Every time I pick up a thrift store / flea market / yard sale piece of furniture, I always wonder what stories it could tell.
I mean, I know the expression is, “if walls could talk.” But I’ll bet furniture could tell us just as much.
This Duncan Phyfe dining chair I picked up for practically free at a yard sale a few months ago made me wonder how many family Thanksgivings it had seen.
In the beginning of its life, I’ll bet someone, maybe a newlywed, was overjoyed at picking out this little chair and the rest of its dining set pals at a downtown furniture store. And 60-70 years later, here it sat in our driveway after hauling it home, just waiting for its new adventure.
It had scuffs and scratches all over it, but I knew it would be perfect for this month’s Trash to Treasure Transformation.
(Although, I probably shouldn’t call it trash. That might hurt its feelings.)
We had been needing a small chair to put in the corner of our master bedroom since most nights Robert usually likes laying out his gym gear and work clothes for the next morning… he’s way more on top of this adulting thing than I am.
Supplies Used: (Affiliate links are provided below for convenience.)
- Fusion Mineral Paint in Raw Silk
- 1.5″ angled paintbrush
- 1 can of spray shellac
- Medium grit sandpaper
- Manual staple gun
- Magnolia Home Boulder upholstery fabric in navy
Since we already have lots of blue going on in here, I chose classic white using Raw Silk from Fusion Mineral Paint’s new color collection. (I love their paint since I’ve used it on our wall-mounted desks, red bench, porch coffee table, foyer table, office safe, china cabinet, and sliding barn doors previously.) I’m a big fan of anything I don’t have to prep or seal. Call me impatient.
Since this chair had a reddish brown stain on it, I discovered after the first coat of the Raw Silk that the red started to bleed through and turned the white paint pink. Ack! If you ever run into that, spraying your piece with shellac will do the trick.
After the shellac dried, I just painted another coat, sanded with medium grit sandpaper to distress, and this chair was lookin’ mighty fine. I love this soft shade of white in the Raw Silk. It has a beautiful creamy gray undertone, so it works well with warm and cool tones in a room.
For the seat, I wrapped it like a present with the Magnolia Home upholstery fabric and stapled it on the bottom. It has a very classic-French-meets-modern-American-farmhouse vibe going on now.
It fits right in beside our dresser. And now Robert can toss his gym clothes on it for the early mornings instead of in the middle of the floor.
This side of the bedroom still has some of our Christmas decor up, but I’ve just convinced myself it’s winter decor now. 😉 Metallics + greenery = winter stuff. That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.
You can pop over to check out the rest of my Trash to Treasure gal pals’ makeovers here. They never fail to amaze me!
(Clockwise from top left) Prodigal Pieces | Confessions of a Serial DIYer | Girl in the Garage | Artsy Chicks Rule
If you have some thrifty makeovers of your own, we’re hosting another #TrashToTreasureTransformation giveaway over on Instagram this week! We’ll be giving away $100 to Rug Expedition. Just share a photo of your project with the hashtag #TrashToTreasureTransformation and follow all 5 of us, and we’ll share our favorite makeover on Sunday as the winner.
Can’t wait to see what some of y’all will share!
A big thanks to Fusion Mineral Paint for providing paint to sponsor this post.
Perfect piece for your bedroom, Lauren. The refreshed color and upholstery give it new life.
Thanks, Larissa! Off to check out yours right now. I’m so curious what you turned those spindles into!
Love the new look Lauren, and that fabric is gorgeous! <3
Girl, you never cease to amaze me!
I don’t usually make comments on blogs, but recently you blogged about insecurity.and self doubt,something many struggle with.
Your very honest admission of your struggles touched me,and I almost commented,but many others sent encouragement,so I refrained.
May I say now though, that you have a God given talent,not just as decorator and communicator,which you are very gifted for,but you have the unique ability to see something imperfect,whether a piece of furniture or a space in your home, and to be able to make that “thing” something that enhances your home and blesses your family.
My dear, that is a God given blessing. Your sweet family and Bless’er House are blessed to have you!❤️
You’re such an inspiration. I have a huge frame that I’ve been dreading to distress. But you made it sound so easy that I’m doing this weekend!
So pretty and inviting!! ❤️ Love, love it❣
It’s so pretty now, Lauren! I feel the same way about old mirrors. I always wonder how many have seen their reflection in them, a bit creepy now that I’m writing about it lol, but pretty cool too! XO
Beautiful transformation, Lauren. That chair deserved a second chance!
Such a fun makeover! I think the same thing every time I pick up a piece!
Beautiful.
Thanks!
The chair looks perfect there Lauren!! I love what you did with it. 🙂
Absolutely LOVE that chair! Will be watching for something similar to redo myself now!
Cute chair! I have one sitting in my office right now waiting for a similar makeover!
Hi Lauren
Hey, I haven’t been getting emails the last couple of days. I will re subscribe but just wanted to let you know. Love your blog! Missed getting them but saw the updates on facebook. Thanks!
Oh no! I’ll check my subscriber list to see what’s going on. Thanks for letting me know, Deanna!
Thanx for posting this! I have a similar chair, which I, too, painted w chalk paint. But I was really stuck on how to distress it. I love how yours is sanded at almost all of the detail lines. I mimicked this look and I love how it turned out! I’d send a pic, but I’m still waiting for the fabric I ordered for the seat. Thanx again for your wonderful blog…you really inspire me!
Awesome! So glad it helped, Deborah! I’d love to see when you’re done. You can send it through my Facebook page, if you want 🙂 http://www.facebook.com/blesserhouse