Sweet Little French Chair

I picked up this sweet little French chair at an estate sale (yes….another one….I know, I know……) several months ago and I finally got it updated.  I waited awhile to start the project because I was a little obsessed with the pale pink velvet that the seat was upholstered in, and really wanted to keep it. I don’t have any “pinks” in my home, but the shade of this velvet kept drawing me in.  It’s kind of a dusty, pale, pink rosy color.  I searched for a velvet fabric close to the same shade of pink but never could find anything that wasn’t in the “hot pink” family.  I finally realized that the reason I loved this fabric so much was because it was faded and worn, adding to it’s soft, hazy color.  So I decided to try and clean the fabric up as much as I could and keep it intact.  This is what she looked like when we found her for a whopping $8.00!  I mean, come on, $8.00!  How could I not buy her?!?  Mr. E&E, if you are reading this blog…..please DON’T answer that!)

The “before”

She was in pretty decent condition except for her fabric being very dirty and a little worn in places.  The wood frame was painted a pale yellowy color, so I knew that I was definitely going to be painting her.  Deciding that I couldn’t make the fabric look any worse,  I got out my little Bissell shampooer and did some scrubbing!  Some of the velvet covered buttons lost their covers in the process……oh well……good thing that I love a timeworn look!  I sat her on the deck in the sun for several days to make sure the velvet and cushion underneath got nice and dried out.  All in all, she turned out ok, not perfect, not great, but she still has that beautiful, perfect shade of pink velvet on her seat!

The “after”

Wanting to get rid of the yellow paint that was on her, I gave her a coat of ASCP French Linen first.  

First coat, Annie Sloan chalk paint in French Linen

Then I gave her a coat of ASCP in Old White.  I wanted some of the gray underneath to show through in spots so I distressed her here and there to increase her shabbiness, and to bring out some of the details to the carving in the wood.  A coat of ASCP clear wax and highlighting some of the carving with a gilding paste, and she was done.

You can see in the close ups that the velvet is still in very worn condition, but I’m ok with that.  I doubt that anyone will ever sit on her, even though she is blessed with good bones.  

 This antique French secretary needed a little french chair sitting beside it!  

If by chance Mr. E&E contacts you about getting me into a French chair hoarding intervention program, please ignore! I think I have room for just a few more!

Blessings,

Cindy