Monday, August 19, 2013

Graphite Damask Chair Makeover

A black damask upholstered chair make over by Lilyfield Life

We had a pretty full on weekend with Sasha's Holy Communion and afternoon tea as well as lots of house cleaning and finishing sewing Sasha's dress. I also repainted our lounge room floor before I went to bed on Saturday night as it was looking very paint splattered and dirty. The new coat of bright white paint has certainly lifted the room. Nothing like packing it all into one weekend. I feel like I need a holiday now! At least I work from home, poor Phil did not feel like going to work today.

Here are some photos from the weekend - thank you for all the lovely comments on facebook and IG about my sweet girl and the dress I sewed for her. She is so composed and lovely - we are very proud of her.





I made my first ever sponge cake for the afternoon tea. I think I need to change recipes as it was a lovely cake but not very spongey but I do like how it looked. I will blog the method for creating the cream ruffles soon.

Ruffle sponge cake with passionfruit icing

Ruffle sponge cake with passionfruit icing

I also finished this little chair on the weekend. A few weeks ago I was at auction and this sweet (but very much worse for wear) upholstered chair came up and no one bid on it and the auctioneer turned in my direction and said "Fiona surely you can do something with this" so I bid on it and brought it home. 

A black damask upholstered chair make over by Lilyfield Life

I painted ripped off the old uphosltery that was original and tacked on with little nails that were very difficult to remove. I replaced the topping foam and then upholstered the chair with this beautiful fabric. One of my friends, Santo, is an amazing sewer and when he moved overseas he gave me a huge pile if beautiful fabrics. This is actually from a pair of brand new curtains. I won't use the curtains but thought it would make beautiful upholstery material.

A black damask upholstered chair make over by Lilyfield Life

A black damask upholstered chair make over by Lilyfield Life

For the trim (that covers the raw edges and staples) I just used the edge of the curtain to make a trim and glue gunned it on. I actually prefer matching fabric than gimp braid for this piece.

ASCP Graphite rubbed with wax

When I waxed the chair, I rubbed extra hard to distress the paint as I was rubbing the wax in. This gives a much softer look than using sand paper. It makes it look well worn rather than artificially distressed.

When every one had left yesterday, I wanted to fall into bed get some photos of the chair next to the Graphite dresser as the dresser was getting picked up later in the evening. I snapped these photos (and the colour is all off) but lucky I did as when the buyers came to get the dresser they asked to buy the chair as well. I think they look great together so that is a good outcome.

A black damask upholstered chair make over by Lilyfield Life

and I certainly was glad to kick off these shoes at the end of the day.

Fiona xx

A black damask upholstered chair make over by Lilyfield Life

27 comments:

  1. I love the photos beautiful and your daughters dress is stunning another talent that you have been keeping quiet with.Also loved the chair and my daughter wants the shoes-love dee x

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    1. the shoes are beautiful aren't they Dee, (tell your daughter that i bought them last year at Wittner). I don't know about any sewing talent - it was just plain hard work making that dress. Have a good week
      Fiona x

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  2. I love reading your blogs and also seeing the amazing job that you do. What sort of wax do you use?
    Heather

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    1. hi Heather, For this chair I used an orange oil based wax, Organoil Natural Wax and Polish. It's not what I would usually recommend for over chalk paint as it initially softens the paint before it hardens. But I wanted that for easy distressing with the rag. If you check out my tutorial page on the tabs above you will find a full blog post on what waxes and top coats I recommend.
      cheers Fiona

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  3. The dress, the cake, the chair, you, your daughter - all beautiful. I don't know how you fit it all in Fiona. I need a sit down and a cup of tea just reading all what you achieved this weekend. Take it easy today, love Beth.

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    1. Enjoy your tea, Beth. I'm a coffee drinker, maybe that's why I don't stop!
      thanks
      Fiona

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  4. i absolutely love the chair! and your daughter is beautiful- congrats to her! the cake looks awesome, even if you weren't please with its texture. i would have eaten it!

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  5. Beautiful chair dresser and daughter. I ve just ordered some graphite paint and am worried slightly about waxing a dark piece without leaving streaks

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    1. hi Denise - good luck with your painting. Graphite is a difficult colour to wax evenly I have to say - make sure you do very thin coats so get an even sheen. cheers Fiona

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  6. I love what you did with the chair! The fabric is a vast improvement. Very nice!

    Becky

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    1. yes it certainly in an improvement especially as the orange fabric wax so dirty it was stiff
      thanks

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  7. Hi Fiona, How lovely to see the photos of Sasha. She looks beautiful and I'm not surprised you and Phil are so proud of her. I think you "filled the brief" perfectly, she looked like just what she was, a lovely young girl making her first communion - not a mini bride. Congratulations Sasha on your special day. Those shoes were great too.
    Best wishes Brenda

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    1. hi Brenda - THANK YOU. that is exactly what I wanted - not mini bride. and thanks for sending me the photos - really appreciate that
      cheers Fiona

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  8. Amazing job Fiona! On all of it, chair wonderful dress and the sponge! Love the chair fabric! And you have my shoes!!!!😉💕

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    1. really? that's hilarious. love that we have the same shoes. and thanks for the lovely comment

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  9. Gorgeous chair, gorgeous girl, gorgeous dress...gorgeous lady!
    Ness xx

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  10. Fiona

    Your daughter looked beautiful in the dress you made. Clever you! I must say I am in love with the graphite re upholstered chair and the graphite dresser.

    Glad to see you are keeping busy...lol. Isn't it amazing how much you can pack into a week end when you have to.

    Have a super week.

    Hugs

    Karen

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    1. thanks Karen - yes graphite is a beautiful colour, I loved both pieces and am going to have to do more. I was a bit manic getting that all done but hopefully can ease off a little now. Have a lovely weeke also.
      cheers Fiona

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  11. Superwoman lives in Lillyfield and is beautiful with a gorgeous family. And wears fabulous shoes !!!

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  12. wow what a full on weekend you had Fiona, your daughter looked beautiful in her dress! I love that you just painted your floor before going to bed... as you do! ;) Have a great week, Jo x

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  13. You pack it all in don't you, lovely Fiona. It's so nice to see your big smile and beautiful family in the photos. I love the drawers, the chair and your daughters dress. Amazing to think you can make all these amazing things. I hope you have some down time this week
    Adele x

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  14. Beautiful Fiona! Love the colour, and the fabric is lovely. Love the effect of the fabric trim rather than the gimp braid.

    Glad your daughters communion went well, that cake looks yummy!

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  15. The chair looks great.. great choice of fabric and paint. Thanks Fiona for the inspiration and the lovely Holy Communion shots of your daughter. Congratulations! Such a mile stone.

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  16. Love that you are infamous enough for the auctioneer to tell you to take the chair! Looks beautiful :)

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Thanks for taking the time to comment! Sorry if you have trouble commenting, you can always email me at lilyfieldlife@bigpond.com