Balloon back chair headed for the dumpster

When my father-in-law saw this balloon back chair outside his apartment complex, he made a few enquiries, found the owner and discovered it was headed for the nearest dumpster as it needed repairs done to the legs where they attach to the seat. He knew better than to let this beauty go to landfill and he ALSO knew I’d be excited about giving it a makeover!

A Bedside Re-vamp

I also had this bedside set of drawers that I had painted in Fusion’s Brushed Steel – a fantastic metallic silvery colour that mimics, well … brushed steel!

Only problem is … I’ve had it sitting in the shop and before that in my online sale places for well over a year, with no takers. So, when something has sat like that for a long time, I bring it back to the workshop and give it a fresh makeover.

Midnight Blue Love …

Introducing what has become one of my favourite new colours, Midnight Blue, by Fusion Mineral Paint (Aussies can purchase it here). Midnight Blue has excellent coverage and I completed both projects using only 2 coats each.

I chose Midnight Blue for the chair as well as this dresser and I am loving the results. I also changed out the drawer knobs for cup pulls which tied in so much better with the waxed wood on top (Fusion’s Black Wax on raw pine).

New Upholstery

Here’s the fabric I picked out for the balloon back chair, which I happened to have in my stash of fabric supplies. I love the linen-look background and the detail.

I also happened to have enough of the same linen colour gimp braid in my upholstery stash to complete the trim on the chair edge! I love it when I don’t have to run out for supplies in the middle of a project!

And here are some pics of the chair and bedsides all finished – notice anything about the colour?

Note how the chair is darker than the bedside seems to be? Same Midnight Blue from the same jar. Only explanation I can think of is the difference in the base colour that I painted over. The balloon back chair was a dark wood, and the bedside drawers were the Brushed Steel, so that silvery metallic underneath may have made the slight difference in having a lighter shade. I left the stencilling I had done previously on the drawer sides. Inside drawers painted in Fusion colour, Sterling – a soft light grey.

Are you on Pinterest? Pin this one to your Furniture Painting/DIY boards:

I hope you enjoyed that makeover, and that you have been inspired to update something in your house or workshop this week.

Don’t forget to join our Facebook group and share your progress pics, ask questions and join in the community chat.

Here’s something I posted on my Instagram feed this week … have you opened any jars lately? What are you painting? Let me know in the comments!

BONUS FAQ Post Overhaul:

Before I go, I wanted to share with you one of my most popular blog posts, and most frequently asked questions ever! I wrote this post a while ago, and have recently given it a re-vamp, so I hope you find it helpful.

It includes a bonus printable reference chart! (click the image below to take you to the post)