Project Rehab: Armchair Goes From Bubble Gum Pink to Shabby Chic
Reupholstering this chair in painter’s cloth, burlap and hemp gave it a whole new vintage style
Upcycling furniture and decor is a great way to save money and the environment. Such one-of-a-kind pieces add character, charm and style to many homes. We asked Houzz readers to share their own rehabbed projects. As part of our ongoing Project Rehab series, we’re highlighting the transformation of this pink armchair into a showroom-worthy showpiece. Do you have a furniture makeover of your own? Please share it in the Comments.
The process: Macy first removed the old upholstery from the chair’s frame and covered the wood with a coat of Annie Sloan chalk paint in Coco. She then went over the frame again with Annie Sloan chalk paint in Old White using a dry brush technique that requires light, quick strokes to add a weathered look. A water-based brown stain was then used to give more depth. A coat of furniture wax finished the frame. For the upholstery, Macy used a painter’s dropcloth to cover the front of the chair and the seat cushion. A non-sagging burlap was used on the back of the chair. All the edges were then trimmed with hemp braid applied with a glue gun. Finally, upholstery tacks were used to outline the front and back of the chair.
Cost breakdown
Chair: $20
Stain and wax: Macy used what she had on hand from previous projects
Paint: $17
Upholstery: Dropcloth: $15; burlap: $15; hemp braid: $20
Other: Upholstery tacks: $10
Chair: $20
Stain and wax: Macy used what she had on hand from previous projects
Paint: $17
Upholstery: Dropcloth: $15; burlap: $15; hemp braid: $20
Other: Upholstery tacks: $10
The challenge: “Please make sure you have a good tack puller before you begin and keep your nonworking hand out of the way,” Macy says. “I have stabbed my hand more than once.” She also strongly recommends that as you take the chair apart to work on it, you keep track of the pieces and the order in which they go so you can re-create the chair correctly. “I have made the mistake of doing things out of order in the past,” she says.
The inspiration: Macy says she’s often drawn to deconstructed upholstery projects on various websites, and while she likes the look, her own style is a bit more finished. “Using the burlap on the back let me have the feeling of it being deconstructed without looking too shabby,” she says.
More: Project Rehab: Satellite Dish Now a Mosaic-Topped Breakfast Table
More: Project Rehab: Satellite Dish Now a Mosaic-Topped Breakfast Table
Project: Reupholstered and restained armchair
Who did it: Barbara Macy
Location: Venice, Florida
Cost: $97
Time: Two weeks
The hunt: Barbara Macy purchased the armchair at a charity shop for $20.