Asked on Oct 26, 2013

Paint or Restore?

Simple Joys
by Simple Joys
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Well, remember these cuties! WOW, what a journey!!! I initially planned to restore the chairs, but the actual frame of the chairs needed repair that would have been distracting if I re-stained them. :-(. The actual slats for the seats were GORGEOUS!!! So, this is what I ended up doing with them . Showcased the seat area in a beautiful rich stain and and ASCP on the frames. I did not distress the paint. I wanted them to sparkle!! Made some really cute little pillows for the for a little splash of color and charm ( not matchy-matchy) 'cause I like unique pillows. So guys... Whatcha think??? These are at their new home our "little shop of fun for purchase."
paint or restore, painted furniture, repurposing upcycling, My next redemption from the dumpster project
My next "redemption from the dumpster" project!
paint or restore, painted furniture, repurposing upcycling
paint or restore, painted furniture, repurposing upcycling
paint or restore, painted furniture, repurposing upcycling
  113 answers
  • Janet Smith Janet Smith on Oct 26, 2013
    You could definitely sand and re-stain them and then give them a couple of coats of polyurethane, but I love the idea of painting these chairs black and then "distressing" them a bit with sandpaper and then giving them a coat or two of matt polyurethane. They'd be pretty on a front porch.
  • Theresa J Theresa J on Oct 26, 2013
    If you don't intend to keep them, I would definitely restore them. Wood finishes fit most everywhere, but not all colors do.
  • The Garden Frog with C Renee The Garden Frog with C Renee on Oct 26, 2013
    What do you actually intend to do with them? If you are not going to keep them, then maybe use some chalk paint and paint them a fun color and donate them to a good cause?
  • Simple Joys Simple Joys on Oct 26, 2013
    @The Garden Frog with C Renee I plan to sell them. I have a small home biz either restoring, refurbishing or building custom furniture.
  • Mary Insana Mary Insana on Oct 26, 2013
    Since you do plan on selling them and keeping them their original wood look would probably bring you more $$ I would give then a very light sanding with a fine grit sand paper.Try a wood stain with a sealer included in the stain. I think that would be easiest and quickest to give it a natural wood redo in the quickest easiest way.
  • Sweet Peas Charm Sweet Peas Charm on Oct 27, 2013
    Paint!! :-)
  • Mary Mary on Oct 27, 2013
    Agree, if you are keeping them, paint them in a color you love. Yet, old restored wood can be so pretty.
  • Mella J Mella J on Oct 27, 2013
    Wish I'd have found them!
  • Les248667 Les248667 on Oct 27, 2013
    Could do the best of both.... Chalk paint & distress everything but the seat and then refinish the seats.
  • Stephanie Green Stephanie Green on Oct 27, 2013
    paint !!!!......red, black or white with a high gloss finish
  • Jo Branda Jo Branda on Oct 27, 2013
    Definitely paint - black and white checker board on the seats, stipes on the back rungs, lots of pretty colors.
  • The248672 The248672 on Oct 27, 2013
    restore!! I love the wood!!
  • Connie F Connie F on Oct 27, 2013
    I would restore them, that's beautiful wood.. I would KEEP them..
  • Peg Hurt Peg Hurt on Oct 27, 2013
    I would stain them and us tung oil in a high gloss finish. I love working with tung oil versus varnish. They are more resistant to water damage with tung oil.
  • Sherry Stives Fry Sherry Stives Fry on Oct 27, 2013
    Stain them! You so lucky to find such chairs. I had found 2 chairs like this at a second hand store yrs ago. I painted them and used them on my screened in porch. They were so comfy. I had to let them go when I got divorced, I couldn't keep EVERYTHING.
  • Robertson hvac Robertson hvac on Oct 27, 2013
    If they are in really good shape I would restore them. Don't paint unless they have imperfections that can't be fixed without filler. Would love to see your finished project! I would love to have something like that too!!
  • Mary Mary on Oct 27, 2013
    I have an oak rocking chair that looks exactly like that chair, it is finished with an Oak stain.
  • Robertson hvac Robertson hvac on Oct 27, 2013
    Just a little confused as to how another's name was posted on my post. Will have to check that out!!
  • Barbara Barbara on Oct 27, 2013
    Restore them seeings as you plan on selling them.
  • John Wood John Wood on Oct 27, 2013
    Re-store them then u will get a better price at sale time painting them makes them worth less
  • Karen B Karen B on Oct 27, 2013
    Oh, I love them the way they are. What a find! If they were mine, I'd keep them as is for a few years and then eventually paint them a pretty pastel color and use them in the garden. Since you have no room for them inside, if they're in great shape, Peg's idea sounds good. Stain them and sell them...whatever you do, I'm sure you'll enjoy working with them.
  • Kate N Kate N on Oct 27, 2013
    Please just Restore.
  • Melodee Melodee on Oct 27, 2013
    If they are in good shape restore if they are rough and need patching in spots paint
  • Donna C Donna C on Oct 27, 2013
    Restore - distressed look
  • Betty Koutsos Betty Koutsos on Oct 27, 2013
    My husband has gotten 8 chairs from the dump, restored a few and painted the rest high gloss white.
  • Laurie Anderson Laurie Anderson on Oct 27, 2013
    I love the painted stuff going on now but really would like to see these restored. Just my opinion.
  • Robyn Cave Robyn Cave on Oct 27, 2013
    paint
  • Carol McCallops Gutierrez Carol McCallops Gutierrez on Oct 27, 2013
    RESTORE. Don't paint.
  • Yolanda D Yolanda D on Oct 27, 2013
    restore! painting it will only take away it's character.
  • Allen Perry Allen Perry on Oct 27, 2013
    Personally, if the chair(s) are in good condition, I would restore and keep that beautiful wood showing through, stain or clear coat, but NO paint, Please.... :)
  • Carolyn Jagielski Carolyn Jagielski on Oct 27, 2013
    Restore and stencil on the back slats
  • Lorraine V Lorraine V on Oct 27, 2013
    go for oak stain and a home made cushion. looking forward to seeing the finished product!
  • Lynne H Lynne H on Oct 27, 2013
    Definitely restore!
  • Linda Skinner Linda Skinner on Oct 27, 2013
    Restore
  • Cathy Lothamer Cathy Lothamer on Oct 27, 2013
    Definitely restore, these are in too good of shape to paint!
  • Diana Sue Mendez-Lucio Diana Sue Mendez-Lucio on Oct 27, 2013
    keep it simple
  • Skeeter Jorgensen Skeeter Jorgensen on Oct 27, 2013
    restore
  • Peggy Pfahler Peggy Pfahler on Oct 27, 2013
    restore
  • Norma Jean Norma Jean on Oct 27, 2013
    Either would be lovely! There will be someone who is looking for them either way.
  • Carol Melton Carol Melton on Oct 27, 2013
    restore them
  • Nancy Dionne Nancy Dionne on Oct 27, 2013
    Restore the natural beauty they are. Meant to be
  • Maxine Thomas Maxine Thomas on Oct 27, 2013
    restore for sure
  • Laura Van Asperen-Hogan Laura Van Asperen-Hogan on Oct 27, 2013
    restore please they are beautiful
  • Ginger Thoms Ginger Thoms on Oct 27, 2013
    Restore! They would be beautiful on a sitting porch :)
  • Alma Williams Alma Williams on Oct 27, 2013
    I agree with everyone else: Restore! I don't think I'd even use stain. There's a patina there that can probably be brought back with a simple cleaning and a good wood wax. Lovely find!
  • Linda Linda on Oct 27, 2013
    restore, maybe even with mineral oil!
  • Mary C Mary C on Oct 27, 2013
    no paint!! they are genuine the way they are!!
  • Beverly Farkus Beverly Farkus on Oct 27, 2013
    how do y'all keep finding such great items in the trash? We aren't allowed to take from our landfill- and doesn't seem like anyone throws stuff on their curb in our area....maybe I need to start driving through neighborhoods.
  • Anne gaddis Anne gaddis on Oct 27, 2013
    ck the free stuff on craigs list.
  • Ruthann Cook Ruthann Cook on Oct 27, 2013
    Definitely Restore them! I have a couple of those chairs that we came across headed for the trash too! Love finds like that :)
  • Barbara R Barbara R on Oct 27, 2013
    This is exactly like the little rocking chair I had as child...made in the 1940s (so was I lol). If you can keep the grain showing, nice, if you can't, nice too!
  • Lynn H Lynn H on Oct 27, 2013
    restore
  • Sondra A Sondra A on Oct 27, 2013
    Either way would be good, but I would prefer restored. I love wood and natural grain.
  • Swi246942 Swi246942 on Oct 27, 2013
    I say "restore"
  • Kip248730 Kip248730 on Oct 27, 2013
    It depends upon how much time you have. Restoring will take 40 times longer than painting. Either way they will be really nice.
  • Ruth Guenzler Ruth Guenzler on Oct 27, 2013
    I would not paint them, then you lose the patina of age which is part of their charm
  • Carmen Carmen on Oct 27, 2013
    Love those chairs.....just paint.
  • Rhonda Vigus Rhonda Vigus on Oct 27, 2013
    I would restore and refinish just the seats and paint the rest.
  • Judy Hooker Judy Hooker on Oct 27, 2013
    Stain the seat paint the rest
  • Dorene H Dorene H on Oct 27, 2013
    Restore them .. Nice chairs
  • Nancy M Nancy M on Oct 27, 2013
    Suggest you restore them as they are beautiful. Painting would make too modern---if someone wants to paint them, OK and fine. But it is their decision.
  • Kathleen Turner Kathleen Turner on Oct 27, 2013
    everyone says restore.... but I see them white & pink in a little girl's room (maybe because I have 7 granddaughters & 1 great-granddaughter?) My grandsons would be too rough for them.....
  • Sandra Lankford Sandra Lankford on Oct 27, 2013
    Refinish them with a nice stain and you can always sale or give to someone who will appreciates them
  • SANDRA BRYANT SANDRA BRYANT on Oct 27, 2013
    Have four of these, I decided to paint them a bright blue, love them!!
  • Debra Debra on Oct 27, 2013
    Restore....don't cover up the history
  • Joyce Schittone-Ehlich Joyce Schittone-Ehlich on Oct 27, 2013
    Paint them a high gloss wild paint!
  • Kristi Kelley Kristi Kelley on Oct 27, 2013
    Restore
  • Judy V Judy V on Oct 27, 2013
    Do whatever your first thought was, that is usually what you want and are sorry if you don't do. Refinished beautiful....painted, fresh and fun. Either way they will be lovely.
  • Cynthia E Cynthia E on Oct 27, 2013
    Whichever was your first thought when you saw is 1 you will be most happy with!
  • Tina Wallace Tina Wallace on Oct 27, 2013
    RESTORE!
  • Joy Joy on Oct 27, 2013
    Kris I would love to have them as is. I live in Louisville, Ky. How far ru from me. I will be glad to come and get them...
    • Simple Joys Simple Joys on Oct 28, 2013
      @Joy Funny story. Someone saw my post on my little biz page and is planning on purchasing. My gut told me to paint...and stain/restore. Went along with another poster here and will be painting frame,and refinishing the seat.
  • Andrea S Andrea S on Oct 27, 2013
    paint the seat, stain the frame.
  • Shary M Shary M on Oct 27, 2013
    paint them a chrome like finish. Curved bottom metal.
  • Jean C Andrews Jean C Andrews on Oct 27, 2013
    Probably if you paint them, it will lose its value.
  • Dennie S Dennie S on Oct 27, 2013
    Beautiful chairs, what year were they made?
  • Wendy Brown Wendy Brown on Oct 27, 2013
    restore
  • Jean DeSardi Jean DeSardi on Oct 27, 2013
    I can't tell you to restore or paint. I can tell you that I would use a red color stain to restore and give a wonderful luster to the grain.
  • Wanda A Wanda A on Oct 27, 2013
    yeah I think I would restore them too.. nice looking chairs..
  • Anita Pillai Anita Pillai on Oct 28, 2013
    restore!
  • April April on Oct 28, 2013
    Perhaps light cleaning and restoring? I agree with preserving the history of it. But whatever is decided, keep us posted, as it looks like a fun vintage find! Thanks for sharing! :)
  • Terre Moreno Terre Moreno on Oct 28, 2013
    restore. great chairs. good find.
  • Donna Hathaway Donna Hathaway on Oct 28, 2013
    I would restore!!
  • White Oak Studio Designs White Oak Studio Designs on Oct 28, 2013
    Oh, you lucky duck you! I think they look dried out but will revive nicely. I might try a coat of Howard.s Weed and Feed Conditioner or Miss Mustards Seeds Hemp Seed Oil. I bet that would brighten and enliven them right up. Then determine if the wood makes you happy as is and if it does, wax them natural! I have a feeling they will just be beautiful with just that light touch!
  • Patricia Mcivor Patricia Mcivor on Oct 28, 2013
    Restore
  • Angelia Christenson Angelia Christenson on Oct 28, 2013
    id sand and use a satin varnish and leave them as is provided all the slats are in good shape and not coming apart from the bottom frrame. Once they start coming loose they will drive ya nuts with little nails snagging your clothes or poking you. It looks like they may have been painted at one time and stripped but id leave the rustic look myself. I need exactly TWO chairs cause i only have that little "booth style" kitchen table and my chairs have completely had it...oh well.
  • Jennie Brinker Jennie Brinker on Oct 28, 2013
    I would restore to their natural beauty and coat with polyurethane to help keep them that way.
  • Terri Terri on Oct 28, 2013
    Paint and antique it....Love it!!
  • Greedith B Greedith B on Oct 28, 2013
    Depends on what you have done with the rest of your decor. You can do a bit of both. Paint the back and legs and redo the bottom to bring out it's natural beauty. But whatever you choose to do, do whatever you LOVE!
  • Christine Christine on Oct 28, 2013
    I'd wash them first with Murphy's Oil Soap. It's amazing what dirt runs off when you use this stuff. Plus, it reconditions the wood some and at least you can see what you've got. These are lovely & that would be my first step. Even before attacking the wood with sand paper. You can always paint them later. Oh - and I don't care for polyurathane because it yellows. I'm guessing they're indoor chairs, so I'd use polyacrylic, since it DOESN'T yellow!
  • Cindybel Cindybel on Oct 28, 2013
    I would stain the seat to bring out the lovely wood grain,and paint the rest to bring out the detail,light color than maybe a antique wax.Great find!!
  • Shelby Hansen Shelby Hansen on Oct 28, 2013
    restore
  • Barbara Ann Barbara Ann on Oct 28, 2013
    My choice would be to * Restore * Let us know what you have decided plz...:)
  • KELLY TAYLOR KELLY TAYLOR on Oct 28, 2013
    I think it depends on your home style. I have an amazing windsor chair I found in the dumpster and still haven't decided what to do with it. Right now, it still looks amazing and somewhat shiny, so for now, it's natural wood. You can always 'restore' them for now and 'paint' at a later date. Either way, they're dry so they need SOME TLC. A couple chair cushions will add a pop of color (did I actually just use that term? Next I'll be calling rooms "space", another annoying term I REFUSE to use. It's a "room" or an "area"...space is not in my vocab. Same with 'artisan'....OOOOOOOOOH I HATE that word. Waiting for 'artisan tampons' to hit the market!!!! )
  • Patricia Patricia on Oct 28, 2013
    Restore, for sure. I have a "thing" for old chairs and there's a growing army of them down in the cellar, waiting for TLC to bring them back to life. I've used a restore product in a metal can on some really dried out looking ones and they turned out just gorgeous--you just wipe it on (outside--fumes!) with fine steel wool, let it sink in, then wipe off the excess with a soft cloth. It preserves all the nice distressing and nicks and dings collect more and stay darker.
  • Max Schau Max Schau on Oct 28, 2013
    Restoring for sure. Repainting them will probably change their unique vintage style entirely... That's my opinion, though! I am a big vintage fan :)
  • Linda G Linda G on Oct 28, 2013
    Restore.
  • La June Moreland La June Moreland on Oct 28, 2013
    RESTORE!
  • Elizabeth S Elizabeth S on Oct 28, 2013
    restore them
  • Mary Blatnik-Smith Mary Blatnik-Smith on Oct 28, 2013
    Nobody messed them up with paint yet, the wood is beautiful, restoration is a must!!
  • Margaret Dillard Margaret Dillard on Oct 28, 2013
    I disagree with most of the responses. I would paint them a warm red and wax with a dark wax to tone down the red. I've seen this finish recently on a slatted bench and it was so rich.
  • TJ TJ on Oct 29, 2013
    some people will always restore wood, others always want to paint wood (especially white). I vote on the side of clean and then oil to see what they look like. It also depends on where you sell them -- you probably know which is preferred.
  • White Oak Studio Designs White Oak Studio Designs on Oct 29, 2013
    PLEASE be sure to repost pictures with the completed project when you are done!!
    • Simple Joys Simple Joys on Oct 29, 2013
      @White Oak Studio Designs , sure will. This restore/restyle has turned into a fun project. Making a small accent table to match the chairs. This has the makings of a delightful addition to a home.
  • Phyl Schenk Phyl Schenk on Oct 29, 2013
    How I would love these. Absolutely devine.
  • Linda Linda on Oct 29, 2013
    Restore nice wood. Paint crappy looking wood. I'd say they are a good candidate for restoring.
  • Vintage Restorations.....Formerly Closet Furniture Vintage Restorations.....Formerly Closet Furniture on Oct 31, 2013
    Restore for sure....Look at that grain ! I would clean up and rub with "natural" minwax oil based stain to make the grain pop and rub with Tung oil then buff
  • Simple Joys Simple Joys on Jan 03, 2014
    Hi All, My little beauties are done! I love them! What a fun restoration project!!
  • Mary Mary on Jan 04, 2014
    They are little beauties, love how some of the wood still gleams.
  • Pam Pam on Jan 04, 2014
    Love Love
  • Carrie Carrie on Jan 04, 2014
    Although I adore painted furniture- I'd have to say, I'd restore this chair.
  • Simple Joys Simple Joys on Jan 04, 2014
    @Carrie , that was also my hope. But the chair frame itself needed repairs and would not have been restained/grained as perfectly as I would have liked. It is all about compromise sometimes. ;-) Thanks!!
  • Patricia Mcivor Patricia Mcivor on Jan 06, 2014
    The thing I also love are your cushions. I have exactly that lace which was a table cloth. My daughter cut them and put in tapestry rings. They look fantastic on the wall. She used about four different sizes. Sorry. I know we are supposed to be commenting about the chairs which I think are beautiful, but we Australians have this habit of getting sidetracked.
  • Sondra A Sondra A on Jan 08, 2014
    Very nicely done. This should keep both sides happy with partial stain and partial painted. lol.
  • Sharon Eathel Cotten Sharon Eathel Cotten on Oct 07, 2014
    Love it and I am not a fan of paint. Pretty
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