Friday, September 28, 2007

~The Tale of 2 Chairs, Twin Sisters :)

Isn't it fascinating when you see twins how they can start out life looking so identical but then as they age, each one takes on a different personality and appearance.

Ah, this is exactly what happen happen to our twins, the Chair Girls. It also could have been titled the "Ugly Duckling" but neither of them wish to be compared to a duck and didn't understand it was really a swan. Oh well.
Wandering into this thrift store is not one of my favorite things. And even though I've complained about such trips, I have to admit I have saved a few forlorn little gems from this place. So through the crowds of women checking out the clothing I go, all the way to the back. I really need a cheap chair.

And what do I see, oh a set of uglies! They were French inspired, but they were "inexpensive" to began with and had truly seen better days. In the first photo up there, you can see there was work to do to even get one in the house!

I only needed one is what I thought at the time. I kindly paid them the price of $20 that they had on all 3 chairs, and told them to just keep the other two and took the best one and put it in the car. Then I thought better of my decision and decided maybe down the road I could fix the second one as well. The third, sorry there was no hope for it.


The first one was painted creamy white with accents of the taupe color that I used in the master bedroom at that time. It was also aged and antiqued with a glaze of raw umber. There was a lot of work with a small artist's brush. It makes a huge difference in your finished piece if you can do this when there is some carving to play with.



The second chair went black, of course. My two different loves, light furniture and black. Both were recovered in medallion toile fabrics and with different kinds of trim. Although I still love them both, the lighter medallion print is not one I'm using anymore in any of the rooms. I guess I'll have to strip it and redo it one day soon.

In the close ups, you can see some of the ways the chairs became transformed. Light sanding on the black one showing the wood along edges.
I always use Krylon Satin spray paint. I've found that it is the best for me.
The one that says dries in 12 mins. or something like that. Great paint.


The lighter colored chair got the opposite treatment of adding the darker colors in the deeper areas for aging, and the taupe color was added to the flat area on the back.

~Wishing you all a Wonderful Weekend!

As always, thanks for coming by and to all who take the time to say hi, it's so nice to "see" you!

New in the Shop



30 comments:

  1. Fabulous chairs!! You can make anything quite charming. Love your blog.

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  2. You have given the girls each their own personality, while still giving them the feeling of "close ness"! Wow, fabulous trasnformations!
    Lidy

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  3. Hi Donna....

    What a great post....how lucky those chairs were to go home with you !!! Just beautiful....

    Take care and thanks.. you have a nice week-end too

    Kathy :)

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  4. ok...i was coming to tell you to visit my blof to see my paris apartment...then i see these twin chairs...i have a set of them also...now how did you get fabric on the backs?!?!?!?...have a good weekend...blessings, rebecca

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  5. Love your chairs!! You did a beautiful job.
    Have a great weekend!
    Rosemary

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  6. Your chairs look fabulous!
    I also wanted to let you know that I received your wonderful Halloween tag, and thank you so very much!
    :)

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  7. Gorgeous chairs! Love everything about them. What a transformation! I'm going to paint my dining room chairs next week - I'll have to look for that spray paint to give it a try.

    Manuela

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  8. That was an amazing transformation. Marvelous! I am gushing...but, my, what vision you had to see the potential !!

    Rosie
    www.rosieswhimsy.wordpress.com

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  9. Fantastic !!!These chairs are amazing. From trash to a wonderful treasure !!

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  10. Oh Donna! Those chairs are fabulous. I used to be on chair and table probation - every time I went to an auction I came home with one or the other or both! I have too many to count.
    LOVE the makeover on both of these!

    Have a wonderful weekend.
    Blessings,
    Sandy :)

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  11. Amazing transformation. Now, tell me, how is it that you do not have your own show on HGTV??? Hmm???

    Hugs,
    Sue

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  12. I do declare, YOU could make a silk purse out of a sow's ear! You need to put your ideas into a book.

    ~elaine~

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  13. You are my hero! I LOVE what you did with the "uglies". I'm glad I'm not the only one who can see beauty in the everyday.
    Oh, and please stop post all the pretty new things in the shop!! Now I'm wishing I could change my choice :0) LOL!!!!!!

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  14. Oh, yeah those chairs, Donna...I have always loved them & you really did them justice with both of the redos, but knowing you, that lighter colored one has a new cover in store sometime soon!

    Rhoda

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  15. What a beautiful transformation!!

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  16. Yes our Donna SHOULD have her own book and her own television show - she is THAT special!

    Beautiful transformation with the chairs - just BEAUTIFUL!

    xo,
    Kim

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  17. Donna, it has been a while since I stopped by, but that lesson on chair transformation is amazing!
    Can't say which I like best, they both looks sooo beautiful after your magic touches!
    Hugs
    Pauline

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  18. Donna, I had a busy birthday party day, yesterday and am just now seeing this!! What gorgeous work, you do!

    The chairs are amazing and so is the new piece in your shop! Bravo!

    Pat

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  19. I love what you did with the chairs, how do you attach the upholstery to the back when it is caned? I saw some similar chairs at a thrift shop friday and almost got them, wonder if they are still there....:>)

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  20. I would love either of your twins at my house! They are gorgeous....each in their own way! Love making furniture over again......second time around is sometimes the best!!!!!!

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  21. I love what you did to these chairs! The fabric is so posh! I am a thrifting queen, so I hear you. Awesome job!

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  22. I want those chairs!!! They are gorgeous! Dumb question but how did you cover the backs?? I have two chairs that have this same backing and I want to do something with them. TIA!

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  23. Wow, I love those! Yes, tell us how you covered the backs! I may want to try this!

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  24. Oops, I just realized you did tell us how you did this already. Thanks!

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  25. Ooooh! The chairs are just fabulous!!

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  26. WOW, I just found your blog and what a fabulous place to be :)
    Blessings,
    Amy

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Donna