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    Home » DIY & Crafts

    Refurbishing A Garage Sale Chair

    Published by Pam Kessler | 341 words. · About 2 minutes to read this article. - 33 Comments

    Last weekend I bought this chair at a garage sale. It was really banged up, but was only $3.00 and since it had good bones I felt it could be a good rehab candidate.
    Sort of the Lindsay Lohan of chairs.
    It had a cute flower detail on the top.
    And some really cruddy, really dusty and sort of disgusting fabric on the seat.
    We don't even want to think of how many derrieres have sat on this.
    I originally was conflicted as to whether I should refinish the wood-stained finish or just paint it, but when I attempted to refinish a small portion of it I realized that this was not a real antique and was made of three different types of wood.I didn't think it would refinish well, so I went ahead and brought out my paint.After removing the seat (unscrewed 4 little screws on the bottom), I applied Klean Strip Liquid Sander Deglosser to the finish. It's easier and faster to work with than sandpaper when you have a lot of intricate details. You just pour some on a rag, wipe it on and wait for it to dry.

     


    Once the deglosser was dried, I applied one coat of Rust-Oleum's Painter's Touch Ultra Coverage Primer in white


    and followed that up with two coats of Rust-Oleum's Ultra Coverage Heirloom White satin paint.


    I decided to use the Heirloom White again because I wanted to match another piece in my living room. Besides, you can't go wrong with off-white.


    I then distressed it and applied Minwax's Golden Oak stain over the paint to warm up the off-white a little and highlight the flowers.


    The original seat was a little hard so I added a little more padding to it and then recovered it with a new fabric (after I got rid of all that old nasty fabric that was on there - three different layers of somewhat questionable fabric choices).


    And here is the finished product.


    It now matches my table that I re-did a few weeks ago.

    « Garage Sale Success
    Vintage Metal Cars »
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    Comments

    1. Country Dreaming

      August 15, 2010 at 4:26 pm

      Super job! The "after" is way much better!
      Like the table also.

      Melinda

      Reply
    2. Kim

      August 15, 2010 at 4:30 pm

      It looks great, especiall with that cute table. You did a nice job.

      Reply
    3. Roo @ NiceGirlNotes

      August 15, 2010 at 7:12 pm

      Well done! The after is gorgeous! 🙂

      Reply
    4. Katie@LeBeauPaonVictorien

      August 15, 2010 at 7:15 pm

      Very pretty! Great job! I love the color..it matches perfect with the table you did!

      Reply
    5. La

      August 15, 2010 at 7:23 pm

      This looks great and is the perfect compliment to the table you did a couple weeks ago. NICE! La

      Reply
    6. NanaDiana

      August 15, 2010 at 7:51 pm

      Great job Pam. I love the color choice and the way you finished both pieces. And...I gotta tell you-as much as I love the table and chairs I just adore the fact that your kids have a train running through there. It warms my heart to see people living in the "real world"~

      Reply
    7. Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures

      August 15, 2010 at 8:38 pm

      Hi, I saw the word "garage sale" and just had to visit. What a fantastic bargain and it looks so much better....so fresh. It looks great with the table. I hope you get years of use out of it.

      Reply
    8. Mimi

      August 15, 2010 at 8:57 pm

      From drab to fab!

      Reply
    9. Olive Cooper

      August 15, 2010 at 9:14 pm

      Very well done and you are so busy you are making me tired. Thanks for visiting me♥olive

      Reply
    10. marty (A Stroll Thru Life)

      August 15, 2010 at 9:38 pm

      What a great chair and it looks fabulous painted. Great job. Hugs, Marty

      Reply
    11. Shelia

      August 15, 2010 at 9:58 pm

      Hi Pam! Oh, I love how your chair turned out! You did good. Now is that a little train I see under the chair? 🙂
      Be a sweetie,
      shelia 😉

      Reply
    12. Susan

      August 15, 2010 at 10:04 pm

      Wow! It looks great! Now it's ready for many more derrieres in the future and they will sit in STYLE! Great job. Susan

      Reply
    13. Jennifer

      August 15, 2010 at 10:26 pm

      Oh my!!! It looks wonderful!!!!

      Reply
    14. Tins and Treasures

      August 15, 2010 at 10:31 pm

      Good evening, I just love how your chair turned out...and what a great bargain?!!

      Have a great week. ~Natalie

      Reply
    15. Tins and Treasures

      August 15, 2010 at 10:31 pm

      Good evening, I just love how your chair turned out...and what a great bargain?!!

      Have a great week. ~Natalie

      Reply
    16. Tins and Treasures

      August 15, 2010 at 10:31 pm

      Good evening, I just love how your chair turned out...and what a great bargain?!!

      Have a great week. ~Natalie

      Reply
    17. Debbie@Debbie Sews Retro

      August 16, 2010 at 9:31 am

      I love the re-do. Adding the stain was just the finishing touch that it needed to bring out the carving at the top.

      Reply
    18. Laura @ House of Thrifty Decor

      August 16, 2010 at 1:02 pm

      Great job! It is amazing what a new coat of paint can do.

      Reply
    19. Nellie's Cozy place

      August 16, 2010 at 6:17 pm

      what a beautiful swan from that ugly duckling chair. I love the floer carved on the top of the chair and the painting technique you used really enhances that!! it is really beautiful!!
      Blessings, Nellie

      Reply
    20. Maureen

      August 16, 2010 at 9:01 pm

      I love the curvy lines and roses. Your redo is great!

      Reply
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