{budget}fab*

washington posts’ express gets {budget}fab*

Posted on 13. Mar, 2009 by dara in socialite

One of our very own {budget}fab* gals, Miss Janelle was featured in the Washington Posts’ Express. Highlighted in the Styles section, Janelle discusses her most recent DIY project of creating a chic chair for her home. You can read her personal post and check out the article, Domestic Brights.

Here’s an excerpt from the piece:

Janelle Tracy’s job as a marketing manager for Logan Circle decor shop Vastu means that she spends hours each week surfing design blogs. The 26-year-old kept seeing old-school chairs done over in modern shades. “But buying one new can set you back,” she says. “I’m a do-it-yourselfer, so I thought I’d give painting it a try.” She snagged a seat with nice lines on Craigslist for $40 and then set about sprucing it up.
Tracy sought advice from her boss, Jason Claire, who suggested building up thin layers of black automotive spray paint. She sanded the wood before each coat to help the paint adhere. “I wanted it to be really, really shiny, so I went with three coats,” says Tracy. Then she re-covered the dowdy cushion with punchy black and white fabric.
Though she chose a neutral palette, Tracy “thinks furniture is a great way to add color. And if you’re doing it yourself versus buying a painted piece, you’ve got a lot of flexibility. I almost painted my chair a high-gloss bright purple.”

Janelle’s chair is fabulous and was definitely done in true {budget}fab* style. What other creative suggestions do you have for DIY projects? Have you done a DIY that was {budget}fab*, leave us a comment and tell us about it!

Tags: Craigslist, diy projects for furniture, express, furniture, Home Depot, washington post