Awesome Vintage Baby’s Highchair that Converts to a Rocker
This unique piece is from the 1920’s Sears catalog, or so I am told. It’s such a clever piece and who knew they had pieces back then that were multi-purpose? This clever little highchair also folds quickly into a rocking chair – I love it. Of course you wouldn’t be able to use it now for a child but it would make a great addition to any little girl’s playroom for her dolls. What pampered little girl wouldn’t love this piece for her favorite doll?
This is how how the chair looked in its original condition and as you can see, it had a lot of wear and tear. But the integrity of the wood itself was still in good condition – just very worn.
I knew I wanted to use Poets Paint Vintage White but I struggled with whether to use the Cape Cod Blue or the Poets Paint Vintage Silk Green or maybe even both as accent colors. I experimented with both colors and still had a hard time deciding but finally ended up going with the Poets Paint Vintage Silk Green.
I started with two coats of Vintage White over the whole piece and then my initial idea was to put the Poets Paint Vintage Silk Green just on the top design in the crevices only and perhaps paint or stencil a design in the large back panel. But then I knew it was the perfect place to put a wonderful Beatrix Potter image. I found the right image and put it on scannable transfer paper and transferred it to the chair. I also put one on the back as well. Love how it came out.
But then I found myself loving the Poets Paint Vintage Silk Green and I just kept painting more areas with the green. First the tray, then the arms then the step and legs. The color is very pale and soft – very pretty. And wherever there was any sort of design that could be highlighted, I went back in with the Vintage White so the whole piece is two-toned.
And finally, I sprayed lacquer over the Beatrix Potter image transfers to make sure they would be quite permanent and finished the piece using Driftwood Final Finish Liquid Wax which is a liquid carnauba wax finish – very easy to put on and gives it a satin finish. It’s easier than paste waxing and the outcome is the same if you’re not going to antique or distress a finish. Driftwood Final Finish is sold by Poets Paint sister company, DIYDriftwood.com.
