The Chairs....Six Months in the Making

Back in September I traveled to Round Top, TX for the semi-annual antiques/junk fair. I have searched high and low for some cheap Louis salon chairs to redo. I looked on craigslist and at garage/estate sales. Even frames for these suckers are usually about $300. And they usually need reupholstering. I wanted to try to salvage something and use some new painting techniques and I didn't want to sink a lot into them in case it turned out to be bad.
Imagine my surprise when I am browsing at Round Top and I see these two little ladies sitting battered and bruised (VERY bruised).

Let's just say "filthy" is a polite word to describe these things when I picked them up. The pictures don't do them justice. These things were so bad I wiped my entire car down with lysol wipes after transporting them.

The seller wanted $40 for each and after inspecting the chairs and realizing they were wobbly and needed frame stabilizing work and serious reupholstering and major cleaning I offered $25 for both chairs not really thinking he'd take me up on it.

before I knew it.....SOLD! gasp. what did I do?

Oh right, $25 on 2 chairs. If it's a bust I will trash them for that price. My friend, Emily, wasn't even with me when I impulsively bought them. As I walked her to the vendor booth I felt I had to prepare her before she saw my purchase and I said "don't laugh at me but I have a plan". Famous last words, right?

Removing all the staples and upholstery tack strip almost drove me insane

(this is only a fraction)

The stripping got pretty nasty. Lots of mess.

I got so fed up with the gooey mess at one point that I just power washed the chairs with my garden hose nozzle on the "jet" setting. After the chairs dried and I regained my composure, I started to see the nice natural wood show through and they drew me back.

Then I was paralyzed for WEEKS on how to paint them until I got some inspiration and guidance from Miss Mustard Seed. I finally decided on a nice grayish white. After my first step with the paint I employed child labor to help me wipe the chairs down.

Don't worry. They're using baby wipes on latex paint. No chemical exposure here.

Then I had to tackle the dang webbing! What did I get myself into?

Oh, but here is the "after"....ahhhh....the after is what we live for, right?

I'm in luuuuuv....$25 bucks, I mean REALLY?!?!?!

And another before/after shot

So worth all the work! I think I'm going to add some little burlap bolster pillows for an accent??



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