Labor Day Makeover

Yesterday was our local flea market/antiques fair.  It is, by far, my favorite day of the month.  I am sure to arrive at 6am because I don't like to fight the throngs of people who are entering as I leave at 9 sharp! I had walked the entire grounds, 2.5 hours, when I saw, in the last row, a pair of Louis XV repro cane back chairs.  They did not look the way I like them to, cosmetically, but underneath I knew they were a treasure.

I love the floral carvings

The only sentiment I can come up with for the picture below is YIKES!  No offense to my grandmothers.

So I started out.  And I want to be very clear about something.  I am an amateur, just learning.  But here is what it looks like today

I used a combination of light sanding and dirt glazing to create an old weathered look.  Even though it is a very old chair, after a few coats of paint, it can look rather new

I like the way the glaze gets into the grooves to give it the look of being dirty

I am interested to see how the fabric will wear.  I wonder if it will stretch with time.  I hope not, but we'll see.

The fabric is handloomed hemp linen.  I love love love the texture and feel of it.  

This chair is by no means perfect.  But that, in my opinion, is what gives it depth, and beauty. 

And this is a picture of it with my lovely Darcy chair from Rachel Ashwell.

Have a wonderful holiday today

Michele