Save Grandma's chairs with a little creativity

Dear Sandi: When my grandmother passed away two years ago, my husband found four old oak and pine kitchen chairs in a back room. These do not match, and they all have some damage. I would like to do something fun with these, but I don’t think they are worthy of stripping and refinishing to look perfect. What do you think?
Laura V. Salem OR

Hi Laura: Those old chairs have such character. How lucky for you that your husband brought these home, rather than setting them out for the trash man! Although it is always wonderful when you can find these in a matched set, it is much more common to come across the two or three random chairs. And, since these were strictly utilitarian items, they usually were not given the same care and attention that the “good” furniture was, so often they will have broken or chipped places. Today, however, these old kitchen chairs are much prized, both for their endurance as well as their charm.

As you mentioned, you could go ahead and simply strip the old finish off, repair whatever needs repairing and then refinish the wood. If you are into restoration and original appearance, this is the best option. However, if as you say, you really don’t want to do that, and you are ok with changing the chair’s personality, then you can have some real fun with them.

First stop- the paint department. I am a paint chip collector. No, if the truth be told, I am an obsessive paint chip accumulator. You can never have too many paint chips. Some people like to stick to one or two designer brand collections, but I am also an equal opportunity paint chip collector and I love them all. So, either dig out the ones you have, or get yourself a great selection.

Now, take a look at your chairs. Really look at the different design elements in it. Most of those old kitchen fellows had interesting backs, maybe a patterned seat, or fancy turned spindles. What colors work in your kitchen? You could paint each chair a different color, or use all the colors on each chair. Try taping your chip choices to the various areas on your chairs. Maybe use the same color combinations but reverse where you use them on the different chairs.

Whether you're looking for handmade paper, furniture, fabric or accessories, you will find it at loose ends. If it is unusual, organic and fabulous, then loose ends is the place. Showroom hours are 8 am to 5 pm weekdays and the first Saturday of each month 10 am - 3pm at 2065 Madrona Ave. SE, Salem, or visit us online at www.looseends.com Questions? Give us a call at (503) 390-2348.

If you want to be a bit more adventuresome, consider “papering” your chairs. Here the design options are limited only by the papers and colors you choose to work with. Any relatively lightweight, patterned paper will work, but if you plan on “distressing” your paper though wrinkling and wadding, you will want to stay away from the color pattered papers that are printed on glossy white stock. The white “wrinkles” will be very obvious.

Let your chairs help dictate how you will decorate them some may have embossed or pressed patterns that you want to accent. You may want to leave the unpapered parts of the chair natural, or completely paint the chair first, using a variety of complimentary papers to accent the chair’s own character.

I like to work with a white glue/water mixture that we call “gluter”. About three parts of water soluble white glue is mixed with one part water, making something that has the consistency of pea soup. Depending on the effect you are going for, and the type of paper that you are working with, you can “distress” your paper first by lightly misting it with water, then wrinkling, wadding and twisting the paper to create lots of wrinkles and creases. Smooth the paper out with your hands, flattening the wrinkles as much as possible. Again, depending on your pattern, you can either tear the paper into small pieces (this works best with an overall pattern such as an animal skin, etc.), or work with one larger piece for a specific area. Small pieces can be dipped into the “gluter”, gently squeezed out, and applied directly to the chair surface. Larger pieces may be easier to work by painting the “gluter” onto the chair surface first, laying the paper piece over the area, then applying another coating of “gluter”.

Sandi Reinke is an author, frequent television guest and lead designer for loose ends (www.loosends.com), a Salem-based interior décor, garden, and casual lifestyle company. To ask Reinke a decorating question, e-mail info@looseends.com or mail her at the showroom address, 2065 Madrona Ave. SE, Salem, OR 97302. Phone: 503-390-2348.

A work of caution here – if you are working with handmade papers, as we often do, you will want to test your paper first by dipping a piece of it into your glue mixture. Many handmade papers are very fibrous and appear to be strong, yet will turn into “mush” very quickly in the mixture, reverting back to their pulp state. You can still work with these, applying the pulp to your chair surface, and often this will give you a very interesting texture.

Every chair will suggest different ideas to you and after you have done one or two of these you will be surprised at how you will begin to view these old kitchen work horses with a new eye. Last year we did a workshop with these chairs and it was absolutely amazing to see the many unique and individual creations everyone came up with.

I wish you happy hours with paint, glue, paper and grandma’s chairs!

April 16, 2004