The Gilded French Chair

Last week I mentioned that I hoped to finish up a french chair I had started working on. This is the first time  I have ever worked on a french chair, and I am thrilled with the results. It’s not my usual coastal cottage look- with blue’s and whites galore, but I have to say that I adore this chair!

I found 3 of these chairs on kijiji, and they have been sitting around waiting for a makeover for almost a year. I loooooove french farmhouse items- and decided I could work it in in small doses around our house- so I am thinking this chair will find a home in my bedroom. Here is how it started out:

The wood was very red, and not my taste. I actually tried applying a furniture stripper, to try and keep the wood grain, but it was not working and going to be too impossible with all the tiny details. I stripped all of the double welting and the upper portion of the seat, but I went right over the old upholstery on the bottom. There were 8 billion staples and I just lost patience and the will to carry on. I used a gold spray paint by Rustoleum, and the coverage was great.

Can’t Stop Won’t Stop DIY’er Tip of the Day: When using spray paint, spray several thin coats of paint to get an even, drip free finish.

For the upholstery I did something I have wanted to try for a while, I used bleached drop cloth fabric. My fabric ended up bleaching a bit splotchy, so I actually had to do a second round of bleaching to get things even. In the end it was so inexpensive, and I will definitely do it again!

I used the same gimp trim that I used for my ticking chair makeover, and I love how it instantly makes the chair feel polished and professional. I simply hot glued it in place.

To bring out the details I applied a small amount of Country Chic Antiquing wax in the crevices, and wiped away the excess with a cotton rag.

I love the pairing of blush and gold. I put together this flower arrangement using 3 growers bunches from the grocery store.

I am smitten with this little gold chair… not to mention those flowers. I could live in a green house, I tell ya! Some times carnations get a bad wrap, but my are they ever sweet in this shade of blush when paired with the eucalyptus.

You know how sometimes I get snap happy? Well this morning was no exception to that occurrence…

I mean seriously! Can you believe that is drop cloth? And that this chair was $20?

I love it. That is all. If you need me, I’m moving to the french countryside, to a town where it’s always summer and the flowers always bloom.

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As you may recall I have 3 chairs, but I decided to finish them differently… stay tuned because I will need your input when it comes to finishing the third. Next up, I am going a little more traditional farmhouse… 😉

What do you think of the gold? Would you find a spot for it in your home?

-Miss Ash

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