I’ve constantly been on the hunt for a beautiful outdoor dining set, scouring pinterest for deck ideas, looking at set after set, pretending to have a dinner party at every piece of patio furniture I pass by in stores, but nothing. My patio set dreams have got put on the back burner summer after summer.
Then I fell in love with a set, one that we could barely afford, but darling Mr. Fynes bought it for me for Mother’s Day… only to have to return it a few weeks later because the frame was bent and the finish was already starting to rust. Then I cried, and we went back to eating on a blanket on the front deck, the kids loved it, but blankets are for the park.
One day, just after garbage clean up, one of my cousins landed on my door-step with a gem…
You might not see the gem-like qualities I did, but from my furniture studies back in the day of design school I knew what I had on my hand was a Duncan Phyfe table and 3 harp back chairs.
I’m totally a ‘restore the beauty’ type gal, and would normally spend hours stripping a piece of furniture and bringing it back to its original luster. But this set had some issues- chipped veneer, missing claw feet, busted hardware, someone had lost their love for it to chuck it curbside.
But… nothing that a new paint job couldn’t fix!
Ta-da!! Isn’t it peerdy?! I brought this drab dining set back to life with help from PPG Voice of Color paint and Sunbrella fabric.
I’ve been posting progress shots on Instagram while working on it, so you might have caught the sneak-peek there. I’m SO happy with the results.
The fabric I chose is ‘Stanton Lagoon’ a new collection from Sunbrella. It is a premium outdoor fabric so I won’t have to be concerned with mold or mildew… and we’ve already had a few kiddo spills that haven’t been a concern either!
The photos show the colors a touch more vibrant, but I absolutely love the combination, they coordinate perfectly with the fabric. The colors are ‘Blue Tang PPG10-32’ and ‘Always Apple PPG1118-5’ from PPG Voice of Color. I chose exterior Sun-Proof in a Semi-Gloss for both the table and chairs.
The remaining fabric from upholstering the chairs was the perfect amount to sew some matching placemats. The small drawer on the end of the table is perfect storage for the placemats in between meal times.
Can you believe the transformation from garbage to a functional outdoor dining set?
Using this vintage set couldn’t be better for our home. Its solid construction makes it heavy enough to stay put on a windy day, the perfect patio furniture!
The fourth chair doesn’t match the set, of course, it’s a vintage highchair we picked up at an auction for $4 but works great for our little family!
So what do you think, was painting the furniture a good idea, what would you have done?
We’ve been dining alfresco a lot lately, I recently hosted a little party I can’t wait to share with you.
Megan says
WOWZA! This is fantastic.
julie says
I am impressed and that is not an easy thing to do!!!!!!
Virginia says
Thanks Julie, that means a lot coming from you!
Cheryl@ Sew Can Do says
I hear you on the outdoor set challenges – I’ve been waiting for years to get something too. Love your color choices and how beautiful this turned out.
Virginia says
Thanks Cheryl, I could never make a decision, then it seemed like the summer slipped away!
Janette says
This is fantastic! I am looking for patio furniture and I think I now what to do now!
Virginia says
Awesome! I’m glad this set could inspire you!
Jen Banks says
It’s beautiful!
pclaforce says
FABULOUS! I LOVE the colours and the whole look! WOW!
Terri says
OMG I had to look twice to make sure they were the same table and chairs!!! Amazing job!
Jennifer (@momvstheboys) says
Wowza!!! this is an amazing transformation!!
Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel says
Wow! Absolutely stunning! Love the colours and the fabric choices – so fresh and fun and perfect for outside. Such a phenomenal transformation.
yeewittlethings says
WOWzers!! Oh my goodness…that came out stunning! Wonderful colours for summer and now it’s making me want to redo my patio set lol. Beautiful!
Virginia says
THanks, I’m really happy with the colors I chose! Our house is orange, so I really had to do some thinking on coordinating with it!
Christine says
Oh WOW Virginia!! You did a FABULOUS job!!! Everything is perfect! I love the colors!
Alyssa says
Wow you did an amazing job! I would seriously pay for something like what you created! Awesome!
Kristen S says
Looks amazing!! Is the Sunbrella fabric comfortable? I need something more permanent (yet comfy) for my outdoor daybed.
Virginia says
Unbelievably comfortable!! It’s not plasticky or rough, you’d never know it was outdoor fabric, you could make drapes with it!
Heather Boswall says
Gorgeous as always Virginia! Fabulous 🙂
Debbie says
I love your post and you were so right to restore those beautiful pieces! I have a similar set from MIL’s house that I used for years and finally put in storage a couple years ago … cannot decide what to do with it … and I keep thinking I want to paint the chairs with pastel colors and use throughout my house. I’ll be anxious to see how your paint holds up in the outdoors … so keep posting about this beautiful set!
Virginia says
Oh different pastel colors would be so pretty, great idea. I know the feeling of the lump in your gut to paint wood furniture. I’ll be sure to keep you updated about the finish. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Home To Heather says
this is gorgeous! I love the colours you chose!
Jo-Anna@APrettyLife says
Gorgeous V! I love love the vibrant colours of the paint and that beautiful fabric…what a gorgeous space to eat!
Laura at Mommy Miracles says
Colour me impressed!
Arlene says
Amazing Virginia!! Who tosses a Dunkan Phyfe?? Incredible transformation. I admire those who can invision something & make it happen.
Virginia says
I know! obviously someone who didn’t know it was a Duncan Phyfe!!Thanks!
Time With Thea (@TimeWithThea) says
I agree with everyone else’s comments! I love, Love, LOVE what you did! I think your colour choices really made this DIY outstanding!
Bonnie says
It’s stunning! I have that same table that I pulled from my neighbor’s curb. The next neighbor over had given it to them years ago and now it’s making it’s way down the street. I can’t wait to get mine painted. Right now, it’s in pretty sad shape. I am so inspired by what you did with the table and the chairs.
~Bonnie @ Our Secondhand House
Virginia says
I’m so happy to hear you’re inspired. Lucky you for finding one so close, I tell you its working out to be the perfect patio set!
Laura (@mylifeinthesunn) says
Love this!!
Domestically Speaking says
Love the blue table and that fabric fits perfectly with it!
Sylvia/LittleTreasures says
Oh this is a wonderful restore….beautiufl fun colors. Just love it when someone can take their imagination to such high levels. Thanks for sharing it.
Virginia says
Thanks for stopping by Sylvia, I’m really happy with the results!
Cathy C says
I love the colours! WOW is all I can say. I am coming to your place for dinner!
Virginia says
COme on over! I’ll make you a yummy treat!
Amy Anderson says
OMG – love the transformation! Awesome!
Tara says
Check it out! Wow, Virginia – that looks amazing! I love the colour of the table. I just love the table full-stop. What a great piece!
Virginia says
Thanks Tara, it has turned out to be the perfect patio furniture for us!
Laurie @ Vin'yet Etc. says
that set is perfect-o! Wow, that paint looks like glass, amazing job! High five!
Krissy says
This is beautiful! I love the colors on it. I’m pinning it!
Crystal says
WOW!!! So beautiful!
Brooklyn says
Love it!!!! Great colours!!!
Wade says
Wow!!! Love this!! Great work!
Jaxson says
Wonderful job! I love the colours!
Cathy C says
I love this!! I was wondering do you cover it and leave it outside or just bring it our for a special occassion? I am assuming it would not stand up to the elements if not covered some way, but I love the colours and how unique it is!
Celebteenlaundry says
The furniture looks beautiful and I love the colors, it would perfect for me.
Little Miss Kate (@LilMissKateCo) says
um WOW, how is that the same set!!! You have given me hope that I can transform my dining set into something beautiful again
Virginia says
The magic of a little paint and fabric eh?! Thanks for stopping by
Krista @ the happy housie says
Beautiful, Virgina! I totally just finished very similar chairs for our outdoor table- so funny! I love your bold colour choices!!
Ann Bacciaglia says
Love this! What an incredible transformation. I love the colours!
Katie says
Wow what an amazing transformation! Simply gorgeous!
Shannon says
Love this color! I have the same table 🙂 Love your creativity!
oldermommystill says
LOVE this project. My parents owned a Duncan Phyfe table and 4 harp back chairs.but after they died I’m not sure what happened to it. Would love to do this with my parent’s set.
Maureen says
Absolutely love it!!
nugglemama says
Looks fabulous!
Susan @ Oh My! Creative says
Thank you for linking to Whimsy Wednesday last week! I featured you in my post today!
You can see it here…
http://www.ohmy-creative.com/home/decor-accents/great-diy-outdoor-summer-project-ideas/
Hope to see link up again tomorrow!
Susan
navywifeypeters says
Beautiful! I love those, especially that shade of green.
Navy Wifey Peters @ Submarine Sunday Link Party
laurascraftylife says
This is an amazing transformation. I am getting ready to paint some outdoor chairs myself! Thank you for linking up to The Creative Exchange. I am featuring your project today! xo, Laura
carlaharrodhampton says
We.were given a table just like this one with the complete brass feet. My husband soaked the feet in carburetor fluid to remove all of aged to black finish on them. The table tope was badly scratched to I opted to pain mine too! Bright red! I use it inside and really like it! Thanks for sharing yours, it is lovely!
Virginia says
Oh I’d love to see it in red! Thanks for dropping by.
Laurie says
Beautifully done! How did you achieve the great results ? (I may have missed that part).
brenda says
lovw the colors ,,i have at 8 of the chairs in my basement , not enough time to have fun with them, now i will make sure i do
June says
This transformation turned out so beautiful. I never would have thought to turn them into outdoor pieces. You said that the table had chipped veneer. How to you handle a piece of furniture that has veneer peeling off of it? Do you remove it all strip by bloody strip or what?
Virginia says
I actually didn’t remove it, I just painted over it. But I have seen that if you wet a bath towel and leave it to soak it will take it right off!
Heather says
We are redoing our patio and I can’t find any furniture I like. I’d love to try this, but in curious as to how it holds up to rain, etc.
Virginia says
This set has never seen the rain becasue we have a covered deck. But we have other patio chairs that have the same paint that sit by the lake and they have held up great!
barbara says
beautiful!! so this kind of paint will let wood furniture stay outside???
i was going to do that with a vintage set ..actually clear coat it… but dh said no way …it would not hold up
Virginia says
Hi Barbra, The paint held up really well, however, my set is on a covered deck so it is basically out of the elements. I don’t think it would hold up as well if it were out in the rain.
Muhammad jamshaid says
Very beautiful colors you have choose. and very interesting work.
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marykay says
Wow amazing! How ironic that I’m browsing web for ideas for a dining chair of my great grandmother’s(who has passed) that was to her set that unfortunately got ruined and tossed to curb after being in our family for over 100 yrs. I was lucky to have saved one chair and am hoping to do something special with it for my grandma foe Mothers day. Anyway , it is almost identical to your set. An aunt of mine reupholstered chairs yrs back . Do you have by ideas ? Thank you
Virginia says
ohh only one chair? Is it damaged or does it need a whole facelift? Painting in a pretty color and new fabric would give it a new modern life, but if you wanted to keep it timeless a nice coat of wax might do the trick! Good luck
Krista @ the happy housie says
I love this project of yours, Virginia! Thanks for sharing it at the Outdoor Extravaganza link up- I am featuring it tomorrow:)
Krista @ the happy housie says
PS – I was too disorganized and didn’t get any of my outdoor projects linked up:( boo
Rachel says
This is gorgeous. Does the paint weather proof the furniture or should this be brought in when not in use? Do you put a clear seal over top?
Virginia says
I have a covered deck, so it was fine there. We do bring it in when the weather gets cool.