“I think relaxing alfresco is such a romantic idea,” Amy says. “I wanted to give my chair the look of a beachy weathered finish with a salt-stung patina. With some floral notes and a cold drink, I feel as if I’m gazing over a sapphire blue ocean.” Amy Chalmers has a popular design blog called Maison Decor ( Maison Decor ). On it she creates paint finishes for furniture and provides easy how-to instructions for “getting her look.”

THE PROCESS: Spray the chair first with paint and let dry thoroughly. Fill the SMART Edge Roller® with chalk paint. Roll over all surfaces of the chair with paint, lightly pressing onto the wood to leave a mottled pattern. Wipe immediately with a clean rag as you are working to spread an uneven wash over the surface. Let dry and enjoy. Add floral cottage accessories and a cotton rug to complete the look.

“Inspired by garden urns and statues, I thought it would be nice to add classic details to my chair to make it a focal point,” says Matthew. “Like the details on an iron gate or a special garden urn.” “As a lifestyle guru and designer I am always looking for something new and interesting that takes a piece of furniture from simple to spectacular. I discovered through my friend Amy Chalmers these wonderful latex embellishments called Efex. They are beautiful designs that you add to furnishings to give classic detail and style."

Spray the chair gray and let dry thoroughly. Spray Efex components as well. Cover the parts of the chair that are not to be painted with plastic drop cloth. Tape in place with painter’s tape. Spray exposed parts of the chair with lavender paint. Let dry and remove plastic drop cloth. Fill SMART Edge Roller® with Primer 123 and roll over Efex latex pieces. The idea is to apply a small amount of white paint that will add contrast to the latex pieces. Apply Efex to the chair with glue according to the manufacturer’s directions. Let dry thoroughly before use.

“I was looking for something crisp and graphic, eye-catching and interesting in my favorite shades of gray and green.” says Sam Henderson of Today’s Nest blog. “Stripes are fun and work well with the vertical lines of the chair back.” Sam’s blog ( Today's Nest) is filled with fresh lifestyle ideas for cooking, decorating and DIY projects that fill your home with modern style and design.

Spray the chair gray and let dry thoroughly. Cover the parts of the chair that are not to be painted with painter’s tape. Roll color onto uncovered back, legs and arm ends of the chair. Let dry and remove painter’s tape.