My Own Before and After Chairs - NOT Refinished

Wood NOT Refinished

Details - fabric and woodwork

As my blog readers know, I have been actively "annie-sloaning" many wooden surfaces on chairs and other upholstered pieces that I am refurbishing for wydevendesigns link to website and loving the results.  Ever since I started using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ASCP) link to website about six months ago, I have applied it to several dozen pieces and it has almost been hard to leave existing finishes alone.  Check out my blogs - key word Annie Sloan Chalk Paints.

Often, however, I do find great pieces that have unique, custom finishes that are in really good condition and attractive.  Most, I would guess, are the original finish applied by the furniture manufacturer - some, I am sure, based on customer specifications.  They are also, unlike ASCP, generally a "harder" finish.

Here are some pieces that were recently redone - upholstery work is by the great Mr. Lee at Song's Upholstery in Norcross, Georgia.  I did NOT refinish the woodwork on these!

This chair and ottoman (called Vicki's Bergere because I bought them at one of Vicki's estate sales) were in great condition other than the awful fabric.  They were redone in a crisp blue and white stripe and look great (Pending Sale)! 

These are all "after" photos.  This chair looked somewhat like this in its before photo but the fabric was dingy and discolored.  The textured "dark cream" highlights the honey color or the finish.  

I failed to take a good "before" photo of this really nice set of French style bergere chairs with the great, partially gilded wood finish and elaborate carving.  The old chintz fabric was very faded by the sun.  I think this may be an authentic antique - over 75-100 years old but could not confirm.   It's one of the nicest sets like this that I've found.

I left the wood as is and choose a heavy woven upholstery weight fabric with shades of green, red, gold on a cream background.  The reds really pick up the red in the finish and the gold complements the gilding.  I added two raw silk gold accent pillows.  See additional details at beginning of blog -  I think these turned out so well!

This posting is linked here - Restore Interiors and Savy Southern Style