This French chair makeover has to be one of my all time favorites!
I finished a french chair makeover this week, and I love they way they turned out! I have an ongoing project list with pieces of furniture (especially chairs) that need some kind of makeover. This pair of antique Louis XV French chairs have been on the list for awhile.
When I found them at a local antique market, they were upholstered in white fabric with black polka dots. The fabric was perfectly fine, just not my taste, and I knew that sooner or later I would give them a little makeover that was more in line with my style.
This is what they looked like when I brought them home.
And this is what they look like now after their makeover.
For this makeover, I decided to use an antique hemp sheet that I purchased several months ago.
I love the neutral color, and the texture of old French textiles, and they are perfect for upholstery projects.
I removed the old welting, and since the polka dot fabric was still in wonderful condition, I simply upholstered right over the top of it.
The chairs and caning are in wonderful condition with only minor chipping to the gilding, so I really didn’t need to do anything to the frame.
They are gilded and fancy!
I wanted to add a little embellishment to the chair, so I stenciled a crown and laurel wreath with gilding paint onto the back.
Maybe it was the royal wedding that influenced me!
The chairs will be going into the master bedroom for one of the final touches in it’s refresh.
Upholstering these fancy gilded chairs with such a rustic fabric is perfectly my style, and I love the way they turned out.
Even hubby commented that he really liked them….and Miss RubyLou loves anything fancy!
Cheers, Cindy
Love furniture makeovers? You might like this makeover of a French secretaire!
Love the refresh! The crown stenciling is perfect as well as the rustic upholstery!!♥️
They look so good. Really like the stencils. You most certainly have a gift.
Thank you so much, Cherry!
Amazing what a transformation resulted from a simple change. The stencil design makes all the difference
Oh my! I have serious chair envy! Those are gorgeous, and I love the gold stencils on the backs of the chairs! I can’t wait to see more of your home renovations! I love your style. xo Dell
Thank you so much, Dell!
Very Cool Cindy, love your changes. Looks like a new chair!
Oh Cindy, I love those chairs!!! They’re gorgeous! Where did you get that stencil, if I may ask? It’s perfect! Also I wanted to comment on yesterday’s post. Are there any particular areas of that old Mobile gallery that I should go to first? Like where all the good stuff is and tends to sell out first? I can’t believe I’ve lived on the MS Gulf Coast almost my whole life and never heard about that gallery!! Just give me some pointers if you get a chance, the Inside scoop, lol. I love all the same things you do so just tell me where you head first when you get there. . Love your blog and can’t wait to see other rooms in your home you’ve decorated. I get so many good ideas from you! . Oh and what breed of dog is Miss Ruby Lou, I just love her so much! Adorable!
Hi Shelia! The stencil I used on the chairs is from Maison de Stencils…..https://www.maisondestencils.com. I actually used a small section of two stencils….the laurel wreath was on one, and the crown was on a second one. Olde Mobile Antiques has an antique store that is open every day with some amazing antiques. They have a monthly estate sale, held on the first weekend of every month. If you check out their Facebook page, it will have information about the monthly sale and they usually post lots of preview pictures before each sale. Miss RubyLou is a miniature schnauzer! She is very smart!
These chairs turned out wonderfully, Cindy! It’s amazing what can be accomplished with a glue gun and glue.
Enjoy your new chairs!
Barb
Thanks, Barb!
I love how the stencil seems to reflect the almost “crown-like” appearance of the chair with the lattice on each side of the center piece!! You couldn’t have picked a more perfect stencil for that piece. Well done!!
Thank you!
Love the stenciling! You did a beautiful job. I have been looking for a similar stencil for an upholstery job. Do you seal the fabric after stenciling? Thanks. Thank you for all the creativity you share. Love, love, love French decorating.
Thank you, Shelly! No, I don’t seal the fabric after stenciling.
~Cindy~
WOW, How beautiful your chairs are, and you always find such amazing pieces !!
Yes indeed fit for a royal , good thing you have Miss RubyLou she such a princess ! hehe.she makes me giggle !
Hugs,
Paula
IN
Thank you, Paula!
Hello Cindy, your chairs turned beautiful, love the fabric and the stencil you decided to use to update your chairs with just gorgeous…who would have thought that hot glue works so well on Upholstry! Awwwww and how beautiful is your sweet Ruby….she is a sweet little model…..heeheee….TFS….always a pleasure to visit and see what your up to on your beautiful home.
Smiles~
Mari
Thank you so much, my dear friend!
The chairs are beautiful! I always love your decorating style and thanks so much for the glue gun upholstery tip and instructions. I was just looking at the back of the French-style sofa in my living room, which has been stained by my dogs beyond recovery, although I try to keep it covered. I was thinking it really needed to be reupholstered, but I was not looking forward to it. The glue gun method is the perfect answer for me and actually think the grain sacks you used on the settee might be perfect for my sofa, so I may steal the idea.
Thanks again and I enjoyed so much seeing your beautiful home in “French Cottage”. Your home always inspires me.
Thank you so much, Lurlie! Your sweet comment has made my day!
Up there as an all time favorite makeover. LOVE these chairs. Stenciling is perfect and yes I think they could have been part of the Royal Wedding.
Thank you so much, Deborah!
The chairs look great. Your makeover really gave them a boost. Your directions are clear enough that I’m feeling inspired to tackle my first–but simple–upholstery makeover. Thanks!
That’s wonderful, Deb! Thanks for commenting!
Love the chairs Cindy. They should’ve been used by Prince Harry and Meagan during their Wedding Ceremony! Everything you touch turns out just amazing! I’m so glad to see RubyLou showing off the chairs, she’s soooo adorable.
Thank you, Maria! Trust me, I have lots of failures that you don’t see!
Oh how Wonderful! I wish you would give step by step tutorials for the challenged. I would be scared to death to use a glue gun! How did you keep the fabric pulled tight while trying to glue? Simply mystified, how beautiful!
Shawn, I always glue one side down first, and then pull tight and glue in the opposite direction, rotating back and forth until it’s complete. That way everything stays nice and tight. It’s easier than you think!
Love the whole vignette. Chairs came out amazing. Ruby Lou adds the final touch. Where is your beautiful mirror going? And I’m so sorry I missed the sale of your darling wall clock you painted!
Thank you, Linda! I’m still not sure where the mirror is going. For now, it’s propped in the formal living room!
Cindy, those are absolutely gorgeous! You are so talented! I have a few furniture projects myself, and you are inspiring me to try to take some of them on instead of always hiring it out. Have you ever taken any upholstery (or painting) classes, or are you 100% self taught? The chairs are amazing! Love, love, love.
Thank you, Keli! I am completely self taught. I started with something simple like a footstool, then I upholstered seat covers for some dining chairs. Now, I’ve done larger scale chairs, sofas, and loveseats. I made plenty of mistakes along the way, but not much scares me now….EXCEPT tufting! Tufting scares me! I haven’t worked up the courage to try that yet! Start with something simple and go for it!
Love those chairs! The stencil made them unique.
Thank you so much, Nancy!
Fancy, fancy that RubyLou. I like the chairs too! The stenciling is the perfect touch.
Thank you so much!
You are just to clever…looks amazing…Give little Ruby a kiss for me…
Thank you, Pat! Miss RubyLou sends kisses right back!
Love the chairs! They look wonderful.
Thank you, Carole!
Cindy, Your chairs are beautiful. You are such a great talent. Miss RubyLou adds the finishing touch.
Thank you, Sandra! Miss RubyLou is the perfect accessory, isn’t she?!?
A most magnificent transformation!….I love your glue gun method and I will remember that when I have an upholstery project!…The stencil is perfect!…You truly did a fantastic job and the chairs are truly exquisite!
Thank you Shirley! Upholstering with a glue gun is so easy!
The chairs are gorgeous. You are such a great talent! Miss RubyLou adds the finishing touch.
The chairs turned out beautiful! I love the finishing touch of the crown and laurel…perfect for these chairs!
Thank you, Debbie!
Love this makeover! Your stencil is perfect! Would you mind sharing where you purchased the stencil and what brand gilding paint you used? I have building wax, but have never used the paint. Thanks for any help!
Thank you, Penny! The stencil is from Maison de Stencils, and the paint is from Modern Masters!
Wow! Absolutely stunning!!
Thank you so much, Julie!
Fancy they are and with Muss Ruby Lou poising for her picture in front of them makes them even more fancy. Love that you used the glue and the stencil making the job so easy. They are beautiful. The stencil is the Finishing touch. Again your creativity is amazing.
Yes, this was an easy makeover! Thank you for commenting, Alice!
HI Cindy,
The chairs look fantastic,so regal! All miss Ruby needs is a crown
Miss RubyLou has a crown….but she’s not crazy about wearing it! She needs more practice!