This month’s furniture makeover theme is Farmhouse and I hope that this old high chair that I recently restored with a Toscana finish qualifies as Farmhouse Style! What do you think???
It looks farmhouse style to me!
It’s hard to believe it’s the same high chair. This old high chair has been sitting in my basement for years. It has been around a long, long time. In fact, it was my high chair as a child. It started out as my oldest brother’s high chair and was handed down to all six of us. My brother is now 65 – does that means that this high chair is an antique??? I feel old. ; )
After all six of us used this high chair, my parents saved it. And then the next generation used it: all eight of my nieces and my three kids. Now it’s being used by the third generation (my grandchildren)! I wonder if it can hold up to another round!
Besides being worn, shabby, and dusty, this sad, old high chair was missing a rung on the side, the foot rest thingy, and a tray. I found a site that sells antique (there’s that word again!) high chair trays and hardware replacements.
The missing rung on the side was easily replaced with a piece of dowel rod.
It looked like the rung had snapped off at the hole, but by using a spade bit, I was able to easily clean out the hole to make room for a new dowel rod.
Good as new!
Once all of the minor repairs were made, I brushed on two coats of Amy Howard at Home One Step Paint. The color I used is called Linen. It’s the same paint that I used on my granddaughter’s armoire and I also used it on the basket that I limed and antiqued.
Looking way better already!
Once the coats of One Step Paint were dry, I mixed up a batch of Amy Howard at Home Toscana Milk Paint in Noir.
I used this old immersion-style blender to mix up milk paints. It works really well to dissolve the powder in the water and leaves no lumps. I never have to strain the paint when I use this blender.
After one coat of the Amy Howard at Home Toscana Milk Paint.
It looks a little scary after the milk paint had been applied. But I kept the faith that this would all work out! Some times things have to look worse before they look better – at least that’s what I’ve found to be true when refinishing furniture! Plus I was lucky enough to spend some time down in Memphis with Amy Howard at her workshop learning all sorts of fabulous finishes – so I knew it would end up beautiful in the end!
Now it’s time for the magic!
I guess I should say magic potion, ha! It’s Amy Howard at Home Antiquing Glaze. After the milk paint has thoroughly dried, I wet a natural sea sponge in water and wrung it out.
Next I dipped the sponge in the antiquing glaze and saturated the chair (small sections at a time).
The antiquing glaze works by softening the milk paint layer over the One Step Paint layer. Once that top layer of milk paint was softened, I was able to “lift” off small amounts of the milk paint by dabbing the surface with the sea sponge. (I rinsed and wrung out sea sponge frequently between “lifting”). I did this all over the chair until I got the look that I wanted. (I chose to remove about 95% of the chalk paint).
You can see in the image above that the remaining Noir milk paint has settled into the grooves and cracks leaving this beautiful Toscana finish.
How much of the milk paint layer removed is up to each painter. You may have restored this same piece and got a totally different look by using different colors, and removing more or less of the milk paint layer. That’s what I love about using Amy Howard at Home products. There’s no wrong way! Every piece comes out looking different and beautiful. Just like an antique piece should look!
I finished up by applying a coat of Amy Howard At Home Light Antiquing Wax.
Please click on the photos below to see more Farmhouse Furniture Makeovers from some of my talented blogging friends:
Linking up here and also at Wow Us Wednesdays
Love how this vintage high chair has been in your family for three generations, Jeanie. I was on the hunt for one of these for over a year for my grandson and never did find one. I love how you gave it a some farmhouse goodness. I still haven’t tried Amy Howard’s products but this definitely has me wanting to make that a priority.
How beautiful Jeanie! What a treasure to pass down through the family.
Jeanine,
I habe two generations of highchairs with no one to use them. Yet! You have inspired me to create usable heirlooms for our family. Gorgeous!
Happy Creating,
Karen Marie
What a neat treasure to have in your family! The high chair is so pretty but the cute sitting in it even more so!
What a sweet family treasure that you brought back to life. I haven’t tried this technique, but now I want to soon.
Gorgeous piece, and I love the history behind it!
Cute redo!! Love the Amy Howard finishes. In total love with the little mac and cheese faced farmgirl showing off her chair. XOXO
You did a marvelous job of giving this high chair a farmhouse makeover. Love seeing your little sweetie enjoying this piece.
The high chair that my dad had (he was born in 1940) is still being used in our family. My aunt has it and is now using it for her two grandchildren. I {heart} family pieces of furniture.
So happy you were able to revive a cherished family treasure! I am sure you will enjoy it for many many years to come!
I love that this sweet chair has served for three generations! You did it proud bringing it back to life!
Absolutely beautiful, Jeanie! Not only is the finish fantastic, but the memories that chair holds. It will be treasured for many more years to come!
I love this finish so much! It’s so light and pretty and seems simple to do. I’m sure this lovely high chair will serve many more generations of your family! 🙂
What a wonderful new facelift you’ve given a well loved family piece. That finish is gorgeous and I need to borrow your chair for some photo shoots! ;o)
Love this chair all over again. Thanks so much for sharing it with Friday’s Furniture Fix. We love having you here.
Wow two things on one day that I’ve had. Had chair just like this till a couple of years ago. It is gone now to sold at garage sale I think.
How does the table attach to the chair? I have an antique high chair I want to do up but I don’t like the current table or the way it is attached and I want to make a table that fits on like this one but that can be removed easily..
It totally got change and I like the new look of your chair, thanks for sharing the tips.
Love this chair too. The way you saved the chair is like thinking. I hope the next generation can use this chair.
Wow its really an amazing and useful article for all new moms who are searching for babies..
This wooden chair is looking so perfect for kids except of plastic chairs..
Thanks for sharing this article to us..
Hi Jeanie,
That is a spectacular transformation. You have given a whole new meaning to ‘restoration’. I really hope more people will get inspired by your article 🙂
So Amazing Jeanie! What a treasure to pass down through the family.
I Like!! Really appreciate you sharing this blog post.Really thank you! Keep writing.
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