Chalk Paint Refurbishing Project - Four French Chairs

ASCP Refurbished Chairs 

I just completed another Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ASCP) link to website and continue to be excited about the results. This set of chairs was purchased from one of my newer "go-to" dealers who occasionally gives me GREAT prices for furniture that badly needs redoing. These four chairs were manufactured in Brooklyn in the 70's and the woodwork and fabric were in a pretty bad state. I liked the wood details and carvings, however, and saw definite possibilities.

My upholsterer, Mr. Lee, helped me take off the seats and upper piping to allow me to get the best coverage on the woodwork.

The main problem with the woodwork was dirt and age. I used my trusty wood cleaner, Goof Off link to website to remove the dirt and had to use quite a bit and scrub pretty hard to get it all. Once removed, the surface was ready for ASCP.

I have eight ASCP colors and decide which one to use after selecting the fabrics. In this case, I wanted to use the Duck Egg Blue with some Old White as a counterpoint. I found just the right fabrics for this treatment in my collection (have i mentioned that I have a fabric ROOM)!

Fabrics selected - a nice cream-colored linen blend herringbone for seat cushion and front of back and a Cowtan and Tout Jane Churchill embroidered linen-blend for the back. The latter was a large sample and I asked my upholsterer to find four different images to use on the four backs.

I applied a first coat of ASCP Old White and this step resulted in a nice clean finish and a good base for  the dry-brush application of ASCP Duck Egg Blue.

The most challenging aspect of using the dry brush method to do the second coat is to be consistent in how much of the undercoat remains visible. I found myself constantly stepping away from the piece I was working on and positioning it close to the one(s) I had finished to try to maintain that level of coverage. I don't think I was totally successful but am happy with overall outcome.

I finished the pieces with a coat of clear wax and dropped them off at my upholster - the fabulous Lees of Norcross, Georgia, who do all my upholstery work.

The chairs came back this week and are beautiful - the fabric really coordinates well with the refurbished ASCP finish.

Four "after" Chairs

Details of backs - all four are different.

Another successful project - I love how these turned out and will definitely have to show photos to the dealer I brought them from - he will be impressed!

I plan to try selling these on One King's Lane link to current One King's Lane Sales and will see how they do!

This project is linked as follows - Savvy Southern Style and Miss Mustard Seed.