Old Chairs Get a Fresh New Look

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Update: I ended up re-recovering these chairs with a subtler fabric and wrote a tutorial on how to do it here.


What do you do when you have four tired looking chairs with bubbling paint and outdated fabric?

1) Repaint 'em
2) Recover 'em
3) Stencil 'em

Easy, right? Welllll, even though I worked my little butt off I was only able to get two of the chairs done this weekend. I started sanding them on Saturday morning and just found and bought the fabric for them at 4:00 p.m. this afternoon. I stapled the fabric on lickety split when I got home so I could feel like I got something accomplished this weekend.

Here is the before and after picture:


My mom bought this set for me at a yard sale when Alex and I were about to move into our first and only apartment. It fit perfectly in the teeny, tiny dining room. When we moved into our house we brought the table and chairs with us and just plunked them into the breakfast room.

Since the breakfast room is getting a makeover, I thought that the table and chair set could use one, too.


First, I sanded the chairs all over with an electric sander and some fine grit sandpaper (just to rough 'em up a wee bit).

Next, I primed them with Fresh Start Primer.

I painted two coats of Benjamin Moore's Cabinet Coat Paint in Cloud White. Since the set is a mix of real wood and the cheap-o wood (hey, it was free) I decided not to distress it and leave it looking crisp and clean looking. 

After the paint dried I used my trusty craft knife and cut a stencil for each chair. I painted the stencil with acrylic craft paint in a medium grey. I did distress the number a bit since my stencil job wasn't the greatest

I removed the staples from the original chair, took the old fabric off, and then just re-stapled the new fabric on. I found it at Fabricland. The subtle green really goes with the green on the walls.

And that's it!


Since the table is already done, I can't wait to finish chair #3 and chair #4. I'll make sure to take lots of pictures once everything is set up.

What do you think? Worth all the trouble for a not-too-drastic change?

P.S. Let me know if you would like me to do a step-by-step on how to recover the chair or how I made/painted the stencil. I could take a bunch of pictures when I do the rest next weekend. :)

Check out some other great projects:

Weekend Wrap-Up Party @ Tatertots and Jello, Sunday Showcase Party @ Under The Table and Dreaming, Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle, Before and After Party @ Thrifty Decor Chick, Whassup Wednesday @ Elements Interiors, Power of Paint Party @ Domestically Speaking, Good Life Wednesdays @ A Beach Cottage, Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed

40 comments:

  1. Very cute! Yes, I would love to see a little tutorial on the stenciling!

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  2. Love the new look, your fabric choice is great with the wall color, and much more updated:)

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  3. I love the new fabric you chose...I am looking for some new ideas for our dining room, as the kitchen reno is almost complete, I will need a few things to tie the two rooms together. I don't know that I will paint our dining set and hutch white,,,,although it is awfully tempting. I know Darrell won't go for that tho....so when I get some pics posted I will get some advice from all of you in blogland!!

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  4. Sarah!! Looooove the fabric super nice!

    Jeni-

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  5. Love that fabric. Great job!

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  6. They look great - projects always seem to take twice as long as I anticipate. I'm curious about how you did the stenciling (unless it is just a regular stencil and then I know how to do it - haha).

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  7. I love the fabric too... and the stenciled number! How fun those are!

    ~Chris

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  8. Love the stenciling. You make me want to redo mine!

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  9. Very cute! Love the stencil!! Can't wait to see the completed set!!

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  10. I really love the new look!! You did a fabulous job!! I like the fabric and the stenciled on numbers are perfect!
    ~cheryl

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  11. Worth it! Love the fabric and the stencil..the text adds such a nice touch.

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  12. So adorable. I would love for you to share it on More The Merrier Monday's Link Party!!

    http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/

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  13. Such cute fabric! Your chair looks great!

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  14. Super cute and I love the fabric and the stencil!

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  15. So cute, I love it! The fabric is awesome. I wouldn't have the patience to sand all the chairs though :-P

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  16. great makeover. I love the fabric, and the stenciled numbers just add that nice little extra character.

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  17. The transformation is amazing---anxious to see the entire set!

    Your choice of fabric was very good. It really gave the chair{s} a crisp, clean look.

    Yes, I would like to see the tutorials---especially on recovering.

    I can't believe you got two chairs done in a weekend! I would have been thrilled to finish one!

    Your success makes me think I SHOULD have bought that set of four ratty pink chairs I saw on Saturday..........

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  18. They look great! I love the new, fresh, fabric. I don't think my OCD-ness would allow the One, Two, Three, Four. I count things too often as it is ;).
    (But they do look terrific).
    Daryl

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  19. Is it just me or Fabricland getting a little better? I've found some nice stuff there lately! Great choice, I love that pattern:)

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  20. Sarah,
    perfect renovation. I love it!
    Have a nice day Vlaďka

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  21. Hi there, not sure how I found you blog... just out blog hopping and happened upon here. But I was so excited when I realized you are in Canada. I am a Canadian, but living here in Silverton, OR. It was fun to see things like boxing day! Anyhow, just wanted to say Hello to a fellow Canadian. Come visit me over at brightonbrothers.com.

    Lesley

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  22. It's amazing what a piece of fabric can do. Thanks for sharing, I may now have to go switch up my dining room chair fabric!


    Would love for you to share and stop by my new link party!
    http://allthingsfee.blogspot.com/2011/04/want-to-party.html

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  23. That is one cute chair makeover!

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  24. I love the fabric. I am sure I saw it this morning on one of the Sarah Richardson shows. It really does look great! I for one would love to have the how-to's for the stencilling and fabric covering.
    Thanks so much!!
    Carrie

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  25. Super cute! Everything I do always takes me much longer than I anticipate too :)

    ~Tricia

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  26. You did a great job and yes, would love to see a tutorial on the stenciling.

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  27. Love the fabric! Can you share where you found it? Also a tutorial would be amazing on how you made the stencils :) love your blog and your style. Everything project you do always looks so fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

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  28. I would LOVVVVE a tutorial! Very cute!

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  29. Your makeover really freshens things up. Love the stenciled back! Can't wait to see the set when done.

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  30. hiya , great tutorial amd the fabric is gorgeous too , i am visiting from amaze me monday and am your newest follower hope you pop by amine and follow too
    xmaggiex

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  31. I LOVE this! Love the added # :)
    I would LOVE to have you link up to my PARTY! WHASSUP WEDNESDAY!!

    And I have a party button you can grab and put on your blog so your friends can come too:)




    *ENTER LINKY PAR-TAY Here! *

    xoxokara

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  32. Those are adorable Sarah!! I love the fabric that you chose and the number that you added, very clever!!! Love making old things look new and sometime new things look old! :)

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  33. Beautiful fabric Sarah! I would love to see a tute on how you recovered the seat - I have a little bench very similar to this I'd love to redo! Thanks for sharing your pretty chair! =)

    Mara @ Super Savings
    p.s. I came over from the linky party at Kara's "Whassup Wednesday". =)

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  34. Beautiful fabric Sarah! I would love to see a tute on how you recovered the seat - I have a little bench very similar to this I'd love to redo! Thanks for sharing your pretty chair! =)

    Mara @ Super Savings
    p.s. I came over from the linky party at Kara's "Whassup Wednesday". =)

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  35. They look great! I love the new, fresh, fabric. I don't think my OCD-ness would allow the One, Two, Three, Four. I count things too often as it is ;).
    (But they do look terrific).
    Daryl

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  36. Love that fabric. Great job!

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  37. This is wonderful. Well, I have two chairs that I plan to perk up a bit. My question is, the fabric, in your chair, is that a cushion or batting and foam, covered and stapled with fabric? I'd really like to know. Very inspired!!

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