Just look at these hooligan chairs. I picked them up for $7 on eBay and you would have thought they could hold themselves together just a little? Alas no.
As soon as I got them home they popped their bottoms and split their seats. Sheesh. I could see that deep down, they were really pretty great. They just needed the right person to spend a little time with them… to give them the kindness and consideration they deserved.
This person was me.
First, I glued them. It didn’t hurt a bit. Next, I painted their tops white. They agreed it made them feel fresher. After that, I painted their legs, which sounds strange but it really paid dividends. Finally, I festooned them with some cutely crocheted chair-pads. This really sealed the deal.
The chairs that were once delinquent are now revived. No longer are they egging cars or ringing door bells and running away. Nope. They are feeling much better about themselves and are considering heading off to work for an NGO in far away lands and delving deeper into their life’s true purpose. #Blessed
For NOW though, they are hanging out in my kitchen letting people sit on them.
So selfless, no?
Delinquent Kitchen Chair Make-Over
This project is sponsored by Annie Sloan : Unfolded.
Chairs:
Two lovely spindle-y back ones bought on eBay. If you ever see seemingly crappy chairs with nice back like these, snaffle them because you can reinvent them in a trice. Roadside rubbish piles are full of perfectly good chairs, so keep your eyes peeled and shamelessly put them in your car and take them home.
Products used:
Chalk Paint™ in Napoleonic Blue
Chalk Paint™ in Antibes Green
Chalk Paint™ in Old White
Annie Sloan White Chalk Paint® Wax
Annie Sloan Black Chalk Paint® Wax
How I fancied up the chairs:
1. I gave the chairs a good wipe down with a clean cloth. Then I glued up their broken legs and seats and left them overnight (with elastic straps around them) to dry properly and ensure they’re securely fixed.
2. I painted the seats and backs with white Chalk Paint™. I let that dry for an hour or so.
3. I painted the legs of each chair. One with the blue Chalk Paint™. The other with green.
4. I left them to dry.
5. Next, I applied the black wax to the blue chair legs using a clean cloth. Here’s how to do that. It’s super easy. You can also use a brush for this. Wax on, guys. Wax on.
6. Then it was the green chairs turn, this time with the white wax. Same deal. You can sand the chairs once you wax them, to give them more of an old-favourite type look, but I decided to keep them super neat and un-sanded. If you’re after a more vintage look, sand your work after you’ve waxed it.
7. Next, I marvelled at my efforts and sipped a very big cup of tea whilst listening to 80s radio and doing a bit of a dance.
8. Finally, I popped the chair pads on and gasped at the niceness of it all!
I’ve told you before, but I’ll tell you again. This paint is thick and GOOD. You don’t need to undercoat. Often you don’t even need to sand, just slap the paint straight on. It dries quickly. It doesn’t smell. It just makes the job super easy and speedy and stink free. For real. I’ve used it for lots of projects and it’s just a no-brainer in all departments.
How I made the crocheted chair pads:
I had a bunch of cotton yarn in my woolly cupboard, so I crocheted two big granny squares in colours that would compliment the chairs. The granny squares need to be twice as big as the seat of the chair. Then I folded the corners into the middle of each granny square, as shown. I stitched them closed diagonally and sewed in the loose ends. And that’s all there is to it!
Chair pad variations: Add some batting inside for extra comfort. Add pompoms or ties to the corners. Cover a non-beautiful dollar store chair pad and give it nicer life. Use the same technique to cover a cushion for your couch!
Let me know if you decide to give some delinquent chairs a bit of colour therapy too?
Or if you make some chair pads, I would love to see ’em! Happy DIY-ing, kids!
Other cute projects using Chalk Paint™
+ Paint A Woolly Wayward Pine Cupboard
+ Paint An Advent Calendar (How To Paint Jars)
+ Paint A Herringbone Floor Mat
+ Paint a Cute Table (With Pointy Bits!)
+ Painted Beads, Bangles (and Leaves!)
+ Paint A Shaker Bench
+ Paint A Liberty House
+ Paint A Daggy Old Ladder
+ Paint Some Fiesta Pots
This post is sponsored by Annie Sloan : Unfolded, the good people who distribute Chalk Paint™ in Australia : Follow them on Facebook here for more excellent paint-related or decorating ideas!
6 Comments
It’s possibky that I am incredibly dense. I have always assumed this oft mentioned paint was chalkboard paint (as in use for blackboards ) amd would have an unpleasant texture/finish to it. am I wrong? Is it just called chalk paint and has nothing to do with chalkboards?
Oh, Pip, how I love your happy chairs! I will bet you they are identical to mine, bought new in the mid 1970’s in Canberra and still going strong 40 years later! They still have the little circular stickers underside of the seat, “Victorian Furniture Manufacturers’ Guild” and the brand stamp “Melchair Furniture, Preston”. I was so excited to see another four of these identical chairs outside a local vintage shop here in Victoria a few weeks ago, just waiting for me to snap them up for a song! They, too, still have the original labels and brand stamp. Thanks for some inspiration for jazzing them up ready for Summer!
I love these chairs! You’re so kind and thoughtful to help these delinquents to find their new path in life!
Seriously, though, I love the granny square cushion covers. I’ve been wondering about making some cushions and this helps my thought process massively.
I wonder, though, why you chose black wax for the blue legs. Is there a bit difference between black and white? You can’t see a colour difference from your photos, but maybe….
xx
Really, you can use either the dark or light wax on any colour, but the dark wax enriches deeper colours for a more saturated, moody look. That’s what I was kind of after with this blue – a bit like my favourite blue wall at my old house, actually!!!
I love how much you care for chairs Pip. Chairs need love too! And those seats pads may just make an appearance at my place too 🙂
Chairs are beautiful people, Reannon. You MUST make these chair pads. LOOK HOW EASY they are!! PINCHY! xx