Second chance chairs: a few before and afters

Who doesn't love a cute chair? They add interest to a room, can be inexpensive if bought 2nd hand and if you have a vision, can be transformed with a little bit of paint, fabric and elbow grease.

I have shared many chair transformations here on the blog like this, this and this. 

I even have a board on Pinterest where I collect beautiful chair makeovers, 

so I suppose it's safe to say I have a bit of a chair fetish!

Today I have a whole new crop of chair makeovers. The first couple I am sharing are my own chairs and were done in collaboration with my friend Ann, of Siena & Spoke, who recently added creative painting projects to her interior painting business. 

I gave Ann some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old Olive and free reign on this guy....

 

She did a wonderful dry brush technique and gave it a new look.
I can't believe I waited all these years to have this chair painted,
I am delighted with the transformation.

 

I got these chairs for $7 each at a local thrift store. Ann painted everything with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, including the faux vinyl upholstery and gave them a coat of wax.
I designed the pattern on the chair back and despite my DIY-ADD, we painted those together.
Until I come up with a plan for where to use these guys and what to re-upholster them in,
I love them on my sunporch!

Ann also did this piece for me

If you are local to the Madison, WI area and have a sad, tired piece of furniture looking for a facelift, give Ann a call. 

You can find her business, Siena & Spoke, as well as her portfolio on Houzz and Facebook. 

Her tag line "repurposing with paint {furniture, walls and beyond} says it all!

This next chair is the product of my client's DIY and Ebay skills and a collaboration with my wonderful upholsterer.

Her neighbor was ready to put these guys to the curb, my client saw potential....

She painted the frame a lovely gold, found this amazing python fabric on Ebay for a song
and sent them off to be re done....

I. Die. 

Plus, I am so proud of my client for going it on her own to update these chairs. We talked about many options and in the end, finding this amazing fabric set the project in motion.

Remember this chair from my Bold & Blue family room project?

 I showed you an update here

Now check this baby out in her new home with her kitchy pillow, slipcovered ottoman and beautifully refinished table....

 So fun!

Do you have a chair fetish like me? If so what have you done to transform yours?

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design?  I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."  

Contact me for more information about my design services.

"Big City Apartment" (almost) done

Put a fork in it, This Big City Apartment is (almost) done!

I did not mention this before but my nephew is a trail blazer, living in downtown Detroit, a city on the rebound. From Detroit City Apartments, he can walk to work, the Theater District, Comerica Field and Ford Park.  The building has tons of amenities, great views and large, well appointed units, the perfect situation for a recent college grad. 

Therese and her boys did an amazing job creating this....

from this!

 That is Grandma's hand knitted afghan, confiscated during Project Downsize.
Can you believe that Therese once thought it was ugly? This was a pivotal piece for our design!

When I said (almost) done the reality is that we are still awaiting the move in of the roommate and his belongings, but the living room is set up to accommodate his furniture and the artwork is staged to be hung on the wall surrounding the TV and media stand once they arrive.

I still can't get over the green chair, the perfect find for highlighting the colors in the afghan. And did you notice the license plate frame on the wall? It now has a mirror.

 For the bathroom, Therese couldn't resist doing a little embellishing on a plain white shower curtain...

Which combined with this 

really gives a boost to an otherwise mundane bath.

Remember my Design Plan for the bedroom?

Here is how it turned out... a piece of particle board cut to fit, some black duct tape, Target bed linens, a thrift store lamp, that cool painted side table, a Therese Marie Designs pillow and voila!

All of this installing and decorating can be exhausting.......

But the result is a very cool apartment which will be the envy of your friends!

You can let them know that "The Committee" hires out!

And then you can go and chill at the rooftop pool...

And on a final note, how about this for a hip outdoor reception area at Detroit City Apartments?

What a fun project!
When Therese added up everything she spent it was around $1800.
Considering that the only thing my nephew brought to the party was a desk, a chair and a few hand me downs (bedroom dresser and rug, LR arch lamp, Grandma's afghan and a few kitchen items)
I think she did an amazing job creating a stylish and functional first apartment don't you?

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design?  I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."  

Contact me for more information about my design services.

Thrifty make-overs for "The Big City Apartment"

Today I am sharing a few of the fabulous transformations of the thrifted and hand me down pieces that Therese rounded up for her son's "Big City Apartment."

She did such a great job, some of these pieces we collaborated on and others, she just did on her own and shared the results with me. 

I have said it before, but we really do make a good team....

High fives for "The Committee!"

A garage sale bulletin board gets some pizazz with a black frame and painted stripes.

Since the fabric was in decent condition and the color worked perfectly, this cute little chair got a fresh look by removing the skirt, cleaning up the legs and adding a hip Therese Marie Designs pillow.

 

 Only the tiniest bit of paint and a little creative genius and this chest gets a simple update.

Inspired by this, a thrift store painting, a thought, stick on letters and a wash of paint yields
a conversation piece in the powder room.

A little spray paint and some dark wax gave this side table a hip new look.

A funky vintage lamp, so cool it doesn't need more than a good cleaning....

 

 And how about a little sneak peak to see the lamp in use 

and how the "Sting" poster makes an appearance..... 

Yep, that's the Ikea Karlstad, a Lack side table and a couple of TMD pillows.

Lookin' pretty darned good dontcha think???!!!!

Have a great week-end!

BTW I am linking up to the Best of the Nest party and you should too.... no doubt you have some cool project to share, so be brave and do it!

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design?  I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."  

Contact me for more information about my design services.

One Room Challenge: Moody Blue Master Bedroom reveal

Finished!!!!

Our One Room Challenge is complete. 

After 6 weeks of scheming and doing, 

my CSIL Therese and I are calling it a wrap.

We turned this room...

using this design plan...

 into this.....

I love the fabric we ultimately used for the Faux Romans. 

Seems we all 2nd guess at times but I always find it's best to trust your gut.

How about the awesome touch of fresh flowers?
A big shout-out to 

floral arranger Jeannette 

at Schafers Flowers in Kalamazoo

for providing Therese with the yummy arrangements.

Despite my DIY-ADD,  even I did a little project for this space! Using some old frames,  gold paint, handmade paper and butterfly cutouts I had "in my inventory," 

I made these guys to adorn an empty wall.

Good thing Therese has some mad sewing skills, the textiles kinda make the room.
And how about those Therese Marie Designs pillows?

Dang, no more TMD pillows in the hamper, now it's only dirty laundry!

To say that I am pleased with how our Moody Blue Master Bedroom turned out is an understatement, I am thrilled and so are Therese and her husband!
One of the things that makes me so happy about this project is that we made the most of what was already in the space and items we already had on hand and then zhushed it up on a budget,
a whole room make-over with a small cash outlay and a big DIY effort.

Here is how the budget broke down:

Chain link lamp - $150 at TJ Maxx

Sconces - $250/pr. at Pottery Barn

Paint - $75 Benjamin Moore

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - already on hand

Moulding - $50

Drawer hardware -  $20

Chair -  $90, 

Various Fabrics - $50 (many already on hand)

Artwork and frames - $125

Laundry Basket - $40 

Grand Total - $850

If you are interested in going back over our weekly progress, click on the links below:

Week #1 - the plan

Week #2 - textiles and a faux roman shade tutorial

Week #3 - paint & moulding

Week #4 - oak furniture facelift

Week #5 - art & accessories

Many thanks to Linda for creating this crazy ORC fun and being the supreme motivator to all of us for getting the job done.
Also both Therese and I have appreciated your many comments and encouraging words, thanks for following along.

Don't forget to check out the Official ORC participants finished spaces

and follow through with the finished spaces of the linking participants.

Will you join up in this make-over madness for the next go round?

--------------Cathy--------------

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Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design?  I would love to work with you to help your room "feel better."  

Contact me for more information about my design services.