When it comes to transforming modern painted and varnished dining chairs, we’ve got it down to a fine art. Whether you’re running a bustling gastropub, a cosy café, or a family restaurant, chances are your dining chairs have seen better days. That’s where we come in – giving them a whole new lease of life whilst keeping all that wonderful character intact.
The Chairs We Love Working With
We specialise in all the classic styles that make British hospitality venues so charming:
Our bread and butter includes:
- Windsor spindle backs (our absolute favourite!)
- Lath back chairs
- Farmhouse styles
- Colonial designs
- Ladderback beauties
- Lattice back varieties
- Bentwood classics
- Carvers for those head-of-the-table moments
These are proper wooden chairs – oak, beech, elm, walnut – the sturdy stuff that’s built to last. Unlike their vintage cousins where the back and legs are all one piece, these modern chairs come apart, which actually makes our job a bit easier when it comes to repairs and restoration.
Colours That Tell Your Story
We love helping venues find their perfect palette. Our most popular colours for general restoration work include:
- Olive Green – perfect for that country pub vibe
- Sunny Yellows – brings warmth to any dining space
- Firefly Orange – adds a proper pop of personality
- Turquoise shades – fresh and contemporary
- Rich Reds – classic and inviting
- Traditional blacks and whites – timeless elegance
But here’s where it gets exciting – we absolutely love a challenge! We’ve painted chairs in the colours of the South African flag (six different colours per chair – now that was intricate!), and created a stunning set of mismatched, multi-coloured dining chairs for a client who wanted them to complement a beautiful African artwork. We used Miss Minton Yellow, Carousel Red, Mr Darcy Black, Peter Pan Green, Aubrey Blue and Grandmas Pearl White – each chair was unique but they worked together brilliantly.
Pastel lovers, we’ve got you covered too. Light blues, soft pinks, gentle greens, pale oranges – any combination you can dream up, we can make happen.
Our Tried and Tested Process
We’ve refined our restoration process over the years, and it’s all about taking our time to get things right.
Assessment & Disassembly
First, we give each chair a thorough once-over. Depending on what needs doing, we’ll take them apart piece by piece. The good news with modern chairs is they usually don’t need massive repairs – just a bit of TLC.
Repair Work
Fill any dings, scratches, or damaged bits with top-quality brown wood filler
Light sanding to smooth out the filled areas and any other blemishes
Thorough clean-down using vinegar solution and white spirit to get rid of every speck of dust
The Foundation
Apply a coat of white primer to seal the wood properly
One or two coats of undercoat (depending on what the chair needs)
The Fun Part – Colour!
This is where your chairs really start to come alive. We apply your chosen colours using paints from well known and trusted brands.. Usually takes two coats, but every colour and every chair is different.
The Waiting Game
Patience is key here. We leave the chairs for up to 48 hours to let the paint properly bed in before applying the final coat.
Protection & Durability
The finishing coat is crucial – it’s what keeps your chairs looking brilliant for years to come. We can use a Clear Wax or Dark Wax depending on shade of furniture and what works best for your venue.
Final Cure & Delivery
Another 24-36 hours for everything to settle and fully protect the furniture, then we arrange delivery to your door.
See Our Work
Common Issues We Fix
After years in the business, we know exactly what goes wrong with dining chairs:
Wobbly legs? The legs connect to drilled holes in the seat bottom and can work loose with constant use – we’ll sort that right out.
Loose back rest? Those spindles and slats in the back can come loose from their holes in the seat top. A bit of strong wood glue and they’ll be solid as ever.
Rickety support struts? The leg support struts get a proper workout in busy venues. We’ll glue and pin them back into place so they’re stronger than ever.