Vintage with good bones + quality products + time and inspiration = reborn furniture.
Caronine Garbutt of Cara Saven Wall Design USA knows style. As president of the company founded by Cara Saven, she has been in the design business for almost her 12 years.
Here she shares tips and steps to transform a dark, outdated antique chair into a bright, fresh piece that fits in any modern home.
“I love going to vintage and flea markets and looking for unique pieces,” Garbutt says. “My decorating style is to combine the old with the new. I can imagine this chair remade with a more stylish fabric design.”
She said she gets a lot of her home decor inspiration from hotel stays and restaurant meals. You never know where you'll find inspiration. “I always keep these thoughts in the back of her mind when I visit the market,” she added. “Buying and restoring vintage items is a way to create something more custom and can add personality to your home.”
what to look for
Always look for ones with strong bones. “Watch for any severe cracks in the wood or severely rusted nails, which could cause the whole thing to fall apart,” Garbutt says.
Ask yourself where this piece will be placed in your home. “Does it blend in with other items in terms of space, color, and item size?” Garbutt says. “It's easy to fall in love with a piece, but it's hard to find the right place in your home for it.”
What is the return on investment? “Some may say it's not worth the money to refinish, but how much does it cost to replace a new one, and that brand new one with the same quality and type? Ask yourself, is it made from wood?” she added.
gather materials
Garbutt's steps can take several days to complete, so DIY projects require a basic tool kit and a dedicated workspace.
“For your first one or two projects, I recommend starting with simple, easy tasks,” she says. “If you don't work with sewers, you might want to contact your local upholsterer to take care of that part for you.”
✓ Water
✓ Baking soda
✓ White vinegar
✓ Mood board
✓ Oven cleaner
✓ Putty knife
✓ wire brush
✓ Wire pad
✓ Radio pliers
✓ Pin
✓ paint brush
✓ 120 grit sandpaper
✓ green velvet
✓ Tread (optional)
✓ Fabric scissors
✓ Staple gun
✓ Fabric adhesive
✓ Cushion
✓ Danish oil
✓ Beeswax
As for whether to paint, stain, or oil the piece, she says, She “sometimes paints on wood to create colorful accent pieces, but sometimes I feel it's sacrilegious to hide beautiful pieces made from expensive wood,” Garbutt said. To tell. “It also depends on current home decor trends. For this project, we preferred to leave the natural look of the wood intact rather than varnish it.”
She said she chose this fabric because when it was released in a floral line, she “fell in love with the color combination of green and persimmon.” “This project started with a color palette,” she added.
quality matters
Choose the fabric you use carefully. “Some fabrics aren't made for upholstery and won't last long,” Garbutt says. “Buy fabrics that are made for your purpose.”
She also adds that you should use a good paint or stain. “Big name paint brands may be a little more expensive, but the paint coat is long-lasting and (if applied correctly) won't fade or scratch easily,” Garbutt adds. “Using high-quality products will make your pieces more durable and luxurious, allowing them to stand the test of time.”
step by step
1. Wash the pieces using a little water, a little baking soda, and a little white vinegar.
2. Create a mood board, order sample fabrics and paint swatches, and test it on your own work to see what works.
3. Use oven cleaner to remove old varnish (or finish). (Less dirt and environmentally friendly.)
4. Use a putty knife or sandpaper to remove any remaining varnish from the furniture.
5. Wait until the chair is completely dry before applying Danish oil. Apply this twice. Let dry and then apply beeswax for maintenance and care.
6. Keep the original upholstery and cushions to use as templates for new pieces. Use the old fabric as a pattern and cut out the new fabric.
7. For cushion covers, use a staple gun and fabric glue. Pull the taught fabric and staple and glue it to the back of the cushion. You can also hire an upholsterer to do this step for you. If the cushion is worn, we recommend replacing it with a new one.
8. Once the chair is dry, put the cushion back on and the transformation is complete.
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