Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Before and After - Antique Scallop Arm Chair

"You re-do furniture, right?"
"Yeah!"
"I kept seeing this chair on the side of the road, for weeks, and I finally picked it up with you in mind. Do you want it? Like, I'll just give it to you?"
"Really? Yes! Awesome! Where do you live? Can I pick it up?"
"Actually, it's in the back of my car right now. I had a feeling you'd be here. I'll go get it."

Do you have conversations like this?

Later that night I walked into my office at work and saw this waiting for me:

antique scallop arm chair vintage side of the road olive mustard Ivy & Co

Yes. That's my name, written in ball point pen, on the upholstery, just to make sure no one else stole this treasure. I'm sure thieves were lurking in the shadows trying to get their hands on this gem!

antique scallop arm chair vintage side of the road olive mustard Ivy & Co

Ivy and I got to work right away, pulling out about 300 staples. 

antique scallop arm chair vintage side of the road olive mustard Ivy & Co

And oila! It looked like this!
antique scallop arm chair vintage side of the road olive mustard Ivy & Co

antique scallop arm chair vintage side of the road olive mustard Ivy & CoOk, it took a little more than just ripping out staples and taking off the upholstery to get it to look like this. 

1. I sanded it down
2. I removed the arms because they were loose
3. I painted it bright yellow
4. I chose a vintage Hawaiiana muu muu that I was going to use to reupholster it
5. I painted it dark grey and hated it
6. I painted it dark olive and loved it
7. I distressed it slightly
8. I antique waxed it and topped it with VOC-free furniture wax from Miss Mustard Seed
9. I went into Sew Special and found this upholstery grade mustard scallop certified organic cotton print and bought 2 yards of it! I love scallops! The muu muu will get used another time...
10. I screwed the arms back on, reinforcing them with wood filler and wood glue.
11. I reupholstered it.

antique scallop arm chair vintage side of the road olive mustard Ivy & Co

I made that little Ivy & Co. sign for my first Craft Fair. One day I'll get a real one made.
antique scallop arm chair vintage side of the road olive mustard Ivy & Co


antique scallop arm chair vintage side of the road olive mustard Ivy & Coantique scallop arm chair vintage side of the road olive mustard Ivy & Co

It's for sale on craigslist and Etsy for $135. Come and get it!
antique scallop arm chair vintage side of the road olive mustard Ivy & Co

Aloha, Rebecca

2 comments:

  1. I love it. The colors scheme is perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi, loved the elephant ear dresser, and this chair--and your honest dialogue, about how they came to be. It's not as easy as you make it look-was music to my ears. Love, Jaymee

    ReplyDelete

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