DIY Project: Rocking Chairs

I finally finished my rocking chairs right in time to kick off summer vacation! 

I found these on craigslist for $30 each, they are $150 brand new.  The ad said they were distressed. :) They were in bad condition. Paint was chipping off all over, it looked like the wood was rotting and there was even green moss on one of the arms.

BEFORE

AFTER: Still drying with cardboard underneath. I can't wait to put the pillows on them! 

BEFORE: My husband brought these home for me and I couldn't see how bad they were in the pictures from the ad. I have to admit I was nervous if I had just bought something I couldn't salvage. 

AFTER: But look at them now! So much better!

BEFORE: As I sanded them down I noticed that one chair was painted white underneath
 and the other was a dark green. 

AFTER: Now they are just a beautiful black!

Here are some pictures of the process. It took me a few weeks to get together. That first day of sanding I was in a hurry and didn't put them up on a table so all of the bending over trying to reach every angle I ruined my shoulder and neck. And of course then there is the busy life with kids and obligations so they sat on my front porch for a while half sanded down. :) Our neighbors were gracious not to comment on the eye sore I had in front of our house. 

Mostly sanded down

I used a grey primer coat. This took longer to apply than the final coats of black. 

I really enjoyed working on these in my peaceful backyard. My husband got all of the kids ready for bed while I listened to soft music and covered my arms in paint while trying to reach all of the different angles.  It had been way too long since I did a project like this and oh how I missed it.

I put them on the front porch before I went to bed that night so they could finish drying.

I hope you are inspired to find a project this summer for yourself!

I have wanted rocking chairs on my front porch since I dreamed of having my own house.

My sweet Robert and I like to sit and wait for the kids to get off the bus and I am looking forward to trying these out.

Now if I can find motivation to clean out my garage! :)