oh captain, my captain's...chair.

On a mission to find a dining room table, I also stumbled across a vintage office chair. Every home needs an office, and that is exactly where I planned to put this solid fixture. It would help me navigate my new role as CFO of the Kuipers family complete with the original wheels and spinny seat.{Yes, Brett and I have decided that I will do the bills and budget together, but I am the executor.}

Most people when looking at this chair would see the disheveled mess that it was. Chipped blue paint, tilted seat, loose legs and rotting leather upholstery. My eyes beamed when they saw the potential and then birds practically sang when I saw the price tag. This item was marked down to $30 from $75! How many times do you find a solid wood office chair for under $50...with wheels; you don't.

Since the table took up all the space in the back of the truck, I had the opportunity to showcase the real power of how much stuff my clown car could really fit. As I opened the trunk to my VW Beetle, I heard snickers from the ladies walking in the store. They stopped in their tracks, and I made believers out of them as I perfectly fit a large wooden office chair on wheels in my trunk.

This chair was an opportunity to learn two new skills: chalk paint and upholstery replacement with studded upholstery nails. I have replaced many a simple dining room chair seat with a staple gun, but this decorative edge was new to me. Challenge accepted.

before - look at all those rusty nails

before - check out that lean! 

Step 1:

• Photograph the chair and upholstery so I remembered how it all went back together
• Reinforce base legs with longer screws since the shorter screws had stripped where it entered the base

some of those nails were a fight to pry out

Step 2:

• Remove decaying leather by removing upholstery studs {used a flat head screw driver and pliers}, taking careful note of how it was put together
• Saved the original batting to be used again since it wasn't in bad shape
• Saved the original leather pieces to use as patterns for cutting the new fabric

laying out the batting and old leather 

after taking off the batting - supports and edge for securing fabric

Step 3: 

• Paint first coat of American Paint Company's 'Smoke Signal' with a fine angled brush
• Let dry for 2 hours
• Paint second coat and let dry over night
• *Note: I have never used chalk paint before, but you actually don't need to let anything dry for more than 30 minutes...I just ran out of time to finish that night.

the first coat

legs still drying

side view

Step 4:

• Before waxing, I decided to antique the paint and sanded the edges to reveal the woods and also a little bit of blue underneath; you can do this with just a wet rag with the chalk paint too - but I wanted to expose a little more of the wood!
• Brush on American Paint Company's 'Clear Wax' with a round wax brush
• Buff the wax with a lint free cloth after it dried for 2 hours 

Step 5: 

• Cut fabric using the old upholstery as a pattern and allow 5/8" extra, be mindful to line up the pattern square and centered to the print on the fabric
• Place the batting and staple in place if necessary using a staple gun
• *Note: Ironing your fabric before you cut is helpful to create a smooth look

Step 6: 

• Place the first piece {I started with the back} and begin folding the edges of the fabric under {a flat head screwdriver was helpful for this} using the warmth of my hands to create a nice crease
• Secure the center the fabric at the top with a studded upholstery nail
• Pull down and fold the bottom edge under, secure with upholstery nail
• Conduct the same for the center of the fabric on the left and the right to create a 't' shape; watch where your fabric print lines up
• Work from the center of each side to fold under the fabric and secure with an upholstery nail
• I used a folded and taped piece of card-stock to help me space the nails evenly

nearly finished with the front and nailing

Step 7: 

• Complete securing each edge, hammer yourself in the finger multiple times for good measure
• Flip the chair over to the front and complete Step 6 all over again
• Garnish with nautical pillows and wah-la! a chair fit for the captain

Finished Product: