Final 2014 Before and After - My Parade

Well, it has been a busy GREEN year for me and I continue to be SO impressed with the magical transformations possible with heirloom-quality upholstered furniture.  It's a win-win all around. Instead of languishing as outdated and little-used obsolete pieces (or worse - bulky landfill), the refurbished pieces are reclaimed as principle elements of current room designs.

Here are some of the pieces transformed over the past month. I hope these inspire you to do the same!

These vintage bergere chairs were purchased in a consignment shop in Destin, FL, during a business/pleasure trip. I refinished the woodwork using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and had my upholsterer recover in a linen pattern with red and white checks on the back. Love how these turned out! 

These chairs were bought at a local estate sale and refinished in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (Cream). The fabric selected is a blue and white woven check that I have used on several other pieces this year. Love the crispness of this look!

This set was purchased at the same sale as the French chairs above (blue and white checks). I redid the woodwork in a slightly darker neutral shade (Old Ochre) and had my upholsterer's apply a heavy woven cream fabric to the bulk of the piece with taupe velvet cotton used as piping and on the oval back. I think they look both contemporary and ageless! 

I actually bought this set of six chairs about four years ago and have had them in my "working space" downstairs all this time trying to decide what to do with them. Three of the chairs needed some serious reinforcement of the base which my upholsterer does not do. My husband ended up taking them apart and by re-gluing and re-doweling made them good as new. I had my go-to lacquer specialist, Sharon, redo the woodwork and reupholster the seats in a European linen. Wonderful!

This versatile square ottoman was purchased at an estate sale and reupholstered in this crisp herringbone cream fabric. The styling of the base was changed because we could not get the multiple pleats to lay flat enough (too much bulk) and this cleaner look is much more attractive. 

These very sturdy chairs were purchased from a moving family on craigslist. I had a hard time trying to decide what kind (weight, pattern) fabric to use and ended up with this heavy woven pattern in cool blues and greens. I think the weight of the fabric and the oversized pattern work well on these large chairs. I hope someone else agrees! 

This lovely French style (my overall favorite) settee was purchased at an estate sale. It has been refurbished with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (Cream) and reupholstered in a heavy teal woven fabric with an embroidered look. This one is on hold pending a decision from a client - so not currently on sale. 

This chair was purchased at an estate sale and has been refinished in chalk paint (old white) and reupholstered in a crisp red and white cotton ticking. I do like this French Country look!

That's it (probably for the year). Have a happy holiday and see you in 2015!