project: shabby chic painted chairs

around 4 years ago I inherited the bannister family dining table, 6 dining chairs, 2 side tables and sideboard from my parents who had downsized since all the chicks had fled the nest..... The furniture was very good quality and heavy duty, having seen us through around 10 years of family life, however it wasn't quite my cup of tea, it was the shiny orange pine that was fashionable in the 90's.

So 4 years later, having moved into my own place and the trusty furniture still being with me, I was inspired by Kirstie Allsopp's Vintage Home, in which Kirstie up-cycled some dining chairs, I thought that looks pretty easy and very effective and so this is where this project began.......

tools:

dust sheet
matt white emulsion
tester paint post £3.50 each 
paint brush
sand paper (medium)
matt wood varnish
staple gun
upholstery fabric




method:

1. gently sand the chair all over to remove the top layer of polish, so that the surface is rough and the paint will take.

2. paint the entire chair with 2 coats of white emulsion, 2 thin layers are better than one thick layer, as this prevents drips and brush marks. (allow an hour between each coat for drying time)

3. Paint one layer of your desired colour paint and allow to dry for a few hours (no longer as paint will chip off to easily when trying to distress). As i wanted to paint each chair a different colour I just bought tester pots from Homebase, links at the bottom, the Habitat and Crown testers were £3.50 each, however other brands were as cheap as £0.99 (One 125 ml tub easily did 1 chair!!)

4. Use sandpaper along corners and edges to rub back the coloured paint, revealing the white paint / wood until you achieve the desired effect.

5. Finally using the matt wood varnish cover the entire chair in order to prevent any further distress et voila!!!

6. If you need to re-upholster the cushion pads, mine simply pushed out, if you turned the chair upside down. I covered mine over the original fabric, as this acted as extra padding. Simply cut the material 150% bigger than the seat pad and using a staple gun secure on the underside all the way round, simple!! ( I bought my fabric from E-bay, complete bargain at £9.25 + postage and this was enough to cover 6 chairs)

shopping links

Kirstie's vintage home book - 
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kirsties-Vintage-Home-Kirstie-Allsopp/dp/1444730584

matt white emulsion -
http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=351642

Sprout
http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=106105

Mustard
http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=106089

Kingfisher
http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10151&catalogId=12802&langId=110&searchTerms=habitat+paint+mustard+&authToken=&int_cmp=paintswatch

Coral 
http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=090958

Floral fabric 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290810802667?var=590088015245&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2648