Before and After: Chairs
October 14th, 2009
A few weeks back, I scored two vintage Brown Jordan chairs at the flea market for an unbelievable price. The only problem was that they were an ugly, pea green with vinyl cushions that looked every bit their 40 years. I had been obsessed with this kind of chair after it appeared in nearly every issue of Domino Magazine (Jonathan Adler’s version here) so I decided a little makeover was in order.
{Before}
1. I primed the chairs with two coats of Krylon’s oil-based primer and then spray painted them a glossy white.
2. I went to a lumber yard that custom cut wood to fit the chair seat. My next stop was a foam store where they cut the foam 1/4″ larger than the wood and used a spray glue to adhere the two. I finished the top with batting, that I glued to the foam, so that it would create a clean curve and extend the life of the cushion.
3. I picked out a durable cotton fabric and cut out the shape of the cushion leaving a 4″ border. Once the pattern was centered, I pulled the fabric taut over the edges (starting with the front and back) and stapled it to the frame. I then secured the sides and made sure to overlap the corner pieces perfectly for streamlined edges.
4. Once everything was securely stapled, I trimmed the extra fabric from the bottom.
5. I secured the finished seat cushions onto the chair.
{After}
Helly Lonny Mag? Yes, this is Bee. Please accept this submission of my friend Emily’s GENIUS chair reno for your next issue. It’s bananas.
SERIOUSLY!
beautiful! love them!
wow that is incredible! you are super artistic
http://thestylespotter.blogspot.com/
Well done! I once bought some antique chairs in the style of Louis XIV…they sat around untouched for 2 years…and then i sold them on craigslist when i moved cross country! now i’m feeling like i need to give that project a second chance.
Great job you did with the chairs! They’re beautiful.
Oh wow! That was awesome. =D
Summer
A Writers Den
Brown Mestizo
Awesome job! Very crafty lady u are.
emily, I have been lurking for a while without commenting and I absolutely LOVE your style; and your ability to translate it in your clothing, your food, and your decorating techniques! This blog is fab.
*ciao*
You are very talented and inspiring.
hello, gorgeous! these look beautiful and brand-new. you did a wonderful job.
great job! those chairs look fantastic!
after reading this post i’m really in the mood to do some DIY projects! your chairs turned out fantastically..you have to be so pleased!
Just perfect!!
AMAZING!
Those look totally fantastic. If you lived in my neighbourhood I would tottal hire you
Awesome job! We really did feature those a lot at Domino, didn’t we? I remember with each shoot they were in we would squabble a bit over who got to buy them. Great job!
xo Katherine aka. Urban Flea
http://www.urbanfleadesign.net
Ok.
I’m reading through your posts and I’ve established a few things here.
1. You’re completely beautiful. Undoubtedly so.
2. You take smashing photos.
3. You can cook a mean meal.
4. You’re handy around the house.
5. You’re very stylish in every way.
You’re well on your way to perfection, my dear. So much talent for one beautiful girl. Wow. xx
Great job! I don’t know why it is, but I really associate this kind of chair with American style. Maybe it’s because, like you said, it’s been in lots of Domino magazines – and I have never seen this style anywhere in the UK.
incredible. martha stewart: eat your bloody heart out
They look great…I LOVE DIY!!!!!!
Jen Ramos
‘Cards & Prints You’ll Love…’
http://www.madebygirl.com
madebygirl.blogspot.com
You’re so so clever! I love this.
Beautiful! Great Fabric choice!
Wow, that is amazing and BEAUTIFUL.
I will follow this instructions!! wish me luck!http://thevintagedevil.blogspot.com
Love it. Beautiful finish!
Wow you have great vision. You inspire me.
i loove those chippendale chairs! i’m an interior design student so i’m the ultimate DIYer. good work girl
thanks! i was looking for a DIY about chairs because i need one for my bedroom
Interesante, yo cotizaciуn en mi sitio mбs tarde.
http://www.affhtc.com/ Socco
Pingback: DIY | Ever Fancy
São Lindas!
I think I’ve got a decorating crush on you… xx
Very lovely blog and great ideas! But could you tell me how you ‘secured the finished seat cushions onto the chair’ ?
wooow. *-* You’re so creative.
Love them! Especially loving damask atm too. I just refurbished a chair as well! Check it out!
http://australiennechic.blogspot.com/
Beautiful!
I made a new blog called junkqueen.blogspot.com
and id love to post this before and after pic. i hope you dont mind.
you did a wonderful job!
This is a silly question- But where do you do your spray painting, and how do you protect your surroundings from the paint? This is the rate limiting step for me, being an apartment dweller. I love your DIYs to pieces, and I always get inspiration here!
Thanks!
Where did you get this fabric? I want to do a similar thing but with brown chairs. What color fabric can I use in a damask print with a dark brown chair?
Im pretty sure you can change lives with a staple gun. love this!
Ok, forget it!! I knew I could find them on here! Thank you!
They look amazing!
your step by step directions make it so easy to replicate (although i haven’t yet…).
Wow! Incredibly chic! Now this is what keeps me from ever leaving this site–these creative transformations.
These chairs are just gorgeous! you did a fantastic job with them!
I love the new look of these chairs. I’m quite obsessed with vintage style furniture and prints. Weirdly I have a clock with exactly the same pattern as on your fabric
I was trying to figure out what to put in the corner of my bedroom and a vintage chair would be a great idea. I love how easy you made this look!