With any great chair makeover, you start with an interesting chair and this one definitely fits the bill. It is a faux bois (pronounced foh-BWAH) that was first popular in the 1800s in France.

It was artists attempt to create something to look like a tree, but not actually be a tree. I happened to have one in my storage and I knew it was the perfect chair for Folklore…Taylor Swift’s album that evoked a fairytale vibe. I wanted that faux wood look for this chair.

Looking closely, you can see the carvings that are meant to make this chair look that way.

I took out the rush seat and the cane on top so that it could be fully upholstered.

The first thing I did was paint it a pale pink. I used Verbena by Sherwin Williams. It’s a great light pink color that acts as a really nice neutral.

Then, I used a sheer embroidered floral fabric for the top front and back of the chair.

Once I carefully stapled it in, I added a pink velvet to help the embroidery stand out.

While the backside was busy, I chose a part of the fabric was more simple for the front. Again, layering the pink velvet underneath to allow the embroidery to show up.

I chose to upholster the seat in a Versailles Velvet mossy green color by Kravet. It’s the perfect vibe for the folklore-fairytale look.

Then, I cut out part of the embroidery and glued it to the front leg of the chair. It was tedious but well worth it.

Then, to add a little extra something to make it seem more “folklore-like”, I added some moss to the backside of the chair.

I used both a loose moss and a mat moss that I cut to create the look I wanted. It’s important while creating a chair that is art, that it can also be useable. Putting it on the backside would not interfere with sitting on it.

All together, the chair turned out perfect.

Both the front and the back have a surprise!

Who would ever believe you could take a dated chair like this one and turn it into Folklore?  If you want to make your own Folklore chair, I have a free download on my Chair-a’s Tour page. Just go there and click on the Downloadable Guide link under the Folklore Inspired Chair.

 

You can shop all these products on my Like To Know It shop by clicking here.

If you haven’t watched my YouTube on this Folklore chair, click here to watch and let me know what you think of this one. I’ve got 7 more to come, counting down the months when I’ll be in Amsterdam with my daughters to watch the Taylor Swift Eras Tour! Stay tuned next month for chair #4.