9.7.11

We were quite productive on our long weekend.  One of the projects I completed was painting a small table and two chairs.  

Originally they were white but over the years the paint has started peeling and degrading so when you sit on the chairs you are covered in a white powdery mess.  

How I got the set is kind of an interesting story.  I probably shared it here before but to refresh your memory…  

I went to one of my favorite antique malls to just browse and noticed all the vendors were busy packing up their booths.  One of the vendors explained to me that the company that ran the antique mall hadn't paid their rent in months and they got notice that the doors were going to be padlocked in 24 hours.  So they were all scrambling to pack up their inventory.  

I had been eyeing this table and chairs but since I didn't really need it I couldn't justify the price.  It is not an antique but I like the looks of them.  The vendor said that if I wanted anything he would give me 50% off but not to pay for them at the cash register.  He didn't think the antique mall should get their cut of his sale under the circumstances.  I told him what I wanted (I also got a decorative metal wall hanging) and he met me out in the parking lot with the goods.  

It felt like an illicit drug deal or something.  

Now that the deck is very near completion and we are setting up the rest of the outdoor furniture this set just looked too shabby.  And not in a good, chic kind of way. 

So I got out a wire brush and scrubbed the pieces down and them primered them black and then painted them with Rustoleum's Multicolor textured paint in kind of a bronzey-brown color (made for outdoor furniture). 

I definitely recommend primering with a dark color first if you are going from light to dark.  My first attempt (using up an entire can) was unsuccessful.   So I bought spray primer and then tried again.  I still have a few spots that need to be touched up so I need one more can.  

All in all – I'm pleased with how they turned out.