on the table and chairs I shared on Tuesday, but had to break out the boots for this project ha ha! We had quite a dip in temperatures!
And look who was trying to sneak out into the garage while I was working…
I see you, Lyla!
After sanding the chair all over, I vacuumed the dust with my shop vac and then sealed with Clear Coat in Satin using the blue sponge to apply it:
I added just a tiny bit of the Caviar to my Clear Coat…
This gives a nicer finish over darker pieces and minimizes the “ghosting” effect you get when you run your fingers across the dark surface.
And that was it!
I’ve held onto this chair for a couple of years and was able to transform it in a matter of a few hours!
It looks fresh and new now!
The stencil adds a little charm and fits with the style of this piece…
I love a classic black painted finish.
Short and sweet and so glad to call this one done!
And my favorite part…crossing another project off the list!!
There are still many many more to go. I’ll be back on Tuesday with my Trash-to-Treasure girls sharing what I did with this cabinet that came out of my sister’s bathroom:
Have a fantastic weekend and I’ll see y’all next week!
UPDATE: This piece may have been headed for the trash, but there is nothing trashy about it now! It is super cute…see it HERE now!
XOXO,
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Mary Kaiser says
I love how that turned out! I would buy that in one second if I lived near Virginia. I love the black with the white wreath on the seat, it is BEAUTIFUL now!!! I am primarily a white gal, but agree with you that that chair called out for black. You are the best in the business, and this is another proof of it!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Mary! I was really being pulled towards black for this piece, and I’m glad I went with it! And thanks to Etsy, I finally got to put a beautiful face to your name! Have a fantastic weekend! XOXO
Amy says
Beautiful job! When you say you add some paint to your clear coat. You added more of the caviar color to your clear coat? Or another color? Is the clear coat what you usually use for chair seats or things that will get a lot of traffic? Thank you, I have some chairs, bench and shelves on my to do list for this winter. I really appreciated the compressive list of all the products you put out last week. Just trying to decide between the gator hide and clear coat for these items. Thank you again!
Christy says
Thank you, Amy! Yes, I just added a couple of drops of the Caviar to the Clear Coat. I think the Clear Coat is perfectly durable enough for chairs. I reach for the Gator Hide for table tops of high-traffic pieces mostly, and if I already have it out, I will go ahead and do the chairs with it, but the Clear Coat is fine too…either will work great, really. And you’re welcome! XOXO
Kathy Blumenberg says
Great transformation… Loving that Lyla picture too!! She made me crack up.
I have a rocking chair and I’m too excited to transform it now. Thanks for the inspo.
Christy says
Thank you, Kathy! If I don’t close that door all the way, she always opens it and usually I can just see her little face staring at me through the crack which makes me laugh every time! Good luck with your rocker! XOXO
Rebecca - NC says
Definitely a classic beauty with a gorgeous facelift!!! 😊
Christy says
Thank you so much, Rebecca!! XOXO
Lori says
Beautiful chair! I love Caviar, it’s not too black. I did a dining table and 6 chairs for my daughters dining room in Caviar about 6 months ago and it’s gorgeous.
Christy says
Thank you, Lori! I love Caviar also…a perfect true black! I bet the set you did was gorgeous for sure! XOXO
Denise Cox says
I love this chair! Quite frankly, there’s hardly a piece in this stash that I wouldn’t love to own!! I like the form of it. I have a question re, the use of the clear coat. The “ghosting”? Is that something you notice when you run your finger along the wood surface after it has immediately dried? I can’t grasp the concept here. Also, what color of paint did you mix with the top coat? Thanks so much!! I did like the use of Caviar with this chair. It makes it look ‘grown up’… 😉 😊😋😘.
Christy says
Thank you, Denise! There are a ton of goodies in this haul for sure! The ghosting is something you will see after sealing when you run your finger across the surface…it will leave a white streak behind. Adding a little paint to the sealer somehow helps to minimize this effect. I just used a little of the Caviar. XOXO
Tammy Ganci says
Please sell me the Windsor rocking chair!!!!!
Christy says
Didn’t it turn out sweet? I can’t believe it took me so long to paint it! XOXO
Lynn says
I love it! Awesome job ad usual! So I guess adding the black paint to the sealer didn’t affect the white stencil at all?
Christy says
Thank you so much, Lynn! I added such a small amount of paint that it didn’t affect the white at all. XOXO
Denise Cox says
Oh my goodness, Christy!! I just got a gander at your Halloween and what a treat ( no pun intended… Lol). I didn’t notice I decided to scroll down. What a lovely and creative job!!! I love all those skeleton vignettes and the story they tell. I’ve never heard of a ” creepy” light bulb. Is it my perception, or is there a ‘creepy face’ displayed on the outside brick of your home as an effect of that bulb, where your DR window is?? I loved the inside as well!! Such time and effort you placed into this project, but it was worth it!! I, too, have always enjoyed Halloween. I didn’t decorate for it as such, as I always decorated for the ‘Fall’ season. But I always spent the entire month of Oct. indulging in my horror genre flicks. Although, reading and watching this genre ALL of my life as I have , very little spooks/surprises this ol’ gal now. I actually quite enjoyed Mike Flanagan’s ‘ Bly Manor’ and ‘Horror of Hill House’. The supernatural can be even spookier… 👻😱🤔😝
Christy says
Thank you so much, Denise! We really love Halloween around here! The creepy bulb is just one of those bulbs that looks like there is a short in it, so it comes on, flickers, goes out, etc. I want to see Bly Manor…it’s on my watch list! XOXO
Sarah in Georgia says
Beautifully done! What a lovely chair.
Christy says
Thank you so much Sarah! XOXO
Lorri says
Love it! You always enhance your projects no matter what you. ❤Lyla is too cute…she is saying…Momma I want to be with you!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Lorri! And yes, Lyla is my little sidekick…always nearby lol. She tries to come out to the garage with me too! XOXO
Christina says
Beautiful result Christy! Love the stenciled wreath! Lyla is soooo cute!! 🙂
Question: does the adhesive wash off the stencil when you wash it? If not, do you stick the stencil on some parchment or wax paper between uses?
I bet this rocker doesn’t last long in your booth! Great job!!
Christy says
Thank you, Christina! The stencil will remain a bit tacky, but I just store all my stencils in a cabinet flat with the sticky side up. They will stick a bit to the other stencils, but it doesn’t stop them from working well. It would probably be a great idea to use wax paper in between them though! XOXO
Janice Holt says
Beautiful job. The paint looks so smooth. I’ve started looking at your products and making a list so don’t give up on me ordering. Have a great week-end.
Christy says
Thank you, Janice! No worries! I’m here when you’re ready! XOXO
Katrina Symonds says
Hi Christy
May be a daft question but did you paint under the rocker rails where it rocks onto the floor?
Katrina
Christy says
Hi Katrina! I did not paint the underside of the rails on this piece because it was already dark to start, but had I painted it a lighter color, I probably would have. And not a daft question at all…great question! XOXO
Cheryl Atkinson says
Hi Christy! Caviar is su h a pretty bla k. It really made this. Hair pop.
Christy says
It really is a lovely black!! Have a great weekend! XOXO
FREIDIA says
Simply Beautiful!
Christy says
Thank you, Freida! XOXO
Nancy Sharp says
I sure wish I lived close to you and I would buy that rocker in a heartbeat. I love it in black.
Looking forward to all the other pieces and the magic you work on them.
Christy says
Thank you, Nancy! I wish you were closer too…I’d sell it to you lol! I am really excited about this bunch!! XOXO
Teresa Farrell says
She’s so classy. Quick question. Does adding the caviar to the clear coat affect the white? The white still looks very crisp. You know me,my brain goes on vacation without notice. Just wondering how that works. You knocked it out of the ballpark as usual.😉.
Christy says
Thank you, Teresa! Tinting the Clear Coat didn’t affect the white at all, and in fact, I never even considered that it might, so I’m glad it didn’t lol! XOXO
Claudia J. says
Hi Christy! The rocker looks awesome! You mentioned that you added a bit of paint to your clear coat, did you do that before or after you stenciled?
Christy says
Thank you, Claudia! I did that after I stenciled. There was so little paint added, that it didn’t affect the white stencil. XOXO
Michele M. says
Oh I was so excited to see what magic you’d do with that cute rocker, Christy! And you really nailed it! That stencil is perfect with it – just a touch of contrast and whimsey.
Well done, ma’am. Love this series.
Christy says
Thanks so much, Michele! I’m glad I decided to go in this direction with this one! XOXO
Sue Mellette says
I love the look of the chair. I believe the caviar was a beautiful choice. The stencil also makes the chair pop. Great job!
Christy says
Thank you, Sue! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Phyllis says
Beautiful as always! So good to see Lyla.
Christy says
Thank you, Phyllis! Lyla is never too far away! XOXO
Kari says
Hi! Been reading your blog for a while and you are fantastic! Do you have a post or advise on sanding a stencil? Every time I attempt it the dust just smudges into the piece and it looks terrible! Especially a dark color over white! Thanks!!
Christy says
Hi Kari! Thank you! I suggest using Delta by Ceramcoat acrylic paints for your stencils. I have not any trouble with that particular brand. XOXO
Kathy W F says
Beautiful chair. You’re right about it needing to be black but the best part is sweet Lula trying to take a “sneak peek”. She steals the show when you include her. As always, “purr”fect project.
Christy says
Thank you, Kathy! She always tries to come out to the garage when I haven’t closed the door all the way. I look up and see her little face smooshed between the crack of the door and it makes me laugh every time! XOXO
Kathy W F says
Sorry for the typo on Lyla. Hope she’s not too upset.😉
Christy says
Ha ha no worries! I wont tell her! 🙂
ROSE LEFEBVRE says
Nice! I think it will be sold soon. I would love it in a blue.
Christy says
Thank you, Rose! It would have been lovely in blue too! XOXO
Rosie says
I like how it turned out. Sweet rocking chair and I love the colour!
Christy says
Thank you, Rosie!! XOXO
Dianne says
I’m really liking that caviar paint. It really enhanced the chair. Oh of course i loved the Lyla pict. She looks like she is struggling to open that heavy door and just managed to get her paw thru and is working on squeezing her face thru. She makes me laugh too. Do you let her be with you when you are painting? I do most of my painting on our sun porch where our cat Becky sleeps and she just ignores me. I need to go visit your booth and see what’s still there and maybe pick up some caviar. You are still my inspiration.
Christy says
Thank you, Dianne! Lyla follows me around just about everywhere. Unfortunately, I don’t let her into the garage because she gets into all the dusty cobwebbed corners and comes out a hot mess! Yes, come by and see what’s new! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Deanna Casto says
Beautiful as always! I wanted to share with you one of my most recent “picks”. I found an oak church pew on the curb. It’s about 10 ½’ long and I’m thinking well over 100 years old. It still has the pew number tag on the side. I’m going to cut it down (it was already taken apart) to 7′ and build a harvest table to pair it with. I’m stoked about it. I may fabricate two more ends and use the remains to build another 3½’ pew. I’ll post it on my Instagram. I love your work!
Christy says
Thank you, Deanna! Wow…what a fantastic find! It sounds like you are going to make good use of it…good luck with it! XOXO
Petra says
Well I honestly thought you’d do it a very pale blue or grey so you’ve surprised me with the black but I love it and agree it could only be black 😀 Also…Lyla is SO cute – more photos of Lyla please 😀 Have a great weekend xo
Christy says
I did at first think blue or pink for a nursery and I know it would have been great in white, but in the end, it was calling out for black! I’m glad I went with it! Lyla is a hoot…I’ll try to share more! Enjoy your weekend! XOXO
Mary says
Wonderful transformation Christy! It has a real “Williamsburg, Virginia” feel now…which really does fit with the style of the chair. Awesome!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! Yes, very colonial indeed! XOXO
Jean Young says
I always love to see what you do, everything always turns out soft and beautiful. This rocker is perfect in the color caviar. Thank you for always sharing.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Jean! XOXO
Patty says
Lovely rocker, Christy! I love the color of caviar. Thanks for sharing that you added a little of the color in the clear coat. I wouldn’t have thought about doing that.
That sweet little Lyla – such a cute pic of her – I’ve been missing her in your photos! 🙂
Christy says
Thank you, Patty! Lyla is never too far out of the shot…she’s a big girl now! XOXO
Lisa says
Hi Christy- I was excited to see this post as I have an oak Windsor rocker that I’ve owned since the mid 80’s but I didn’t know what to do with it. Yours turned out beautifully! Will be painting mine also:) I was curious Christy if you knew of any website that sells colonial/primitive stencils? I love to decorate in the colonial style(think founding fathers, etc😊). It is difficult to locate stencils in that style. I am looking forward to seeing more of your furniture transformations. Thank you for listing all of the products you use during the whole process. Blessings….
Christy says
Thank you, Lisa! I’m so glad I could offer a little inspiration for your rocker! I like https://www.artisticstencildesigns.com Perhaps they’ll have something you might like. Take care! XOXO
Karen H says
That turned out gorgeous, Christy! Just the right touch!
Christy says
Thank you, Karen! XOXO