April 12, 2016

New Dining Room Chairs

There's something so romantic to me about big solid dining room tables. I always imagine families and friends gathered there for hours, after the children have run off to play, enjoying wine by candlelight and sharing stories and laughter. Our family is in the growing stage; husbands, grandchildren, girl friends, etc. When we're all together for holidays and family dinners, there's twelve of us now.

Our upholstered dining room chairs are one of the few things we purchased new. We bought six of them a few years ago and within no time, we didn't have enough. So when I spotted these six cane-back chairs on Craig's list for $125, I was thrilled. And it doesn't hurt that they are very French Country.

They echo the lines of our china cabinet and even the mirror that I recently put across the room, which I will share soon.

The lovely couple that was selling them live about an hour away and when I showed up at their house, they were so kind. The husband insisted on putting every chair in the back of my vehicle for me and the sweet wife and I shared our faith in Christ.

She told me that the chairs had belonged to her mother and were about sixty years old.  They are so well made and sturdy and were in almost perfect condition. I was so happy that when I brought them home that the height and scale of these chairs worked so well with our existing chairs.

I painted them with chalk paint. I have two paint colors that I mixed several months ago for our furniture. After I mixed them to get the color I want, I took them to Lowe's and had them match them. I add chalk paint additive to them that I purchased through Amazon. It's a lot cheaper this way and means I have chalk paint in whatever color I want, when I want it.

I first put a coat of the darker shade on them and then brushed the lighter shade over that here and there, to get an uneven finish.  Then I lightly sanded them and added a coat of chalk paint wax that I purchased at Lowe's.  I recovered the chair pads in drop cloths, since we have little grandchildren.

I'm using our old dining room chairs at the head and foot of the table and now there's room for all six of the new chairs on the sides. I usually have slipcovers on these chairs but I took them off for these photos. I'm thinking about making some new ones.

I put the rest of our old chairs around the game table in the basement and it's easy to bring up any extras when we need them for big dinners.

My husband built our dining room table a few years ago. To our family, it's a treasure. He signed the bottom and dated it. Someday, I imagine it will be a family heirloom.

I got these two ginger jars at HomeGoods a few weeks ago.

I just never seem to get tired of blue and white.

You may have noticed that the shutters and wood finish seem lighter. They are! And I've got lots more changes coming up! Don't ya just love paint!

love and blessings~
"Behold, I will set your stones in turquoise, and your foundations I will lay in sapphires. I will make your summits of rubies and your gates of crystal, and your entire wall of precious stones."
Isaiah 54:11,12

Sources:
New dining room chairs - second hand
Dining room table - my husband made it
Dining room chairs at head and foot - Ebay
China cabinet - second hand
Blue and white - HomeGoods and HobbyLobby
Large white vase - Joss&Main
French sign - Joss&Main

40 comments:

  1. Those are wonderful!! What a great find, and they are so perfect with what you already had. Gorgeous room:-)

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  2. Hi Lynda! Your chairs turned out so pretty. They look wonderful with the rest of your furnishings! Love your pretty blue and white pieces too! I need some of those.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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    1. Thank you, Shelia! Blue and white seems like it's making a come-back. I find a lot of pieces at HomeGoods and HobbyLobby.

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  3. Lynda,
    What an amazing transformation on your Dining Room chairs, dear friend!
    "I do" l o v e paint!
    The lighter hue of your "Chalk" Paint gives the chair renewed elegance!
    Love the drop cloth covers!
    Thank you for sharing how your "Craig's List" chairs complement your gorgeous Dining Room!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  4. Your new chairs are perfect! I don't think you could have bought a new set that looks this good!

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    1. Thank you, Tammy! I agree! Thanks for visiting and commenting. :)

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  5. You have a beautiful dining room, and I love how large it is for your whole family to gather. What a steal on the chairs...lovely transformation. Thank you so much for your sweet visit.
    Mary Alice

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    1. Thank you, Mary Alice! I love a formal dining room and we don't have one but we're blessed to have such a large space. Thanks so much for visiting and commenting!

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  6. Oh my!!
    I love the table your husband made....that is amazing!! And the chairs! You did a great job with them....they are delightful....
    Our family is doing the same thing and we had to buy chairs as well....funny, I never thought about the family growing until one Thanksgiving and I didn't have enough chairs!
    It looks wonderful.....
    Nancy
    wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you, Nancy! You think things get quieter when you become empty nesters and instead, you actually get more people! We are loving it and now I don't have to worry where everyone will sit! Thanks for visiting!

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  7. Boy what a steal! Don't you just love it when you can find what you want for a great price? They look so beautiful all painted and are perfect in your space. I know you are thrilled!

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    1. Thank you, Lisa! Yes, I got a great deal and love the chairs! Thanks for visiting and commenting!

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  8. Lynda,
    What a great transformation on the chairs! Thanks for the link to that chalk paint additive! I'm going to give that a try. I adore chalk paint but my budget doesn't!

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    1. Thank you, Deanna! I was so glad to find the chalk additive and it has saved me lots of money. Some of my paints I have premixed and keep in jars. They will thicken up over time and I just add more water. But the nice thing is you can match your home colors exactly!

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  9. Lynda- you continue to wow us each week.
    Plus I need those ginger jars!
    I love the changes you made.
    I need a new dining table and chairs.
    Thank you for joining Thoughts of Home on Thursday. We are so glad you are here!

    Laura
    White Spray Paint

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    1. Aw thanks, Laura! I hope you find a great deal on a table and chairs! They're certainly out there - especially if you like French Country. Have a wonderful weekend!

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  10. Wonderful job!!! It is amazing how some paint can give something a completely new look. I must say you have a talent in applying it too. Looks great on a great find! I also love, love, love that table it really is gorgeous! The ginger jars were a nice find too ;)
    Blessings, Candy

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    1. Thanks so much, Candy! I am so happy to have the chairs. I got them right after Easter and could have really used them then. And I love how French they are!

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  11. Love this, looks amazing. Really like using drop cloth for recover. Perfect.

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  12. The dining room chairs are beautiful and yes, they go so well with the china cabinet. But I also like that the table is different, I love mix and match and the price tag on them is fabulous! Thank you so much for sharing at Sweet Inspiration #2! Have a lovely week!

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    1. Thank you, Katrin! I spent $100 on our china cabinet, $125 on our chairs and my husband and I made the table out of $125 worth of wood! Thanks for your kind comments!

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  13. Love the new chairs and how you transformed them. I will be featuring this tonight at my Swing into Spring party. Please stop by and pick up an I've Been Featured button. Thanks. http://diybydesign.blogspot.com

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  14. Réally a beautiful dinning room, love the backdrop in the China hutch with it being French Bleu.
    Love the tressle planked style farmhouse look to the table formalized with beautiful chairs, adding the parson chairs at each end demands attention to all the dine details you have added.

    Beauty and Grace to you in your days ahead in all you inspire.
    Xx
    Blessings

    Dore

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  15. Beautiful! I love your dinning room! Stopping by via A Stroll Thru Life! ;)

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    1. Thanks so much! I saw you on Hometalk too! :)

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    2. Lynda, does your dining table have hinges on it to open up and double the size ?
      Many years ago, I had a small kitchen table that opened, slid on a track on the base and doubled. I loved that table.
      Myrna

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    3. No, it doesn't. My husband is thinking of adding a sliding metal piece under the table to add leaves on each end.

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  16. wow.nice chairs.I am looking for new design chairs for my dining table.really your chairs is fantastic.Thank you for sharing.

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  17. This a great post! I enjoyed reading it.

    I think this article could complement your post.

    Good luck with your future piece :)

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  18. I loved the way you created a soothing dining area for your home. Especially the blue and white combination. I always feel that dining is the most important part of the house for families because that is where most families spend time together.

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  19. So lovely dining room, thank you for this great post! I love it.

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