Before and After - Magical Transformations!

My little business thrives on the fact that there are SO many great pieces of heirloom-quality furniture out there in desperate need of being saved. It is just a matter of finding the piece and transforming it to perpetuate its life for another 20-30 plus years. I just had this discussion with a new client yesterday - it is worth spending the time and money to find and refurbish a well manufactured piece of furniture and it creates a value that is very hard to duplicate today at anywhere near the same cost (if at all). And the best part - it is an environmentally friendly approach to home furnishings!

Here is my latest crop of "before and after" transformations - all deserving a gold star!

I found this little chair at a local thrift shop and redid the woodwork with chalk paint. This lovely Waverly print has now been used on four pieces. 

This chair came from the same thrift store as above - I do love this lively linen-blend fabric! 

This chair came from an estate sale and the dark brown wood was badly scarred. It is heavy and very comfortable - a little more "masculine" than my normal transformations.

This vintage settee was purchased at a "Vicki's" estate sale. I love the french stripe!

These three chairs were bought at a consignment shop during one of our road trips (this one to Virginia). The looks are very different. Both were refinished in chalk paint (two chairs in duck egg blue and the other old ochre).  

This set of chairs was purchased at a flea market during our recent trip to West Palm Beach, FL. The set was totally transformed with a lacquer paint and cream linen fabric.

This is another chair from one of "Vicki's" estate sales. The wood was in perfect condition - it just needed a fresh fabric.

Another vintage chaise from "Vicki's" sales. I did have to discard the down cushion - it was not salvable. The new high density foam cushion gives the piece a more tailored look.

I bought these lovely chairs from a craigslist add - eight lovely Baker chairs. I waited a long time before selecting the yellow silk (with velvet backs). They are on their way to Naples, Florida. 

Another "Vicki's" estate sale purchase! I have used this highly textured cream fabric on a set of Baker settees last year so it is only fitting to use the remaining fabric on this great chair!

ANOTHER "Vicki's" sale piece (hidden in garage and in plastic wrap and found by my husband). The soft cotton velvet was the right fabric for this lovely piece which is already in its new home in Southern California. 

I bought this great chair in a consignment shop right after the holidays. It will be on its way to its new home in Pennsylvania soon!

OK - this is the last "Vicki's" estate sale piece for today (although I have more). This nicely sized chair with down cushion was redone in a nice woven tweed.

Well, that's the latest batch! I hope it inspires others to look for and refurbish these gems from yesteryear - happy hunting!

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!

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 Projects!

It has been some time since I've posted my own "before" and "after" miracles - so here is an update. I love them all! Included in the descriptions are all of my purchasing and "fixing up" secrets. Enjoy!

I purchased this chair at an estate sale held by Annette - one of my favorite sellers. It is a Woodmark - great North Carolina company. The fabric came from Fabric World (Stone Mountain fabric warehouse) - a bright buffalo plaid!

I found these chairs on Craigslist. I refinished the woodwork in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint's Duck Egg Blue (one of my favorite colors) and had the chairs reupholstered in a Charles Cantrell cotton print purchased at Fabric World. 

The history of this set of fabulous chairs is a little convoluted. I had originally spotted them at an estate sale (Vicki's) and left a bid. I did not hear back on my bid but saw them on Craigslist a little later being sold for exactly my bid offer. I did (of course) try to get a better deal but ended up paying the bid price - a little steep for me but a great price for this set - $250. The fabric was an eBay purchase - a heavy cream matellase.  Needless to say, this sold almost immediately.

I purchased this great little chair at an estate sale. The woodwork is exactly like one I have in my own home with a darker finish. I had the chair recovered in a blue plaid purchased at Calico Corners Fine Fabrics (major discount).

I purchased this sweet little settee at a nearby neighbor's craigslist sale. The original woodwork was in great condition. The piece was reupholstered in a very durable blue woven fabric (composition unknown) purchased at a super bolt sale at Fabric World.

I bought this set at an estate sale on a bid. The original woodwork is very interesting! The chairs were upholstered in a heavy woven fabric - teal and cream - from Fabric World. These were sold on One King's Lane.

These wonderful chairs came from an estate sale. I had them reupholstered in a wonderful soft woven organic cotton purchased on eBay. They are enjoying their new home in Colorado. 

I bought these chairs thru a Craigslist ad and refinished the woodwork in ASCP - Country Grey. The upholstery is a cream-white twill from Fabric World. 

Well, that's the latest on this hot sunny Sunday morning in Atlanta. Have a great week!

French Style Trio Transformed with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

Pieces bought at Scott's Antique Market - BEFORE refurbishing.

I continue to enjoy the wonderful transformations possible with heirloom quality furniture - sometimes just new fabric is needed but at other times the wood needs attention as well.  Recently, I wrote about the culmination (to date) of lessons learned using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ASCP) link to posting and highlighted some of my 2014 projects.

This posting is about a very special trio of French style pieces bought from a Florida vendor at the June Atlanta Scott's Antique Market link to website. I recently listed the three pieces (and have already sold one through One King's Lane link to one of the listings on OKL.

The basic construction on these pieces (estimated to be 60-70's vintage) was solid. Each has hand-tied eight-way steel coil springs which ensure a stable seat platform foundation (and their presence is a GREAT way to determine the quality of a piece of upholstered furniture - only the best have these coils). The woodwork was fully intact but had old finishes which had become dirty and discolored over time. The fabric, of course, desperately needed replacing - it may have been original. The set was perfect for me and the seller said she did not want to truck these back to Florida so she gave me a very good price on them.

First two steps illustrated. I always use Goof Off to thoroughly clean the woodwork of oils, dirt, grease, tobacco staining and anything else that would interfere with good adhesion or create stubbles in the painted surface.

This is the one that has already sold on One King's Lane ($999). I choose a "French linen" cream fabric to offset the neutral wood finish. My upholsterers (the fabulous Lee's of Sun's Upholstery in Norcross, WI) do a wonderful job with the double welting and extensive back tufting. 

This bergere was upholstered in a paler cream fabric which beautifully offsets the chalk paint finish. The first paint coat was ASCP Old White with a diluted Duck Egg Blue light brush (almost dry) overcoat. The double-welted fabric is a duck egg color and highlights the wood finish. I love how this turned out!

The finish and fabric on this slightly oversized - almost a settee - chair is the same as the first item above. It does create a nice clean look!

I will be keeping my eye out for more French style pieces - my overall favorite style - and need to get to work on the pieces in my garage. This is, after all, just procrastination but I am getting inspired to get out there to start the new projects!

Before and After - It'a A GREEN Business

Every now and then, I reflect on the reason I love doing what I do - the AMAZING transformation of old, tired (sometimes saved from a dumpster) upholstered pieces into wonderful and even trendy "better than new" furniture. It is so gratifying to see these pieces change by the professional application of new fabrics and the occastional touch of paint. As I think about ten years in business, this is really what it is all about and why it continues to excite me!

Here are some recent transformations and all of my not-so-secret sources!

I bought this piece at an estate sale in Buckhead (heart of "tony" Atlanta neighborhood). It cost me $50 and was in pretty sad condition. The fabric was bought on-line (eBay) from one of my go-to fabric houses - a woven blue and white check. 

I bought four of these chairs for $25 each from a Craigslist ad. They had been part of a collection of eight in a large estate. Two of the wooden legs were in great shape and left as-is and two were chalk painted in graphite. The fabric, a deep rose-red cotton velvet was bought at a local fabric warehouse - Fabric World in Stone Mountain. I add my Ikea accent pillows ($7.99 each for feather/down combo) to most of my pieces.

This graceful Henredon chair with limed oak finish came from a moving/estate sale (one of my favorite sellers - Vicki) in Brookhaven. It was in reasonably good condition and only needed new fabric to make it pop. This is a another Fabric World fabric purchase.

This chair came from the same "Vicki" sale as the one above. It was  star in this wonderful house. The newly applied fabric was purchased at a garage sale last year held by two women who are in the business of making custom bedding and drapes. I bought about 20 yards at the sale for a great price - less than $50 total.

This set of chairs was purchased at an estate moving sale in the Chastain Park area of the city. The house was ultra-modern - an unusual shape for the area. This was the second time I had seen these chairs at a sale in this house but this time they were within my price point - $100 for the pair. The striped linen/chenille fabric came from Fabric World - the Stone Mountain fabric warehouse. 

These vintage chairs were purchased at a Buckhead  moving sale - right on the main drag  (Paces Ferry Road near the Governor's Mansion). I paid $150 for the pair. The most interesting thing about this sale is that it was being held by Jeff and David,  two customers of mine from several years ago. They bought over a dozen items from me at the time - it was great catching up! The cotton velvet fabric came from Fabric World.

Here is the other set of Carter chairs done in an eBay fabric (cream chenille in tone on tone texture). This is the set that has the redone (chalk paint) legs.

Well, this set of "before and after" stories tell some of the tale of my work and passion.  It is nice that such a green business can be so much fun and rewarding!

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!