Click on photo to enlarge it.

We picked up this old, tattered antique chair for $20. The upholstery was stained and ripped, the seat and cushion were completely failing, but the frame was sturdy. The carving detail and the overall shape of the chair made it too cute to pass by.

My middle daughter, age 9, asked if we could re-do the chair for her room. She said, “I like it, and if you fix it, I can sit in it while I do my homework.” I needed no further convincing that the chair should be hers!

Her room is painted a bright purple, and she has lots of hot pink accessories and colorful artwork. A restoration of the chair to its former design just wouldn’t make sense for her room. We needed it to be bright, fun, and youthful in fit into her space! On that note, she and I dove into Pinterest looking for inspiration. What idea did we come up with as inspiration to her chair renovation? Peacocks! We decided to make it a vivid, shimmering PEACOCK themed chair!

Here are the peacock themed photos that Daughter and I found on Pinterest that inspired us the most for this chair:

Click on photo to enlarge it.
SOURCES of inspiration: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

The next step was to create a plan and find our materials for our new peacock chair! We decided we would paint the wood frame of the chair some sort of bright blue, “peacock blue,” if you will. We used Rustoleum spray enamel! I just LOVE the opaque glossy finish that their spray enamels provide! It’s such a durable AND pretty finish!

Click on photo to enlarge it.

Click on photo to enlarge it.

Together, Abigail and I decided we wanted to use greens and purples in addition to the blue enamel of the chair frame, and we wanted some sort of shine, shimmer and texture from the fabrics. So, I promised that while she was at school I would search online for fun peacock fabrics to order. We found what we believe to be the PERFECT newly manufactured fabrics from an eBay seller; he also has an online store www.RonnieHomeTextile.com.

The fabric for the upper portions of the chair is going to be a beautiful emerald green with metallic sequins in shades of hot pink, purple, gold, greens, and teals! For the seat cushion, we found a purple, laser cut, rosette fabric that reminded us of feathers, yet should be far more durable and comfortable to sit upon than real feathers would’ve been! Aren’t the two fabrics fabulous together with the paint color?! Love it! …and more importantly, my daughter LOVES if! YaY!!

Click on photo to enlarge it.

Then, the work process:

First, we stripped the chair. Mitch pried it apart and Abigail helped pull staples!

Second, we primed, then painted the frame, taking special care not to paint over original makers’ marks! The original Victorian era maker’s stamp is on the frame, a pencil signature from its re-upholstery in the ’40s, and our pencil signature from current reupholstery. That way, if it’s ever re-upholstered 20 or 50 years from now, the history is preserved!:

Click on photo to enlarge it.

Third, we added new webbing for the seat (stapling and trimming excess,) a thick layer of foam for the seat, and a thin layer of foam for the back. Finally, the whole thing was wrapped in polyester fiber (stapling and trimming excess.)

Lastly, we upholstered the back and seat, and stapling all pieces into position, then stapling cardboard tack strip around all of the edges in order to create a smooth surface to adhere finishing trim!

Click on photo of husband working on the chair to enlarge it.

Click on photo to enlarge it.

Click on photo to enlarge it.

Now, she’s proud as a peacock of her new chair, and I’m expecting continued straight ‘A’s from all the homework and studying she’ll do while sitting in her Peacock Chair!

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What do you think of our chair renovation? We’d LOVE it if you left us a comment or two!

Your Friend,
~Amber Hamilton Henson

PS
Guess what? 😃 This chair is being featured on KammysKorner and HandyManCraftyWoman! Click the square images below this text to be redirected to their sites:

I’m linking with some great blog parties! Check them out! (I’m updating this post as I link each day this week!)
TwiggStudios ~ Sunday Best
ArkansasWomenBloggers ~ Sunday LinkUp
HandyManCraftyWoman ~ Wicked Awesome Wednesday #163
FromMyFrontPorchToYours ~ Treasure Hunt Thursday #158
MarigoldsLoft ~ Tutorial Thursdays
ReDouxInteriors ~ Best DIY Linky
My Repurposed Life ~ Catch as Catch Can
MissMustardSeed ~ Furniture Feature Friday
ShabbyNest ~ Frugal Friday
The36thAvenue ~ Best DIY projects and recipes
ChicOnAShoestringDecorating ~ Flaunt it Friday
TrulyLovelyBlog ~ Fancy This #179
HomeStoriesAtoZ~ Tutorials Tips #161
HouseByHoff ~ Enchanting Inspiration
ConfessionsOfAPlateAddict ~ the Scoop #121
FunkyJunkInteriors ~ #242
BoogieBoardCottage ~ Masterpiece Monday #179
SmilingSally ~ Blue Monday
KammysKorner ~ Trash 2 Treasure
SavvySouthernStyle ~ Wow Us Wednesdays #173