Before and After - Magical Transformations!

Now and again, I review my photos and check out my own before and after stars. Today, I am featuring some recent magical transformations. I hope to inspire others to consider using existing furniture, of all types, and pursuing transformations themselves. It is a "green" way to decorate and very rewarding.

Here are some more stars from my own collection! ENJOY!!

I bought this sweet chair at an estate sale - all it needed was some a great fabric!

This great vintage piece had been in my neighbor's family for generations. One day, she offered it to me and I took it. I refurbished the woodwork with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (CoCo with dark wax to highlight the curves) and had it upholstered in a linen-look heavy tweed.  

This graceful chair came from an estate sale. I refurbished the woodwork with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (Country Grey) and had it reupholstered in a cream linen-look woven fabric.  

These chairs were on a Craigslist sale. They were reupholstered in a woven and embroidered-look cream fabric with teal details (love this fabric)!

This chair was purchased at an estate sale. The legs were refinished (chalk paint again) and I had enough fabric left-over from another set to redo in this wonderful ikat!

This chair was purchased in a consignment shop in Destin, Florida, during a recent trip. The brand is exceptional! All it needed was a seafoam blue woven fabric to look great again.

Before and After - My Own Parade!

Every now and then, I have been posting some of my own "before and after" photos which is a joy for me and, I hope, encourages others to look at existing furniture sources for their new/improved home decorations. It is a GREEN way to decorate and according to House Beautiful, vintage and one-of-a-kind is very trendy for 2014.

Here are some of my beautifies - some more radically transformed than others.

This may have been my most minimal restoration of the year. The finish on the chair was in perfect condition and all it needed was a new fabric seat. This piece was purchased at one of "Vicki's" estate sales. 

Another item from Vicki's sale in Brookhaven (next door to friend's house), this Henredon chair has very nice light woodwork - the new cream fabric really makes it pop. 

Another Vicki story!  This set was featured at one of Vicki's sales near downtown Atlanta and I had left a bid. The bid was not accepted. Several weeks later, I saw this set on Craigslist and I again offered the same amount and this time it was accepted. This is one of the nicest sets of wing back chairs I have had offered for sale. 

This settee was brought as a result of a Craigslist add. The sellers use space in an antique mall and I got this great piece at a pretty good price. It just sold and was picked up for One King's Lane. 

This set of Lee Industries wingback chairs were originally purchased through a craigslist ad - I love the clean look.

I bought this chair at an estate/moving sale in Brookhaven and initially tried to sell it "as is". No-one seemed to want it with its original fabric. I must admit, I much prefer it in its new fabric.

This chair and ottoman were purchased through a craigslist ad from a home in Smyrna, a suburb of Atlanta west of the city. The original leather fabric was very soft but way too sloppy and worn. I think it has a "Ralph Lauren" look about it with its soft wool-blend plaid.

That is it for today's Before and After Parade. I cannot overstate how gratifying it is to turn these worn but well built pieces into modern and very desirable furniture!

Earth Day - Reuse, Refurbish, Repurpose!

In honor of Earth Day 2013, I thought I would resurrect a theme that I started with in my early blogging days - Saved From a Dumpster - the idea that refurbishing old but structurally intact upholstered pieces is good for the environment because the other place these pieces are likely to end up is in some dumpster and ultimately into landfill.

Between 1960 and 2008 the population of the United States has grown 69%. The number of households has increased 94% in the same time due to each household being statistically smaller. The amount of upholstered furniture we are throwing away into landfills has increased six times from the 1960 figures to those of 2008. Though the numbers have increased each decade the real jump occurred in the 1980’s and has climbed since then.  link to source

It has been almost ten years since I have started to seek high quality but outdated upholstered pieces to refurbish. During that period, I have refurbished and sold over 1000 pieces - many of which would likely have been placed in dumpsters and headed for landfill. This is something that everyone can do and it even makes sense economically. Most older pieces are better made than today's readily available furniture. Most were made in America and reflect high standards of manufacturing that are more difficult (and expensive) to find today. So, in honor of Earth Day - here are some more recent "saved from the dumpster pieces"!

Most of these items are sold - eBay or Etsy 

Most of these items are available - eBay or Etsy

I hope these images are inspirational and encourage others to reuse, refurbish and repurpose!

Before and After - My Own Parade

Every now and then, I want to highlight some of the amazing transformations that I have been able to achieve buying well constructed used furniture; finding great designer fabrics; and, working with a trusted master upholsterer to do the actual expert work of reupholstering. It is what I do and have been doing for almost nine years. It is a labor of love!

Here are some of my recent projects - most are sold on eBay, Etsy, and my website. Occasionally, I am selling on One King's Lane as well.

This is something EVERYONE can do. I hope that these examples  inspire others to look for reusing, repurposing and transforming great heirloom pieces of furniture - it's a green way to decorate and take better care of our environment.

These chairs are not yet listed. I bought them through a Craigslist "for sale by owner" listing. The chairs are on rollers and the fabric is a nice weight cotton print.

I purchased two loveseats like this through a Craigslist sale. They are exceptionally well made with hand-tied springs and impeccable woodwork. I only had one redone in this textured cream fabric allowing a buyer to buy one or two in this or another fabric.

I bought this chair at an estate sale. It was in good shape but needed a new seat cushion. The detailed channel back with buttons is an extremely tricky upholstery option and was well executed here demonstrating that it does take a lot of skill and talent to do this work.

This chair was bought at a garage sale and had good bones. The woodwork was not bad just boring so I hand-finished it in an Annie Sloan Chalk Paint called Chateau Grey. The fabric is a whimsical French Script in a matching color. 

This chaise sold immediately. It was bought at an estate sale and reupholstered in a very nice yellow cotton fabric. The tailored skirt gives it a much more elegant appearance.

This set of well constructed chairs was purchased at Goodwill Industries. The fabric was discolored and in bad shape. The frame was in perfect condition. The fabric is a nice woven green and cream bought at an estate sale.

This set of slipper chairs are manufactured by Charles Stewart (North Carolina) and were custom made. The new fabric is a seafoam (teal, aqua) and cream chevron. 

This set of chairs was purchased at an antique shop. The fabric came from an estate sale and is a richly colored teal ultra suede on a bonded background. I am going to have to figure out a way to get better photos - these look much too washed out.

I hope you enjoyed this before and after journey!  Let me know what you think of these transformations!

Art Deco in the Desert

Art Deco Space - Love the Mid-Century Style Furniture

Recently, we had the opportunity to stay in a friend's lovely Palm Desert (part of Palm Springs area in California) condo which had been decorated in what I would describe as "Art Deco - Mid-Century" style. I just loved the richly saturated decor and how well it had been put together by this artist and his wife.

The art deco style is one I have not often seen carried out in an actual home and particularly not in the area of the country in which I live - the traditional South! It just seems perfect for this desert region.

The term 'Art Deco' is taken from the name of the 1925 Paris exhibition titled Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes.

Artists of the day began creating works of art that were highly stylized and purely decorative. The focus started to shift from the cold, dismal, lifeless factories to the energetic, colourful natural environment. source

Details of Space Using Color FIlters (my husbsand's red jacket is on table).

 I found some interesting articles and information about the Art Deco style.

Colorful Furniture and Artwork

It is an eclectic style that combines traditional craft motifs with Machine Age imagery and materials. The style is often characterized by rich colors, bold geometric shapes and lavish ornamentation. source

One of the things I found particularly great about this decor and how they had put it together is that much of the furniture and accessories were purchased in consignment shops in the Palm Desert area. In driving around, we noted that there appeared to be many shops - what a great green decorating challenge and outcome! You can tell that they had a great time doing this!

Since the owner is an artist, many pieces of art - including his own - are shown throughout the space adding additional layers of color and interest.

Great Artwork! 

 I fell in love not only with this beautiful space but with the whole Palm Desert/Palm Springs area. I have been bugging my husband about possible property investments, but so far he is not convinced. I will just have to try harder!

This posting has been shared on the following blog - French Country Cottage.

My Own Before and After Parade - A Tribute to Refurbishing

My passion is to find great, usually American-made heirloom quality upholstered furniture that is no longer useable but has good bones and a solid foundation.  It is lovingly restored for at least one more life - hopefully, more. It is such a GREEN way to decorate a home!

I am constantly impressed with the magic of the restoration process.  I find that this time-honored tradition is often a component of decorated spaces in major decorating magazines, websites, etsy and eBay stores and pinterest boards - check out several of my boards here.  I use estate sales, garage sales, craigslist, goodwill and other sources of well-priced heirloom pieces.

Every so often, I compose a posting of just my own "before and after" images and here is one that covers pieces completed over the past several months. I do not do my own upholstery work - I use the fabulous Lees of Norcross, Georgia. I do touch up (and sometimes refinish) the woodwork but generally do not buy any piece that has damaged woodwork (even if repaired) or badly scarred woodwork that cannot be refinished.

Vintage Channel Back Chair - Craigslist Purchase - available for sale through eBay and Etsy 

Set of Lee Industries Club Chairs (with Ottoman) - Estate Sale Purchase - Available through eBay and Etsy 

Set of Classic Wingbacks - Craigslist Purchase - Available through eBay and Etsy

Gooseneck Martha Washington - Consignment Sale Purchase - Available through eBay and Etsy

Sherrill Tight-seat Chairs - Craigslist Purchase - Available through eBay and Etsy

Sette and Ottoman - Garage Sale Purchase - Available through eBay and Etsy

Cane-sided Wingback Chairs - Craigslist Purchase - Available through eBay and Etsy

Club Chairs - Estate Sale Purchase - Available through eBay and Etsy

I think these transformations demonstrate how nicely these great pieces can be transformed and hope the results inspire others to do the same!  They truly do not make them like this anymore and certainly less and less in America!

This posting is linked here - Savvy Southern Style.

A Labor Day Tribute - Upholsterers and Their Magic

In honor of labor day, I want to salute the great work done by my upholsterers, the fabulous Lees of Norcross, Georgia, in helping me execute my passion for refurbishing heirloom quality upholstered furniture to live another day - a GREEN way of decorating.  I am hoping that these images help inspire others to save/buy those well-constructed, mostly American-made pieces of furniture that would otherwise go into our expanding landfill problem.  They truly do not make them like they used to!

Here are some of my most recent transformations - enjoy!

I bought this set of chairs (with three other chairs) from a friends neighbor who was moving - she had inherited some of her pieces from her parents and grandparents.

I bought this set at a neighborhood sale in the Ansley area of Atlanta.

I bought this set off of Craigslist from a widower who was remarrying.   These had been his deceased wife's favorite chairs.

I bought this set (and two sets of wingback chairs) at an estate sale in Alpharetta - a suburb of Atlanta.

I bought this set from a Craigslist add from a fellow Wisconsin transplant.  

My husband and I took a long Sunday drive to the Lake Lanier area of Georgia to buy this chair from a Craigslist ad.

I bought this chair from a shop on Miami Circle - near the Buckhead area of Atlanta. 

This set came from the same sale as the settee below - a moving sale billed as an estate sale.

I bought this settee at a moving sale in the Buckhead area of Atlanta.

Isn't the transformation wonderful and magical!  Unfortunately, the skills required to do fine upholstering work like this are in short supply - it is a diminishing field of expertise.  I hope that it doesn't disappear altogether!

Check out these and other of my refurbished pieces on my website - link to website.  This blog is linked to the following parties - Savvy Southern Style

Earth Day 2012 - Go Green!!

From Earth Day photo page on internet.

Yesterday was Earth Day 2012 and a lot of people payed homage to the many ways in which you can celebrate and promote the the world we live in.  One of the hallmarks of Earth Day is to "go green" and reduce the reliance on new manufactured consumer goods.

I researched Earth Day and found the following interesting description of its history and some of the cultural and societal influences - ones I remember well:

Each year, Earth Day -- April 22 -- marks the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.

The height of hippie and flower-child culture in the United States, 1970 brought the death of Jimi Hendrix, the last Beatles album, and Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. Protest was the order of the day, but saving the planet was not the cause. War raged in Vietnam, and students nationwide increasingly opposed it.

At the time, Americans were slurping leaded gas through massive V8 sedans. Industry belched out smoke and sludge with little fear of legal consequences or bad press. Air pollution was commonly accepted as the smell of prosperity. “Environment” was a word that appeared more often in spelling bees than on the evening news.  Although mainstream America remained oblivious to environmental concerns, the stage had been set for change by the publication of Rachel Carson's New York Times bestseller Silent Spring in 1962.  The book represented a watershed moment for the modern environmental movement, selling more than 500,000 copies in 24 countries and, up until that moment, more than any other person, Ms. Carson raised public awareness and concern for living organisms, the environment and public health.

Earth Day 1970 capitalized on the emerging consciousness, channeling the energy of the anti-war protest movement and putting environmental concerns front and center. http://www.earthday.org/earth-day-history-movement

So this is a good time to rededicate ourselves to repurposing, refurbishing, reusing and limiting excess landfill.  One of the founding principles of my personal business - Wydeven Designs - is dedicated to this cause as stated on my website:

This is also an environmentally-friendly - GREEN - enterprise. We are participating in recycling, reusing, and reducing the reliance on newly manufactured products that require precious natural resources. link to site

From my Inventory - Before and After Upholstered Furniture

Before and After - French Style Chair Reupholstered in a Brass Colored Textured Silk with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ASCP) Woodwork in Old White with Clear Wax - link to website

This blog was just linked to a WOW us Wednesday Linked Party Site - connect here to the party!  WOW Party

I have been fascinated by the number of blogs and pinterest "pins" that are all about "before and after" transformations - there are a LOT of bright and creative people out there!  I have a pinterest board set up just to capture the many ideas people have for refurbishing furniture - see board.   I also have a pinterest board on Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - one of my new obsessions/ideas - that also covers many before and after projects.

It has now been eight years since I started doing this small GREEN enterprise - Wydeven Designs - dedicated to finding pieces of upholstered furniture that have good (even excellent) bones but that SHOUT out to be redone and saved from the dumpster.  Unfortunately, most of the furniture that is being manufactured today, like so many items, are not being manufactured to last a long time and the dumpster/landfill problem is only going to get worse.  While I can make this contribution, and sell enough pieces to keep it going, I hope to inspire others to do the same.

FULL DISCLOSURE:  I do not do my own upholstery work - I do not have the interest or talent and use expert, master upholsterers to get these stunning results.  I have been doing the woodwork including ASCP treatments.  I hunt for and find the pieces; buy fabrics; put together the designs/treatments; handle woodwork refurbishing/cleaning/painting; and, deliver to Song's Upholstery in Norcross, Georgia for their expert workmanship.

Here are some recent examples of upholstered furniture found and refurbished!  Enjoy!

Waterfall Sides and Back (no seam) Chair and Ottoman Found at Estate Sale - VERY GOOD BONES - Reupholstered in a Soft Green Plaid!

Chair (also waterfall sides and back) - Custom Upholstered for Client in Client Fabric.  Ottoman has Slipcover!

Damaged Bergere Chair (dog damage - don't ask) Totally Refurbished - Fabric is Waverly Country Toile - Woodwork is ASCP Old White which is Slightly Distressed! 

Hickory Chair (GREAT USA Manufacturer) Settee Reupholstered in a Woven Tone-on-tone Neutral Fabric!