Do you ever have days where you have a million errands to run, but you don’t do them because it would require you to put on real clothes and makeup?
Yeah that was me yesterday. So now I have even more errands to run since I was too lazy to pull myself together.
One of the reasons I had to get going today was to get my haircut. Don’t you love having someone else do it for you? If I won the lottery, I would pay my hairstylist (Casey at Shine Salon in case you were wondering) a ridiculous amount just to come do my hair everyday just because I’m too lazy to do it.
I live with my hair in a ponytail. My hubby has asked me why I keep it long when I almost always wear it up. I explained that when you have short hair you always have to fix it — there’s no hiding behind ponytails or messy buns.
A few years ago, I needed a change and I whacked it all off, (against my hairstylists advice) because I wanted it to look like Carly’s off of General Hospital. My hair looked cute the day I came home from the salon. Topher was full of compliments, and I was pretty proud of myself for taking a risk.
The next day, I washed it and that is when reality hit me … I looked nothing like Carly. What I quickly realized is that Carly has a trained hairstylist that does her hair everyday, and that is why it looks perfect. Try as I might to have my hairstylist move in with me, that didn’t fly.
Also, when you have naturally curly hair, you need the weight to weigh it down or you look like Richard Simmons.
So for months, I despised it. Every picture taken of me in that 7 month period has been burned. If you happen to have one of me that has not been confiscated, you need to hand it over immediately or I am no longer your friend.
So when I told my hubby I have a haircut tomorrow, and he said you should try something different, I said “remember the hair fiasco of 2012?” … and he said “oh yeah, you should really just leave it alone”.
And that is exactly what I am going to do.
One thing I did not leave alone is this vintage chair I found at a yard sale.
I have done a lot of chair makeovers in the past, like this cane back chair set and the chairs for my turquoise dining set. One thing I have always stayed away from was upholstered chairs since my upholstering skills don’t go beyond cushions.
Not long ago I started seeing upholstered chairs that were painted with chalkpaint, so I decided to give it a whirl.
First, I cleaned years of filth and grime off of it.
Next, I removed the seat cushion and painted all of the wood with Plaster Paint in Sweet Cream.
After two coats of paint, I distressed the entire piece, coated with a clear wax, and then I buffed it off.
Next, I took Plaster Paint’s SeaBreeze and made a 1:1:1 combination of paint, fabric medium and water.
I went section-by-section and would squirt the section with water and then put on a coat of paint. I continued this until the whole chair was covered.
I then went back and touched up any areas that needed it.
I’m not going to lie, I had to use a lot of paint.
At that point the fabric had become crunchy, so I then coated all of the fabric with clear wax which softened it right up! Being my first go at this I was really happy with how it turned out!
Head over to see my Vintage Child’s Chair Makeover!
WOW! What a difference. It looks fabulous and beachy!! Great tips, too. I’d really love to try this on a chair one of these days. Love how it turned ot, Shanna!
Thank you Amy! Have a happy 4th my friend!
I also live in Wichita and go to Shine! Small world. I am so interested in this process, I have been thinking about doing it to an antique sofa I have with the ugliest peach colored upholstery. I have read on other blogs that they do not really use the piece of furniture that they do, so I just wonder what happens if one actually does sit on it occasionally?
How funny! Yep, I’ve been going to Casey forever. I did this piece a few months ago and it’s been sat in quite a bit with no problems. Don’t freak out after the paint dries because it will be crunchy. It isn’t until the was gets on there that it softens back up. Good luck and have a happy 4th!
Oh my gosh, that looks incredible!! I haven’t tried painting fabric yet, but this makes me want to!!
Thank you Christy! Are you going to Haven? Have a happy 4th of July!
Wow Shanna you did a fabulous job on this chair! I love the colors too – so pretty.
Thank you Marie! Have a great 4th!
Wow what a huge difference!!!! Love the finished project! TFS.
Thank you Julie! Have a happy 4th!
This is wonderful!!!! Great job!!! LOVE the color combination!!
Thanks Rhonda! Have a happy 4th!
The chair looks fantastic!! Nice work!!!
Thank you my dear! See you tomorrow!
I love the transformation of this chair. I have one very similar in style and bought it just to paint, using these same colors. I was a little leery about it but, now after seeing yours I am thinking I just need to plunge right in because I do love yours. Thanks for all the great tips. Cathy
Your chair looks great and I love the color. I have considered painting a upholstered chair but I have some questions as to how does it feel after. Is it comfortable to sit in or does it feel funny? Please let me know as I am very interested to know.
Thank you for your advice.
Such a beautiful transformation! Thank you so much for sharing at this week’s Project Inspire{d} ~ pinning this pretty little thing!
Wow! Amazing! I tried painting a chair once and it was a big fat fail. This turned out great. x
Thank you Danielle! Thanks so much for the feature and it was so nice to finally meet you in person!
Your chair looks fabulous! The idea of painting upholstery is pretty amazing. And I love your hair story!
Thank you Sharon! My hair has a mind of it’s own!
Okay… okay, I have got to try this whole painting a fabric chair thing out! My mother has a wing back chair she has been trying to give me for a year but it’s so ugly it would have to be painted or covered or something! 😉
Thanks for the inspiration!
~ Ashley
Absolutely, give it a try! I’m sure it will be gorgeous!
What a transformation. Love the new look. I will be featuring this tonight at my Sizzle into Summer party that opens at 8pm EST. Please stop by and pick up an I’ve Been Featured button. Thanks. http://diybydesign.blogspot.com
Stunning makeover, Shanna!! See? This is why I want to feature you on my blogland tour! Pinning and sharing on my FB and Google+! Oh and my hair debacle was the bangs of 2007. Very very bad idea.
how did you apply the wax? I painted a velvet-y chair too and it’s very crunchy (yuck)
Ooh it’s lovely and the perfect colours too. Thanks for sharing it.
Love a good chair makeover! And yours is awesome! I will be featuring this on my favorite things Friday over at hawthorneandmain.com
Thank you so much Shonee!
Wha is plaster paint?
Crystal, Plaster Paint is very similar to chalk paint. It adheres to anything which means you don’t have to sand before you paint, which I love! You seal it with a wax coating instead of using a poly. It is also much easier to be able to distress. You can go to their website http://www.theplasterpaintco.com/ to learn more. You can order online or the website shows where all of the retailers are.
We share the same hair problem. I’m too old to wear it long, but it’s too ugly when cut short and shampooed….just as yours is….. so I feel your pain…..
You don’t mention using textile medium on the fabric before painting. I did a cushion without it and i sit on it but it would be softer if i had used textile medium, I think. Maybe I’ll try fine grit sandpaper on it and if it works, i’ll take on the dining room chairs. Easier to paint that to re-upholster, though i did have to replace the seat cushion foam…….it would be easier to buy a new dining set…..LOL
The “crunchiness” is what has kept me from trying this – I had not heard of applying the wax after until now. Can you tell me what type of wax you used? Beautiful job!
Thanks
I used Plaster Paint’s Paste Wax Debbie. Good luck!
“Do you ever have days where you have a million errands to run, but you don’t do them because it would require you to put on real clothes and makeup?”
Oh my goodness, here I am Saturday having a cup of bamboo tea when I stumbled upon your blog. I laughed so much after the first paragraph that I spilled my tea. lol
So I am heading to home depot now to buy some latex paint and clear wax. I will update you on my results without fabric medium.
I saw this post recirculating again and see that it is almost 2 yrs old. I would love an update on how this painted upholstery held up? It just blows my mind that painting and waxing fabric works….does it get dirty easier? Still no crunch or crackling??? I really want to do this, but am still nervous…thanks