Monday, November 12, 2012

Chair re do!




Remember these little antique chairs I bought from Carter's Cottage? I could not wait to paint them with Annie Sloan chalk paint in Graphite. I have not used this color before and I thought it was a perfect chair kind of color.



 
 




 
Here is Graphite:
 

Graphite
Graphite is a soft black made with purplish blues and brown and is not completely black. When waxed it becomes a beautiful black like dark slate.


 
It does not look that dark out of the can.  Once dry it almost looks like a chalk board black.  Using the dark wax gives it a blacker look or a slate look as Annie Sloan says.
 
 
 

 
 
I decided to give the chairs a thin coat of Duck Egg Blue first.  I have never used this color either.  I thought it would look good under the Graphite.  I bought the paint in one of the little sample pots and still have over half left after doing the two chairs. These pots are the perfect way to try out a color!



Duck Egg Blue
A greenish soft blue reminiscent of Rococo French and Swedish interiors. It looks wonderful and fresh with Old White, used over Chateau Grey and Aubusson Blue.




 
 
 
After the Duck Egg Blue dried I used the Graphite.  I love this color!  I used two coats of the Graphite,  I wanted to be sure these chairs were tough enough for daily use.  After the paint dried I used a scotch bright pad and distressed them. After distressing I coated the chairs in a layer of clear wax and then added some of the dark wax.  The dark wax looks amazing with the Graphite!  Then I buffed them to a nice shine.
 
 
 


Here is a close up of the distressing.  You can see both the original wood and the Duck Egg Blue underneath.

 


I also replaced the old cracked leather seat fabric.  I found this gray chevron fabric at Hobby Lobby.  It was $4.00!  I love how it looks with the Graphite and I have been wanting to give chevron a try somewhere in my home!
 
 








Before
 



 
After


Two re finished antique chairs for under $45.00.  Not bad! 

I am still having a chair dilemma.  I have been searching for the perfect chairs for both my kitchen and my dining room table.  I am almost there, but not quite!  More on that soon!!!!

~Debbie