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My name is Gerrie Wydeven doing-business-as Wydeven Designs. I have been conducting this small GREEN business since 2004. Wydeven Designs, based in the Atlanta, Georgia area, sells CHAIRS, LOVESEATS, CHAISES, SETTEES and other fine, well-constructed refurbished upholstered pieces. I love to travel, cook, take photographs and generally follow style and decor topics as well!

Friday, April 6, 2012

Councill Chair - Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Miracle

On my usual round of estate and garage sales, I found several WONDERFUL chairs last winter that a homeowner in the la-ti-da section of Buckhead (neighborhood in City of Atlanta) was reluctantly letting go for a very reasonable price because their oversized dog/puppy had taken to chewing on the arms and legs of the pieces.   The damage was not great but noticeable and, as I discussed (haggled about) prices, the aforementioned "puppy" escaped down the road and the whole family took off after it - one reason it has been hard to convince my husband to buy a dog!

One chair was made by Councill (or Council - I've seen it spelled both ways) and I had several Councill chairs several years ago but don't see them often.  They are really nicely made and very pricey!  link to company website  You can see their furniture in a lot of magazines but it is just not a household name like those great American manufacturers Hickory Chair, Baker or Sherrill.  This particular chair had a lot of trim woodwork giving it a decidedly modern French flair - the original woodwork was a nice distressed pecan finish unfortunately scarred by its ill treatment!

The chair languished at my upholsterer's shop for some time while I was deciding how to deal with the woodwork problems.

As I became more confident of my skills with Annie Sloan Chalk Paints (ASCP), I decided that the paint was the solution for me.  I selected a neutral color - Old Ochre - and used wood filled (with slight sanding) to touch up the woodwork and even out the grain.  It took several layers and sandings to get the smooth finish I was looking for.  It did work!

Councill Chair (front) amongst other projects in my garage! 
Detail - Woodwork on Councill Chair
I selected a heavy Robert Allen seafoam (aka wythe) blue - a HOT color for 2012 - to reupholster the piece.  I was looking for a nice contrast with the ASCP old ochre neutral finish I had selected (with clear wax).  I got the chair back from my upholsterer this last week and am stunned at how well it turned out!  I LOVE this chair and am wandering around my house looking for a place to keep it - it is however available for sale on eBay and soon on my website - wydevendesigns.com.



My Miracle Baby!
Check out the linked party - link to Restored Interiors and savvy southern style and Miss Mustard Seed.

8 comments:

  1. Very pretty! That fabric is such a pretty shade of blue!

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  2. What a gorgeous chair! I love the new color. Looks like you have a few more beautiful chairs in your garage. Stopping by from Restore Interiors link party.

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  3. Wow! You did an awesome job! Love it! :)

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  4. The upholstery works perfectly with your paint finish. Nice job.

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  5. How beautiful! I love the blue. You did such a great job with this!
    Angie

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  6. WOW, that is a beauty. I would never be able to let it go.

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  7. I love how this turned out! Great fabric and I love the painted wood frame. Beautiful. visitng from the vintage farmhouse.

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