Pair of Union Jack Chairs

I found these sturdy, cane back, side chairs at a community yard sale.  I initially only bought the one with arms, but I had to go back the next day to pick up a hutch and I saw that the other chair was still there, so I decided to rescue it too.

Besides a little dust, the chairs were in perfect condition.  I love that Annie Sloan Chalk Paint sticks so well and feels so natural on vinyl.  I had already painted the Union Jack on this vintage office chair, so I knew Chalk Paint would work beautifully over vinyl and was easier than reupholstering.

I painted the chairs with Old Ochre Chalk Paint and distressed them before waxing with Annie Sloan clear wax.

Here is the armless chair.

I painted the Union Jack with Napoleonic Blue, Emperor's Silk and Old Ochre Chalk Paints.  Before waxing the seats with clear wax, I made a wash by mixing Old Ochre with water and painted that over the whole seat.  This gave the Union jack a faded appearance.  

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Grey Cane Back Dining Chairs

These vintage cane back dining chairs came from a community yard sale.  I was just heading back to my car, after an unsuccessful visit to the community sale, when I saw a woman carry one of these chairs out to her front yard.  I stopped her immediately and purchased the four chairs for a very good deal!

The chairs looked similar to the first set of cane chairs that I fixed up here.  They were old and dirty with flaking paint covering up their beautiful bones.

The gold velvet upholstery is indicative of the era from whence they came.

I used a mixture of about 50/50 Paris Grey and Country Grey Chalk Paint to create a soft, pale grey hue for these chairs.  

I love the wooden details above the caning on these dining chairs.

I dry brushed some Old White Chalk Paint over the appliques and along the edges of the chairs and then distressed them with 220 grit sandpaper.

Fortunately, the cane backs were all in flawless condition.

I reupholstered the seat cushions with a charcoal grey and white striped, hemp linen fabric.

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Vintage Cane Headboard

A couple of weeks ago, I finished this gorgeous, caned headboard for the same client that I painted these night stands for.  She is creating a French provincial bedroom and she promised to share pictures when it is all put together and decorated.

When she brought in the headboard, it had a greenish-white hue.  It had a strange finish that was dry, brittle and cracking off along the top, concave parts of the headboard.  I used a flat head screwdriver to pick off the paint on the parts that were chipping and then used woodfiller to even it out.  I sanded those areas smooth and then began painting.

This headboard has graceful lines and I love the caning!

I painted the headboard with the fabulous French Linen Chalk Paint. 

I wanted the elegant details to show up but not be too sharp of a contrast, so I dry brushed white over all the graceful lines and raised design on the top.

My client wanted her headboard to be more dramatic than the night stands, which were also painted French Linen, so I decided to try Annie Sloan dark wax in a glaze form.  I mixed the dark wax about 50/50 with unscented mineral spirits to make a thin glaze.  I applied the glaze over the entire headboard, working small sections at a time, and wiping it off as I went.

I had the headboard finished at the shop waiting for my client to pick it up and several customers were extremely disappointed when I told them it was not for sale.  They all told me that it is difficult to find vintage, king headboards.  I guess I know what to look for while I am out hunting for new projects.

I love looking at this headboard!  I guess you can tell that by how many pictures I included.  I think it goes well with the muted-tone, Union Jack table Nancy just finished.  

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