twin sisters

I always wanted to have a twin sister.  Maybe that explains my fascination with pairs of chairs.  Mia has diagnosed me as having a serious illness and endless need for petite pairs of chairs.  And I hate to say it, but she's dead on. Who can leave a pair of chairs at a thrift store?  NOT ME.

I think I'm rubbing off on her because last year when she went {camping for Mother's Day}, she brought a pair of French armchairs home with her, not knowing where she would use them.  They sat in her garage for 6 months, and one day I asked her if I could take them off her hands.  She was a pal to sell them to me for exactly what she had paid for them, $7.50 each.  I love nothing more than a pair of chairs that total $15.00 and are just begging for some love. 

 

Have I mentioned I have a team of excellent friends?  Well, G came over last week to help me start the re-birth of the French chairs, and she had the grandest idea.  Why not paint the upholstery?  She had helped Mia {paint a French chaise} last year that turned out beautifully.  I was sad at myself for not thinking of it on my own, but G pulled through for me, like always.  The upholstery was in perfect condition, and the workmanship was excellent.  With nothing to lose, we got started.

Since this pair of chairs sits at either end of my kitchen table, the finish this technique creates is perfect for a daily wipe down.  The painted fabric becomes almost vinyl-like, making cleaning it a snap.  Just like Mia, I followed {this tutorial}, waiting patiently between each coat for proper drying.  I also used very fine sandpaper after each layer of paint dried to make it really smooth. 

The chairs were painted a soft gray then lightly distressed and waxed for protection.  I painted the cane a crisp white, inspired by this picture I have had saved forever.  I love the contrast.

It was also G's idea to paint the cushions white and add a faded stripe or two to create a vintage grain sack look.  I loved the idea, and as soon as the paint was dry, I taped off the stripes and got to it.  (at midnight, sorry for the awful picture)  I made sure to press the edges of the tape down really well so the paint didn't seep underneath.  Also, I used the same "recipe" for the paint mixture when I mixed up the color for the stripes.  The textile medium is a key component.

And here are my twins! 

This project was so economical because the only thing I had to buy was some textile medium from  Hobby Lobby.  With a 40% off coupon, it was around $3.50.  I don't know if the painted upholstery will last a lifetime, but it's certainly a great solution for the time being, and the price was perfect.

I'm super happy with the way they turned out.  It's great to mark something off of my mental checklist of endless projects.  Every time a friend comes over, things get done around here.  Thanks G.  I'm going to will these terrific twins to you!