I got this pair of antique balloon chairs from a local consignment store. They were in good shape. I sat in both to test them before buying. I even scooted them around to be sure they were cozy and stable. The red striped fabric was fine, but didn’t have the look I was going for.
TIP Select chairs that have seats that can easily be removed and recovered. Flip chairs over and inspect how they seats are attached.
I had aqua Colin Maillard toile de Jouy fabric I purchased at a local creative reuse store for $2. I mention the price because this fabric from MFTA can cost way more. I wasn’t sure how I was going to use the fabric when I bought it, but for $2 I knew it would come in handy at some point and I was unlikely to find that fabric at that price again.
TIP If you see a fabric or paint you love at a great price (and you have room to store it), buy it. I keep an inventory of potentially useful things in a small closet. Having a dedicated and organized spot for supplies makes it easier to grab what you need when you need it.
I began the makeover by removing the seat cushions and painting the chairs with Annie Sloan’s chalk paint in Capri pink. I recovered the seats in the aqua Colin Maillard toile de Jouy fabric using a staple gun. It took me awhile to figure out how I wanted to center the fabric on the chairs. I tried different looks by draping the fabric on the chair seat, securing it with a rubber band underneath, and then placing it back on the chair frame. I centered the fabric a few different ways to be sure I liked it. Once the fabric is cut, there’s no going back.
My original plan was to lightly distress the chairs after I painted them. But the pink was so bold, I needed a more drastic approach to get the look I wanted. I stripped back the pink paint so there were just bits of it peeking through. To finish the piece I applied my trusty mix of Annie Sloan clear wax and Old English scratch cover for dark wood.
I can’t get a great picture, but I love these chairs now. It is just the right amount of color. The chairs plus an antique game table make a nice little nook for coffee, breakfast, or a game of cards.
