To find such a beautiful old rocking chair at a local garage sale was such a delight! As it has been something on my list of furniture pieces that I have always wanted to restore and give a new lease on life! As you can see she desperately needed some TLC so I decided to give her a Vintage Rocking Chair Updo!
Vintage Rocking Chair Updo
I checked all of the screws and replaced the ones that needed to be replaced and gave the ones that didn’t a tighten up to make her all nice and sturdy again.
I then popped the cushion inserts out and then began to give her a nice fresh coat of my Milk Coloured chalk paint. As the wood was quite porous she needed 4 coats in total. I then had a date with my sander and rubbed back to the wood in some areas to give it a nice distressed look.
She was beginning to come to life once again!
To finish off the frame I gave it a coat of natural wax to seal.
It was a couple of weeks after I began this restoration that I found the perfect material that I wanted to cover the very sad looking cushion inserts. In real life its a little more on the pinkish side than red as seen in the photos. I just LOVE this fabric!!
The actual wooden inserts themselves were in really good nick so there was no need to make new ones, which was an added bonus!!
I cut out around the inserts ensuring that to leave enough material to be able to fold over the sides and go 2cm in from the edge on the back. Making sure to do the same for the backing. I used calico and made sure that I left enough to tuck under and leave a nice clean edge.
Using my stable gun I firstly secured the front patterned fabric and then neatly applied the calico to the back.
The cushion inserts then popped back into their frame and she’s all ready to grace us with her beauty again!!!
It’s freezing here at the moment here in the Blue Mountains. But doesn’t she look all snugly and rocking her new Vintage Rocking Chair Updo!!!
16 comments
Wow, what a transformation. I love the light wood and the cheery fabric you chose. Much better! Thanks so much for sharing your makeover at Vintage Inspiration Party.
Thank you Betsy for your sweet words!
You rocked this rocker!! Love the fresh feel you gave it and that upholstery is perfect. I'm featuring your prodigal piece tomorrow. 😉
Thank you Larissa for the wonderful opportunity! Proud as punch that you find it featurable! 🙂
Oh Sam, that Rocking Chair!!! It is so happy in it’s new duds and make-up…so very cheery! Well done my friend.
Hahaha!! Love your description, Lynne!! Made me giggle!! Thank you!
I love the fabric you chose! It’s so bright and inviting. You did an amazing job on this rocker, Sam. Wowzers
Ahhh, thank you so very much, Carolann!!
What a gorgeous chair, such a great find. I love the fabric you chose to recover the seat and back.
Thank you, Sarah! I was super happy with the outcome!
Love how you brought this rocking chair to life so beautifully! I love the white paint job! Can you come over and help me on some projects?!!!
I would love to come on over and help!! Don’t think we would get a lot of painting done though LOL! To much chatting!!!
sam, i love this!! that fabric is so pretty!!
Thank you, Yuni!
Wow, great job Sam! Love the white paint on the rocking chair!
Thank you, Tara! 🙂