Once upon a time (10 weeks ago to be exact) a young designer (that would be me) stumbled upon 3 vintage rattan chairs for a very good price. They had seen better days. They had a shabby-chic french faux finish and plastic floral seat cushions that would make Laura Ashley proud, but this girl knew they had potential.
She sent the one that was in the best condition off to her upholsterer to get a professional makeover. It came back lacquered red and recovered in Oscar de La Renta and now lives in Mr Boy’s bedroom.
The other two specimens, she decided to keep for her office. Being that her office makeover budget was very very tiny, the designer decided she could handle the DIY. Afterall, how hard is a little spray paint and cushion recovering?
Her first pivotal mistake? Spray painting the chairs without developing a design scheme. Before the tone was set, before the white zebra bench was recovered, before any solid color plan was adapted, this impatient, crazy designer spray painted her chairs lilac. Because lilac is “fun.”
Turns out lilac is also very similar to an easter egg. Design Fail number 1.
So then she thought long and hard about the colors that actually worked with her rug and her tile floors. Coral! Coral is “fun.” Picking the right coral was tough. Erin helped all the way from Texas. And the end result wasn’t bad. Peppy, fun and very “her.”
But then she found her chandelier. It’s so sophisticated and special that she really felt the whole room should be more muted. Less pops of color and more interest through shapes and textures and patterns. Less “fun” and more edited. So she painted one of her chairs the 3rd time.
And this is where I have run out of steam. The mint is too bright. It’s needs to be grayed out with a stain to look just right against the upholstery. The second chair is still coral. So I have one mint chair and one coral chair. Due to my impatient, rushed, half-assed nature, there are brush strokes, drip lines, and 3 colors showing through on various nooks and crannies. These poor little chairs are butchered.
So what is the moral of this story?
Designers are crazy when working on their own rooms. Always fully develop your plan before reaching for that can of spray paint. Professionals are better at refinishing furniture than you are. Instagram makes any crappy makeover look better.
The End.
Happy Friday, y’all!
