Vintage Wrought Iron Patio Set Reveal!

I'm linking up to several parties with this post - i'm calling it thrifty because the table and chairs were free - I spent $9 on the outdoor canvas to re-cover the seats, and about $50 on spray paint, primer and frosting spray.  


Here and here I posted a project (re-covering patio chair seats) and a hint at an upcoming project. Well today's the day!  Mr. Paisley and I have stripped, wire brushed, heat gunned, scraped, cleaned, sprayed, cut, stapled, primed, and sworn...but it's done - and without injury to either of us! The vintage wrought iron patio set is now gorgeous! Thank you Mrs. Judy Alligood for giving me your mother's patio set some 12 years ago. The older I get, the more I appreciate it!

Before...

I know - I REALLY have to remember to take those before shots...this was when I first got it (1997)...in a kitchen that hasn't looked like that in YEARS (hey I was a single, messy, just out of college...yeah, not really an excuse for that mess, but that's my story). Eww...and I used to drink Diet Pepsi. Gross!

Here's Mr. Paisley working on the table (see I did take SOME before photos). 

and a chair that's rusting (because I started to strip it years ago) and a super faded cushion.

Mr. Paisley working on a chair (that's my Diet Coke with a razor blade scraper on top - I really was helping and not just taking the photos!)

Look at all that paint...

Mr. Paisley with the heat gun...

Me trying to scrape and take a picture at the same time! Those plastic razor scrapers are one of my favorite "tools" they work for so many things! That's Mr. P's hairy knee...not mine :-)

A quick coat of primer...

then on to the paint! I ended up choosing Rust-Olelum's Hammered Brown. My original thought had been a nice Oil Rubbed Bronze, but too many people said "everyone's doing it" Mom always told me I wasn't like everyone else...so brown it is! Which actually came out bronze-ish with the hammered finish. Perfect!

Voila! Here's one finished...3 to go plus the table.

Pretty details no longer gooked up with layers and layers of...house paint. 

Here it is set up for our party Memorial Day weekend

It needs a new glass top cut for it. When I got it, it had a plexi-glass top and I used it that way forever. Then it dawned on me (just last week) I should frost it! That way it'll look better until I get around to getting glass cut for it. I was just going to sand it - but Mr. Paisley informed me that the orbital sander was still at the cabin...in Tennessee. Plan B! Who knew they made "frosting in a can"? Well they do - Krylon does anyway. Mr. Paisley said the guy at Lowe's told him they didn't have it. My guess is, that he didn't ask. I ended up buying it at Joann's ETC with a 40% off coupon. Probably worked out better for my bank account that way. 

So there's my frosted glass. According to the can, it's not supposed to get wet. I guess it'll actually wash off. #1, it's the underside, so it shouldn't get wet and #2, it's usually on the side porch, not out in the yard...so it should be fine. If not, the orbital sander will be back home mid July.

More details that show now that all the layers of paint are gone. I love love LOVE how this turned out!

Also joining the linky party for ABC Wednesday - T is for TABLE this week!