I got several projects done recently at the cabin. Most were successful, but there was one notable HUGE failure which I will share with you soon, but first I want to show you what I did with that free chair I rescued from the curb a few months ago and I wrote about in this post.
As it was, it was actually ok. Maybe a little dirty and sad looking, but not terrible.
I decided to paint it just to break up the wood on the porch a bit. I was going for a medium green color and when looking through my paint stash I found an almost full can of green stain that I had purchased about 6 months ago thinking I would stain some doors (I didn’t) so I figured I would give that a try.
I tested the color on a scrap piece of wood and liked what I saw, so after sanding the chair I applied the stain but realized almost immediately it was NOT the color I wanted. You can see from the picture below it was much, much darker on the chair than on the scrap piece of wood.
Have you ever started something and as soon as you do you’re thinking…
ooops.
Even though I sanded the chair, it still was not ‘raw wood’ like the piece I used to experiment with so the results were quite different. Lesson learned.
Well, unlike the huge disaster I encountered with the above mentioned project, there was hope yet for my sweet little chair. I mixed up a few shades of green craft paint and after one quick coat I ended up with something pretty close to what I was looking for.
I smoothed out the paint with another quick coat where it was needed and did some distressing and voila!
I also gave the seat a very quick coat of wood stain and it brightened it up a bit.
Do you notice anything different about this picture and the one from the workshop? Looks like a slightly different color doesn’t it?
Believe it or not, it’s the sunlight that’s causing that, and I actually like the way it looks in the workshop a bit better, but for now it’s more than ok just the way it is. I may pick up a small jar of an ‘olivey’ type green and give it a quick wash which should take maybe 10 minutes to do and will make all the difference.
I’m so glad I took the time to put this chair in my trunk when I found it on the grass at the parking lot of U-Haul. I know it’s silly, but I felt a little weird at the time doing that…almost like a bag lady going through the garbage looking for empty soda cans, but now she has a home instead of just ending up in a landfill and that makes me happy.
Sharing At
Cozy Little House
Shirley@Housepitality Designs says
Well…actually that chair was waiting for you to pick it up and give it a good home!!..love the color!!
cynthia keeley says
I have to laugh, as chairs like those graced my very first apartment, many years ago! I kept them forever until they became too wobbly. Glad to see somebody still using the same kind! Guess maybe they’d have lasted awhile longer…..lol
Denise says
Nice work. Love the color. And a great price, to boot! xxD
Angela says
Great color! You are the nicest bag lady I know!! (p.s. I’d rummage through a landfill with ya too!)!! Great job!~~Angela
Cynthia says
You did a fantastic job on this chair and the color is beautiful!
Cynthia
Barb says
Hi Doreen, just stopped by via SITgirls BlogOctober (Monday) link up and wanted to tell you I really like the header on your ‘about’ page. The colors and fun and welcoming. I also like the ‘once upon a story’ as an intro to you and your blog. very creative indeed!
Jane says
I love this, Doreen! You did a great job and I think the color is perfect for the chair. I love “Free”!!
I had two ladder back chairs like this for years. The seats were upholstered and ended up shredding and ripping over time so I tossed the chairs. If I only knew then what I know now!! Grrrr…
XO,
Jane
DMO says
It came out great. Nice flowers too! 😉
Joy @avintagegreen says
Looks just right on your porch. Great idea.
Joy
Valerie says
What an adorable chair! I love the green color…and I had to laugh at the end of your post…I just recently started collecting “curbside cast-offs”. My husband thinks I’m crazy, but I’ve gotten some really great things lately!
Cindy says
Your chair turned out beautifully, I think. What a great find it was.
Poppy says
Hi Doreen,
Wow! You took that sad, tired, slightly scruffy chair and magically, (read: a good amount of elbow grease!;)), turned it into a cheery, fun and vibrant practical work of art! Yes, I agree with you; I like the shade the way it looks inside, but, never mind, as it complements that gorgeous, bold, berry stained floor beautifully and is a charming accent to the warm hue of the logs! Lovely!!
Poppy
Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com says
Looks great, I like it!
Yvonne @ StoneGable says
Doreen, that chair was on the curb for a ride to your home! What a wonderful find! LOVE how you have it a new life. The color is fabulous and happy!
Rosemary says
Great color, and makeover.
Michelle says
It feels rewarding when you can rescue something and give it new life, doesn’t it?! I love your project – your chair looks great!!
Cecilia says
Isn’t it funny how things change in different light? But it’s beautiful now and it’s great you saved it. And I know what you mean about feeling weird, Doreen. I always feel a little strange picking things up at the curb…even if someone is throwing it out. Better that than the landfill though!
Hugs,
Cecilia