Cane Back Rocker – Thrifty Under $50

I have two posts up today, including this one, so be sure to also check out week two of my One Room Challenge project!

Today I’ve teamed up with Beth at Home Stories A to Z, and a group of crazy talented bloggers to take it old-school for you. Remember the days when most home decor blogs thrived on the thrill of finding a thrift store score and making it look like a million bucks? This week, we’re bringing it all back!

If you’re stopping in from Rhoda’s project over at Southern Hospitality, welcome!

I began my search at a few of our local Goodwill stores. I found a couple gems that I considered for the project. Here were a few of them.

A couple things I look for when searching for a second-hand item to makeover.

• The overall shape/design. Don’t look at color or patterns so much. Those can always be changed!
• The condition of the item. Make sure the item can still be functional as is or with a minor tweak.
• When purchasing furniture, I look for solid wood items (always easier to repaint and/or stain). I also try to avoid upholstery to keep weird smells at bay.
• I really wanted the campaign dresser above, but it was laminate and had been the victim of a bad paint job or two.  As much as I wanted it to work, I knew it was best to walk away.

I ultimately decided upon the cane back rocker. The cane backing and seat were in excellent shape and I knew it could have a very “Serena & Lily” vibe once I got done with it.

I did a little research first to make sure I was dealing with a reproduction and not an original Thonet bentwood rocker. I’m fairly certain it’s not 😉

Here are a few pieces I found online before I pulled the trigger on the chair – I wanted to make sure I could get a vibe that would work in our home. You can click any of the images below to learn more about each item.

Honestly, it took almost as much time to cover up the cane as it did to actually paint the thing. But, I knew it was an important step and didn’t want to rush it.

Once everything was taped off, I brought the chair outside and gave it a light sanding with fine grit sandpaper and then wiped it down well with paper towels before I started spray painting.

It’s seems like every time I’m about halfway through spray painting and my finger is about to fall off, I remember I have these spray paint triggers (major lifesavers). They also help the paint go on much more evenly since it essentially makes the spray paint can a spray gun.

And now, the final result!

I was really happy with just how glossy the paint was!

And I love the fig leaf fabric paired with the cane.

Get the look of my craft room:

I ended up using two full cans of spray paint to finish the entire chair. I can’t claim that its my best paint job ever (all those curves!) but it is such an improvement! All in, I think this makeover ended up costing about $35 total for the chair ($19.99) and all the supplies! Not too shabby!

Next on the tour is Four Generations One Roof so make sure you stop in and see Jessica’s project! Be sure to also stop by all the other stops on the Thrifty Under $50 tour this week. So many beautiful transformations to inspire you!

Monday, April 11

Home Stories A to Z
Design Dining Diapers
Finding Silver Pennies
anderson + grant

Tuesday, April 12

French Country Cottage
Refresh Restyle
Just a Girl
Finding Home Farms

Wednesday, April 13

Bless’er House
Beneath My Heart
Love Grows Wild
Ella Claire

Thursday, April 14

Southern Hospitality
Life On Virginia Street
Four Generations One Roof
Nest of Posies
City Farmhouse

Friday, April 15

In My Own Style
Sand & Sisal
Julie Blanner

Fox Hollow Cottage

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