This past weekend I worked like crazy to finish 6 french dining chairs for a client. Two were captains chairs like pictured below and 4 did not have arms. I was slowing working on them for a couple weeks, but then I promised her they would be done by Saturday night, so I worked non-stop from 9am to 9pm, only stopping to eat a couple PBJs.
Here is the before shot:
Eighties style, but fantastic lines and cane!
This was one of the inspirations she gave me for what she wanted. Even though its hard to see, the chairs actually have gold lattice painted on their backs.
I used Old White all over, then I used Precious Metals Premium Leafing Finish in 18 karat Gold to hand paint the latticework, grooves, and edges.
I then clear and dark waxed the entire chair, but because the gold gilded accents were a little too yellow and a little too sheer for what I was aiming for, I used Gold Leaf Rub n Buff with an paint brush and carefully brushed it on top of everywhere I had painted the 18 Karat Gold. The reason I didn’t forgo the first step for the other chairs, was because the paint absorbed too much of the Rub n Buff and it looked much too dark. And it was hard to be exact with the Rub n Buff. It is actually more like a pasty-wax and smoothes on best on metallic finishes (hence the importance of the 18 karat Gold leaf finish done first).
These seats were a beast because they could not be removed. I had to take off the trim, staple down new burlap and then hot glue this braided upholstery trim to cover up the staples.
The gold gilding was pain-staking, but it was worth it I think!
I added the little gold crosses on the upper part of the back legs to echo the lattice on the front, but to also match the inspiration picture! Let’s face it… it would have been boring just plain white!
Linking up with:
HI Rachel,
Your chairs turned out FAB! I know your client loved them. I’m so glad you linked up this week at Transformed Tuesday.
Hugs,
Peggy~PJH Designs
Holy cow, what a great job! I can’t believe you did all of those in a weekend! – Susan
Wow- great job! I love the painted lattice!
I want these chairs!!! Just stunning!
Angie
WOW, they are beautiful!!!
Great idea to paint the latticework:)
These are amazing! I love the painted lattice too!
The chairs look fabulous! Thanks for sharing at Silver Pennies Sundays! x
holy crap, these look amazing! I can only imagine the work you put into these. They really look beautiful! 🙂
These are really beautiful and elegant looking. Great job.
I just wrote a long comment and I think I lost it, forgive me if it duplicates. I saw your chair on Pinterest, it is very similar to one I have just purchased for my home office. Mine is 1950’s and French but obviously not an antique. It has similar lattice painting on the cane work at the back. I thought this might be original but maybe it has been painted on more recently. If you were in New Zealand I would be getting you to paint my desk to match :(. We have now got Chalk Paint in NZ and I am planning to paint a table I bought to match the chair to use as a desk.
I love your blog and will follow along as I have a few things of my mothers I plan to paint and I have not seen anything quite like your technique. I love the gilding, I bet your client was thrilled.
Lee 🙂