Kitchen Chair Makeover {Overstock Tabouret Chairs Painted}

September 14, 2012 · By ·

Last Fall, we brought home the Jackson dining table from World Market for our breakfast nook. I loved everything about it – the industrial metal base and the rustic wood top, and after pining after it for 6 months and cursing our budget for keeping me from impulse buys, it was mine. 

But the Tolix knock-off chairs – even on sale – added an additional $400+ to the purchase price. And Overstock sold very similar chairs in a set of 4 for $199. So I bought the Overstock chairs.

When they arrived, I was disenchanted with how the finish worked with the table. It was a very flat silver – more space age than vintage Tolix chair knock-off – and the silver stood out badly compared to the finish of the table base. When I ordered online, I thought they’d match perfectly because the World Market website shows a lighter finish on the chairs and table and the Overstock chairs look darker. Both were incorrect depictions of the products and the result was George Jetson inspired silver chairs with an industrial rustic table. I wanted to paint them immediately, but my mom convinced me to wait to see if the finish grew on me.  It didn’t. See how the bright silver just doesn’t jive?



So, I mentioned to my cousin Sarah (one of my favorite house-talk buddies) when she was over a few weeks ago that I wanted to paint them and she said, “Then let’s do it!” So I did. I bought four cans of Rustoleum’s Metallic Spray Paint in Black Night. I did a really light dusting of paint – two coats, allowing a little bit of the silver to show through for a more zinc oxidized/vintage finish – I was looking to soften the glaring space age finish and add dimension to the chairs – figuring I could always just coat them with more black if all else failed. 


I love the chairs immensely more now – they work so much better with the finish of the table and don’t look like I took the cheap route. Even though at $199 for the set of four chairs and $20 worth of spray paint, I totally did.

Here’s the view walking down the stairs now just so you can get the full effect:


You might also notice the banquette is gone – not gone gone, just moved for now. But that’s a story for another day. Maybe next week, I’m making progress over here. And I’ve decided that what this barren breakfast nook needs is wainscoting. Don’t hold your breath, though.

Thoughts? Definite improvement for the table the chairs are sitting at, right? 


Pin It

Filed Under: Kitchen ·

Comments

  1. Kristi says:
    September 14, 2012 at 1:03 pm

    They look great. What a easy and quick way to change up their look. Also can’t wait to hear the story on the banquette!

  2. Emily says:
    September 14, 2012 at 1:19 pm

    Love the change!! Definitely a big impact for very little effort/cost. I think the wainscoting idea in there is brilliant- maybe with a ledge at the top for pictures? Can’t wait to see what you come up with!!

  3. Kim @ NewlyWoodwards says:
    September 14, 2012 at 2:15 pm

    This looks awesome! I’m really impressed by how “authentic” they look. And I wouldn’t have really noticed that the base and chairs were the different, but I love the new color so much more. And I’m kind of giggling that the banquette is moved. How long did you pine over that before you built it? Why is that always how it works. And you totally need wainscoting. Are you thinking something similar to the board and batton in the nursery?

  4. Danielle says:
    September 14, 2012 at 3:12 pm

    I love those chairs but have always wondered how comfortable they are. A kitchen table is on our list for things to do at our house and I think we’ll be doing a bench on one end because chairs seem to hit the trim. Do the wainscoting! We scrapped ours so I can live vicariously through you.

  5. Meredith says:
    September 14, 2012 at 7:40 pm

    I can’t wait to hear the banquette story!

    Also, the original chairs don’t bug me in the photo, but I really love the after. And KUDOS for doing what you needed to do in order to love them. I feel like whenever I make a big house purchase, if I don’t love it as much as I thought I would, I feel stuck with it since I shelled out the money…I always admire when people paint, cover, or even just sell the things that didn’t turn out like they’d thought!

  6. jamiedawn says:
    September 15, 2012 at 1:43 am

    i love those chairs. i have been looking for similar chairs for months! looks great

  7. Mrs. 5C says:
    September 17, 2012 at 7:50 pm

    Yay Spraypaint! And… Yes! Wainscotting! I’m spraypainting some chairs this evening, actually! Spraypaint makes everything better, don’t you think? ;)
    I am totally dying to hear the banquette story. Sounds juicy. :)

  8. Shannon says:
    September 18, 2012 at 12:31 am

    Uh oh, I’m not sure the Wellingtons want to hear the banquette story. There has been great marital strife over a family 2000 miles away and their kitchen table set up. Normal, right? But anywhos…your chair makeover turned out amazing, they seriously look exactly like the World Market ones now. Are the Overstock ones comfy? We had bought two of the WM ones and put them at the head and (foot?) of the table, where John sits. I think they’re not that awesome to sit in and they get freaking cold in the winter so um…sorry John.

    • Emily says:
      September 18, 2012 at 7:37 pm

      Ours aren’t bad – definitely get cold in the winter, but comfort wise I’m okay with them. Granted, it’s not like I sit down to long leisurely dinners anymore…