This darling vintage chair had such character but was in pretty poor condition.
It was going to take a fair bit of work to bring it back to life. The seat caning was long gone, replaced with a loose cushion. I don’t like to discard needlepoint, knowing what care went into its creation, but this cushion was full of holes and beyond salvage. So, it was time for a new look!
After a good scrub and the application of some wood filler, I gave it a light sanding with 220 grit. Then I applied two coats of Zinsser primer, anticipating that I was going to want a light-colored frame. This was followed by Annie Sloan chalk paint in Pure white and clear wax for surface protection.
Then it was time to tackle the seat. I wanted a secure seat, not a loose cushion. I reused the original plywood that had formed the base of the needlepoint cushion but opted to affix it directly to the chair and cover the entire seat with new foam and batting. After attaching the fabric and a fresh dust cover beneath, it was time for the big reveal…
And voila!
I fell in love with this poppy fabric from Spoonflower at the start and knew it was just right for this chair. I like to call my finished seats “happy chairs” because of the cheerful feeling they bring to a room, and this print fit the bill. Now this cutie can find a home where it will spread the joy!
On to my next project… I have a garage full of items waiting for their makeover! Check back soon for the next reveal.
Status: SOLD!
If you have any interest in the items you see featured in my posts, drop me a line on my contact page.