1. THE PAINTED LADY * Beth Harlow lightened up this piece—once a dark, heavy dining chair covered in red velvet—with a hand-distressed paint job and soft embroidered-cotton upholstery. $345, 773-489-9145, thepaintedladychicago.com

2. CHIC ANTIQUE * This Craigslist side table already had a cool shape and a nice marble top going for it; Crystal Blackshaw upped the glam with glossy teal paint and sparkly crystal knobs. Similar pieces are about $225, 773-857-2695, chicantiquechicago.com.

3. TWICE * Kelly Rauch turned an orange-polyester eyesore into this elegant-with-an-edge armchair, part of a pair available at Twice, Rauch’s by-appointment studio. $650 each, 773-297-6396, kellyrauch.com

4. RECOVERED * This ottoman went from faded floral to retro rad at Kylie Egge’s appointment-only studio. New foam and freshened-up legs finished the transformation. $275, 773-656-3206, recoveredinterior.com

Photograph: Leonard Gertz