Accent Chair: From Screamy to Dreamy

This accent chair was the victim of a rampant pet.

Destined for the dumpster, I adopted it from the owner to give it a second chance. But it was going to be a HUGE project to get this chair back in service.

Step One: Stripping It Down

I set the seat cushion aside and removed all that nasty, shredded fabric. For the time being, I left some of the stuffing to remind myself how to attach the new material.

Step Two: The Frame

The fabric I selected for this makeover was a print on a cream background. The orangey old finish wasn’t going to cut it. So I removed the varnish with QCS®, an eco-friendly stripper. Then I sanded to try to get a light wood look. No good: the wood was still vintage orange. Sigh.

So, given the uneven stain quality, it was time to break out the paint. To seal the wood, I applied a coat of Zinsser BIN® primer. Then I refreshed the frame with two coats of Farmhouse® “Vanilla Chai” paint.

Step Four: New Stuffing

Once the frame is free of its old stuffing, it becomes a blank slate. I wanted to modernize the look of this chair, so I researched how to give it a smoother profile. Then I began attaching the new foam and batting.