A Still Life

As the slow process of home transformation continues, there have been little changes along the way that I forget to share. The ultimate purpose of the updates and fresh coats of paint is really about living well in this home and being content right here. We want to love living in these 1600 square feet and hope that our satisfaction here fosters real hospitality. If we love it, if the space settles our spirits, then the result should be that others feel that stillness when they are here. We hope.

So after ditching sharing our ten-year-old Pier One sofa with neighbors, I started watching Craigslist for a chair or chairs that might last us another few years. With two young ones, we want furniture that takes daily abuse, looks nice enough in the room, and can be passed along through Craigslist when we’re done. After the Nester snagged these chairs, I stopped looking for French armchairs and opened my mind to whatever came along.

Enter, the $30 chairs from 30 minutes away that someone’s wife was not excited to receive as a surprise gift:

I’ll spare you the details of the painting process, but know that I went pretty fast with the first one and s-l-o-w with the second. In between chairs, the husband figured out how to take the seat before painting, and that saved me some painstaking taping. We still haven’t screwed it back down, but it looks just fine. I’m sure I should put a poly coat on them to preserve the paint, but that’s a step I haven’t tried.

Nevertheless, we are pleased with our $30 chairs (we already had the primer & paint) to replace the old sofa:

Much better!