Before & After - French Armchairs

Do you remember this post about 4 weeks ago when I got these chairs while thrifting?  

Anyway, I got a pair of these and overall they were in great condition.  Not sure what type of wood that frame is made of,  but the grain is/was lovely, all of the joints were tight and (I think)  the chairs have beautiful lines.  So let the makeover begin!

Here they are, stripped of the navy blue vinyl fabric (picture the upholstery at your local Denny's) and sanded.  Once I got the chairs torn apart, I found that the seat cushions were pretty much shot.  All of the stuffing was wadded up and  hanging well below its intended location.  Rather than try and rebuild the original cushions, I asked  the husband  to cut  new platforms for the seat cushions from some plywood we had in our garage.  After numerous requests, he finally complied (thanks, babe!)

Lovely, right?  I forgot to take a photo of the chairs with primer, but there is primer under this paint.

Ready to cut the foam from a pattern I made with the cut plywood seat.

Two layers of foam topped with two layers of batting.  I used some spray adhesive to keep the foam from sliding off the plywood.

The fabric is cut and stapled over the foam and batting to the bottom of the cushion, then attached to the chair with the screws that held the original seat cushion in place. And here they are finished!

And here is something unexpected...

I upholstered the back of the chairs with some fabric I had leftover from this makeover!

I'm sharing my project on Metamorphasis Monday.  If you love a good before & after, head over there and check them out!

Hope your week is vibrant!

Need some help pulling your style together? The Green Room Interiors can help you make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call Kim at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com

Beauty at American Thrift

Here I go again with another thrift  store post.  I wasn't even planning on thrifting this weekend, but I was out collecting fabric swatches for a client over the weekend and I just happened to be driving by America's Thrift Store (for you locals, its the one on Lee Highway & 153)  so of course I couldn't  just drive by there without stopping! (Can I get an amen?)  


Anyway, I can justify any purchase if I just try hard enough so I bought it for resale (that's what I told the husband).  In the meantime, it's visiting with me at my house (wink wink)!

This is the real deal!  It's tight as a drum,  is upholstered in this vibrant sunflower gold velvet (the color is sunnier than the photo reflects)  and that smooshy cushion is down-filled!  I fluffed the cushion so it would cute in it's photo shoot!


Do you love?  

Let's Talk Paint!

Since I started blogging a few months ago I've received so many nice emails and compliments. I really appreciate your interest and response to my blog (and frankly I'm still a little shocked that people actually find it, read it, comment on it and take the time to email me!).  Would you be surprised if I told you that most of the emails and questions I get are concerning paint colors?  It's true!  Most people are mystified and intimidated when it comes to choosing paint colors - which is completely understandable.  First of all there are thousands of options available - pretty overwhelming for most of us! And who hasn't purchased a can of buttery soft yellow only to discover that once it's on the wall it's really a garish shade of taxicab yellow.  Ouch!

I have found that after choosing paint colors for numerous homes and projects over the years, that there are some colors that work pretty much anywhere, and I find myself using them over and over again. These are my go-to paint colors.

 Benjamin Moore's Grant Beige.  This beige has never let me down.  It pairs well with both warm and cool accent colors and it always looks crisp! 

 Benjamin Moore's Alexandria beige.  This is "cocoa brown".  Warm, beautiful and perfect for those who fear dark paint colors. The second photo represents the color more accurately.  

Decor pad

Benjamin Moore's Hawthorne Yellow - I can't say enough good things about Hawthorne Yellow.  It's vibrant without being garish, it can go traditional or modern, it is luminous in bright light and retains its life in lower light.  I took the second image in low light.  I love this color!

Traditional Home

Benjamin Moore's Georgian Green - a rich and beautiful yellow-based green. Try it with some black and a bit of hot pink! Again, my photo doesn't do the color justice :(

Benjamin Moore Sweet Dreams - Light, happy turquoise that I have used in the sitting room off of my bedroom.

Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere - complex gray/green/blue that is a beautiful neutral.  Works great with dark wood, too (2nd image)

Image via Nest Egg

Benjamin Moore Pale Oak - a beautiful, warmish soft gray

Image from Good Bones Great Pieces

And my go-to spray paint?  I love Krylon's Ivory!

Your turn!  Will you share your favorite paint colors with me?

Need some help pulling your style together?  The Green Room Interiors can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call Kim at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com