Craigslist Find Gone Bad Then Good

I had several names swirling in my head to name this post.  Another fine mess I've gotten myself into, or Why don't I listen to people, or Seriously what was I thinking.  It all started last week when I was scanning Craigslist.  I was searching for chairs I could recreate for a game table I want to have in our basement family room.  I came across four Pottery Barn Teen Oh La La armchairs.  They were listed for $200 and I offered $100 for the four.  We ultimately agreed on $160.  They were admittedly badly stained and on one of the chairs the seat was sunken.  They would definitely need reupholstering.  I asked friends and family and pretty much everyone advised me not to buy the chairs.  Did I really need to take on such a large project?  For one week I kept thinking about the chairs.  I could picture how beautiful I could make these chairs.  So on Saturday I went into the city to pick up the chairs.  

I did ask the seller how these chairs could possibly have gotten so abused in such a short amount of time.  She was young and living in the city and she said that her sister liked to have parties.  Ya think???  The whole car ride home I had buyer's remorse.  This was going to be a big job.  

I decided to start with the worst of the chairs.  

I took it apart and saw that the webbing had totally sunk.

I re-stretched it and stapled it back into place.

I then flipped the cushion and started to pull off the rest of the upholstery.  Several hours later all I had was blisters all over my hands and was struggling to get off the rest of the upholstery.  Now I seriously wanted to cry.  I was so annoyed with myself for not listening.  Why do I ask for advice when I don't listen?  Ugh!  I walked away from the project and started to think....and think.  

I decided to try to clean the upholstery.  After an hour of scrubbing, it didn't look any better, and now was wet.  So I walked away from the project again, and started to think again.  

Then it hit me.  I searched on the internet for painting upholstery.  I remembered seeing this somewhere.  I read every tutorial I could and they all said basically the same thing.  I just needed latex paint, fabric medium and water.  I had everything I needed in the house.  I decided to test it out on the fabric I had removed from the first chair.  To speed up the drying process I used a hairdryer.  It felt soft and the coverage was great.  So I went to the other three chairs.

Here's what they look like after just one coat of paint.

Wow, right?  I kept saying to myself that I was so clever.  The truth is if I was so clever I should have figured this out before I completely stripped the first one.  I still will have to do something with that chair. 

I am definitely hopeful.  I am letting it dry overnight and then will paint it with a second coat.  If this is successful I will definitely post a full tutorial.  If it's a bust, I'll let you know that as well.  Stop back tomorrow to see how my Craigslist chairs turn out.  

-Judy