Let’s start the weekend early and play a drinking game. Get yourself some tequila (or your booze of choice), or OK, if you’re reading this first thing in the morning maybe it had better be coffee. Now, every time I say ‘deconstructed’, take a drink. We’re up to three already if you count the title and title photo.
As I’ve mentioned, since my furniture pieces aren’t exactly selling like hot cakes these days (and yes, I even still have that pair of mid mod end tables, go figure), I’m working on both smaller projects as well as projects for myself. Which brings me to today’s project.
I brought this chair home from the Mac-Grove garage sales back in 2018.
So, yeah, that was four years ago.
Good gracious, it’s about time I got around to it.
Anyway, I purchased it because I thought it would be a great candidate for creating the ‘deconstructed’ look. If you aren’t familiar with that look, go to pinterest and search for it. You’ll find lots of examples, like this one from lizmarieblog.com …
I know the deconstructed look isn’t for everyone, but I kind of love it.
Some deconstructed pieces are more functional than others. I don’t think anyone would want to sit on the example above from Liz Marie, but there are versions out there that are more suitable for actual use too.
First up, I removed the upholstery, which involved pulling about two million upholstery tacks. Then I removed the really thick foam that was on the seat and clearly was not original to the chair. That left me with this …
Of course I then removed that batting from the chair back, that may have been original but it was pretty gross.
Then I stood back and evaluated. I could replace the strapping on the chair back with new strapping. But … at that point, what would be left of the original chair? And would it have that deconstructed look that I love? I decided to leave the old strapping in place.
I also debated keeping the plywood support that was in place on the chair bottom, but I’m fairly sure that wasn’t original either. And I didn’t like the way that section at the front was half an inch higher than the rest of the seat. So I asked Ken to cut a new seat bottom for me from a piece of thick particle board.
We didn’t get fancy, and rather than notch out the seat to fit exactly, I asked Ken to just cut it to fit front to back. That means some raw edges are exposed, but again … it’s deconstructed.
Then I covered the new seat with batting followed by a piece of drop cloth that I had stenciled with the Albert Rouff 1842 stencil from ellen j goods.
I used Dixie Belle’s Gravel Road paint to do the stenciling, I wanted it to look a bit more faded than it would have using black paint.
For those of you who struggle to get a clean line when stenciling, try stenciling on drop cloth. It’s super easy and nearly fool-proof.
All of the exposed raw edges where the original upholstery was tacked into place just add to the deconstructed look.
Well, I think so anyway.
I also think the little wooden casters on the front two legs are a fabulous detail.
But I do wonder, why casters only on the front two legs? There are no holes in the back legs, so they definitely never had casters. What was the purpose behind having just two, or maybe it was simply for aesthetic reasons.
Four years ago I definitely planned to paint this chair with a creamy white milk paint and hopefully get some chipping. But now I have to confess, even I am starting to veer away from painting everything. So instead I applied Dixie Belle’s Big Mama’s Butta to the frame of the chair to clean up the wood a bit, but otherwise left it alone.
I have to say, I’m not sure if this dark wood works in the spot (shown above) where I plan to keep the chair though. There is a lot of black (the baby grand, just off to the right), dark grey on the upper walls, and white. It feels a little odd to throw in some dark wood.
So now I’m debating. Do I go ahead and paint it? Since I plan on keeping it, and I love me some chippy milk paint, maybe I should paint it. What do you think? Let’s take a vote. Leave a comment below, paint or no paint?
Now, for those of you that played the drinking game with actual liquor, please don’t drive or operate heavy machinery.
Thank you to ellen j goods for providing the stencil used on my deconstructed (that’s 10, if you’re drinking) chair.
q is for quandie 
I think it looks fine as is with the gorgeous patina…and that it goes in this space, but I don’t have your eye. I would keep it as is if it were mine.
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Good to know Melissa, I will probably do just that for now 🙂
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The wood is beautiful in that setting, and love the cushion. I’m not a fan of the burlap strapping though.
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This is just not something I can wrap my head around. Somewhat like modern art. I just can’t seem to “get” what is appealing about it. It just looks to me likea a chair that needs Quandies total makeover. Fix it up, slap some white on it and stencil the top of the chair face.Then I’ll know it’s you. Lol. Kudos to those who understand this style – it’s just not for me. Might be an age thing?
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It just might be 😉 although you aren’t all that much older than I am!
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I totally get that. I just didn’t want to make it all look too new 🙂
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I like the way you re-did this chair….I normally don’t like the deconstructed look, but you did just enough to give it great style! Always inspiring me 🙂
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Thanks so much Laura! I do feel like my chair has the deconstructed look, but also could actually be sat upon 😉
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I think the chair is perfect. Both in design and location. Fun idea!
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Thank you so much Connie!
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🙋♀️No-paint vote
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So far lots of votes not to paint!
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No paint vote here-I think it will grow on you. Thanks for suggesting Bailey’s in my morning coffee. Cheers!
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Hope you enjoyed that morning pick me up 😉
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Leave it!! And I think adding a warm wood looks awesome there! Plus you can always paint it later😉 and I love a deconstructed furniture piece too I have five or six pieces in my garage waiting🤦🏼♀️ I did find two actual restoration hardware deconstructed arm chairs on Facebook marketplace last year (reasonably priced)which was the best find ever!!! I love what you did with this chair!🙌🏻
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I’m so jealous, you find the best stuff Amy!
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I would paint it, and add fabric to the top. I would add more burlap straps to the back and weave it to look like a solid piece of fabric. I would use all new burlap straps with a black stripe. Then perhaps more drop cloth on the front also stenciled. I would do that if you eventually are selling it.
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All great advice for if I decide I want to sell the chair, thanks Jill.
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I think it would be lovely painted a creamy, chippy milk paint.
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Isn’t everything better with some creamy, chippy milk paint? Probably. But I do already have a lot of it at my house.
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“The wood is beautiful in that setting, and love the cushion. I’m not a fan of the burlap strapping though” – This is what Kim said above and I agree!!
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Yeah, I hear you. I would never attempt to sell the chair with that strapping in place, but for me … I might just live with it for a while.
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Most of the time I cringe when I see beautifully detailed wooden furniture that has been painted. But if you wish to keep this piece in that spot, I would suggest painting it the off-black shade of the suitcase on top of the armoire. But does that interfere with the deconstructed portion of the seat that Ken made? Hmmmm.
Looking forward to seeing the final result!
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Painting it would not interfere with the seat (it is removable), but what you can’t see out of the frame of the photo is my baby grand piano which is already painted in that off-black color. I’m afraid I already have enough black in that room.
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I LOVE the chair just as it is!!
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Thanks Cyndi!
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Not a fan of this look. Frankly thought it looked better before you began, which sounds harsh, but I really don’t care for this redo at all. The wood is great, really like the carving, so painting or not it will still leave a lovely frane. I believe this is the first time I’ve given you a thumbs down. 🐱
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Susan, maybe you just didn’t drink enough tequila to fully appreciate the deconstructed look 😉
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😀😀 So, one should be drunk to like this style? Great to know, cheers!😁
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LOL, yes, it might help in some cases 😉
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Oh Miss Quandie I can’t follow you down the “deconstructed” path! Sorry ’bout that! Lol……but I will watch from afar and enjoy your little journey! 🙂
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Well, the deconstructed look is definitely not for everyone! But that’s OK. I’m sure a few years from now I’ll wonder what in the world I was thinking too 🙂
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I am commenting on the casters on only the front legs. I recently bought two upholstered chairs for my living room and they only have front casters. To easily move the chair you stand behind and tip the chair till the back legs are off the floor and move it. I’m not sure why, maybe a cheaper way to go….seems like all four having casters would be easier.
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Interesting. I suppose that is the purpose of caster only on the front. Maybe it’s a cost saving measure to not provide all four legs with casters? Or maybe it’s so that the chair stays put when the back legs are down?
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I say, live with it as is for a while. If it ends up being too discordant with your other decor and driving you nuts, break out the milk paint.
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Excellent advice Honoré! I am totally on board with that 🙂
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I kind of like the chair as is. But don’t totally like chair back that way. Have to sit in it first.
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I painted my similar chair. Either way it will be fabulous Quandie style!
Smiles, alice
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I bet yours is fabulous as well!
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You know I love me a good deconstructed chair!! I’m looking for a cabinet, like the one you show next to the chair, for the cabin if you run across one – wink! Lori
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