A Tale of On-Line Design Collaboration!

Recently, I concluded an online collaboration with a customer in New Jersey who was interested in buying a set of four dining chairs that I had refurbished using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ASCP) and a taupe and cream patterned fabric (expertly applied by my go-to upholsterers - the fabulous Lee's of Sun's Upholstery in Norcross, GA).  I thought a posting about the experience might calm others about on-line collaborations and buying furniture on-line - at least from me!

My potential buyer was worried about purchasing this set of chairs - that she would not be able to find a  table that would work with unique look. She asked if I would be willing to find and refurnish a round table to complement the set and ship them together.  We communicated back and forth about her interests including:

• Style and size of round table 
• Cost point
• Timeline for completion
• Shipping costs

I did several things concurrently:

• Used craigslist descriptions and photos to share ideas about possible tables to be bought and refurbished
• Obtained shipping quote (and general timeline) from my go-to shipper - (Cascadiacascadiaexpress@hotmail.com) 
• Checked with my ASCP paint store link to Chalk It Up - Norcross to get advice on finishing a dining table that would require a little more wear and tear than my usual chairs and small table/decorative item projects

Craigslist table.

My customer had some initial requirements for a table that were modified with time. She had preferred a table with four legs and not a central base. During this period, I found none that were attractive (or stable) - the round model was definitely the norm with four chairs. I shared several potential pieces before finding the right one on craigslist and proceeded to make the purchase - fortunately the price was right and it was still available. 

The table was solid and in good shape so painting was all it needed. I refinished it using ASCP CoCo but only used the dark was on the base. My conversation with the ASCP experts informed me that the clear wax was a better seal for the top - I did four coats to create a hard finish that should last and last. 

Photo of completed table with chairs - before shipping

Before finishing the set, my customer did add a set of French style chairs - redone in a hard lacquer finish with linen fabric - to her purchase so all traveled together to her home in New Jersey.

Here are photos provided by the customer of the pieces in her home - she is excited and I am very happy to see how well they work in her space.  This was fun!

I love seeing photos of my pieces in my customer's homes - very satisfying! 

Selling on One Kings Lane - An Update

Most recent sale on One Kings Lane - French Style Bench. I like the clean look of their photographs.

Recently, I reported that I had been approached by One Kings Lane "Vintage and Market Finds" Team inviting me to sell some of my refurbished upholstered furniture through their site. Here is a link to my current sale in this section.They actively search out other sales and websites and seek potential vendors for their sales. I described in my earlier post that there were two issues that I needed to deal with in order to take advantage of this offer.

1.  Their "take" is 35%, so my sales prices would have to be higher than those offered on eBay and Etsy in order for me to make the same amount. Etsy is the lowest priced in this group.

2.  The sales team wants photographs against a very clean, preferably white background so that their photoshop folks can easily post the photographs based on their standards.

I struggled with the latter until I found that I could use either my garage cream background (placing a cream colored sheet or sheets on the floor to equalize the two areas) or my lower level fabric room which has goldish walls and carpeting that are similar in color.  I have successfully used both to photograph over a dozen items and submit them to the site for sale. I must admit, I like how the site makes my pieces look and have downloaded their photos to include in my other sale sites.

So, what is my experience to date?

I have listed about 10 items on the site - some twice. I have had three sales - two to the same individual. The sales run only for five days which seems to spur a lot of activity.

This set of chairs was my first sale. I took the photos in my garage against a plain background and placed a sheet on the floor. The One Kings Lane photoshop team created the crisp version by eliminating the background.

One thing that is very nice for me is that all my sales on this site are subject to "white glove" delivery service that is paid for by the buyer and totally arranged by the site. They send me the bill of lading and the shipping company notifies me when they can pick up - super easy!

I just sold these striped club chairs on One Kings Lane - waiting for pickup.

Other items listed on One Kings Lane - none sold on that site but the yellow wing backs and bench are no longer available. I will be re listing the others unless they sell before they are scheduled.

 So, what do I think?

This is one more on-line selling venue and I would guess they might be open to being contacted if someone is interested in using them - they contacted me so I did not have that experience. Because of their portion of the sale, the prices are higher than other venues but the site does seem to attract quite a following. It also has a very professional appearance and appears to be well-run. Lastly, I can only address the selling side of their transactions since I have not been on the buying side - I cannot afford their great offerings for reasons that I now fully understand!

Selling and Buying on One King's Lane

One King's Lane is an online "store" link to site that features many great items and some pretty good prices.  It is professionally designed and managed and has been in place since 2009. One of the sales options is "Vintage and Market Finds" which is set up as an invitation-only sales site.

Vintage & Market Finds

A vibrant marketplace, arranged by category, featuring vintage, antique, and one-of-a-kind pieces from hand-selected sellers across the country. Hundreds of items added every day!

 Some time ago, I was asked to submit products to be sold here. Because of their photo requirements (must be against mostly white background) and cost structure (they take 35% of the total sale), it took me some time to find the right pieces to sell and submit them for approval.  Today, my first set of chairs are available on the site - link to my chairs on vintage and market finds.

It remains to be seen how well this sales venue works but it is nice to see my products shown on this well designed on-line sales site and to gain that additional exposure.

Pinterest Dreaming - My Pieces in Pinned Rooms

I love using Pinterest link to my pinterest boards to find and organize interior design images that help me decide how to refurbish the great, heirloom-quality upholstered pieces that I find.  These images serve as my on-going "trends" barometer to see what images, colors, patterns, combinations people like best.  In this posting, I am showing some of my favorite "shop" pieces link to my website in virtual settings from my pinterest boards.

These velvet and complementary fabric chairs are VERY COMFORTABLE - would work in the pinterest settings shown - link to pinterest board

I love the combination of a crisp green with white - source link to pinterest boards. 

This is a nice combination of seafoam blue with apple green - soft and serene - link to pinterest board

White wingbacks go anywhere! 

This lovely set is vintage and down with a Laura Ashely linen - it would look great in this room - link to pinterest boards. 

The colors are a little off but that may be the photography - I love my cane-sided chairs in this crisp white and buttercup damask patterned fabric - link to pinterest boards

Well, I certainly enjoyed this pinterest dreaming opportunity!   I hope you do too!

An On-Line Furniture Buying Success Story - Delivery Day

Amy's New Wydeven Designs Settee

Yesterday was a glorious February day in Georgia.  The weather was mild (up to mid-50's in the afternoon) and the sun bright.  It was a perfect day for an excursion!

I had sold this lovely settee to a former client who had moved to Carrolton - about 1.5 hours from my house and west of the city.   She had been so pleased with her prior purchase of two cream wingbacks that she was very comfortable buying this piece on-line.

I had previously delivered her chairs and offered to deliver this piece as well so this was the day to do it! I asked by recent college graduate son who is in the midst of job-hunting to accompany me to her home.  I always do my around the city and beyond traveling between 9:30 and 2:30 to avoid the major traffic we get in this area.  It was a lovely drive and good company and Amy was thrilled with the piece.

So - a great day for a good drive and a lot of satisfaction that this lovely settee (sunburst bonded silk fabric - very special) has a new home.  I love Amy's color coordination here!

Holiday Decorating All Year Round

I spent part of yesterday at my daughter's house babysitting for the little one.  She is in the midst of her holiday decorating and commented that she had the perfect Christmas house - a bright green and white kitchen, a gold living room with plaid rose and green chairs, and a rose and apple green family room.  One of her girls has a deep pink bedroom and the other aqua with pinks and yellows.  All that is needed is the tree and accessories and the whole house is sparkling with Christmas cheer!  I had sewn for her two rose and green plaid tablecloths for the larger than usual crowd expected Christmas eve and was delivering those as well - so she is almost all set!

I also noticed this wonderful symmetry in many of the holiday settings shown in the December issues of decorating magazine.  I follow a favorite Arkansas designer and blogger, Tobi Farley, link and through her found the magazine "At Home in Arkansas".  One article featured another designer Cynthia Smiley, who has a lovely home all ready for the holidays and, again, all she has to do is add some decorations.

Cynthia Smiley's Holiday Kitchen

My own home (and taste) also provide good foundational colors for the seasonal decorations with a lot of reds in my formal areas and an apple green master suite.  I also have a number of great refurbished chairs available on-line that would provide a good basis for a cheerful holiday house all year around - link to on-line store!

Chairs for a Holiday House All Year Around

Holiday Decorating - Including My Pieces

Sunroom Tree in My Home

I am excited to get the holiday decorating issues of the various magazines I subscribe to - seven have arrived over the past few days. I will be scrutinizing each and every article and photo for inspiration.   We have mostly finished our decorating and have installed two full-size Christmas trees this year - one in our "sunroom" and the other in a cozy corner of the red dining room.  The place feels magical, particularly at night.  

Dining Room Tree

Although I do get Better Homes and Gardens magazine, I am always impressed with the Better Homes and Garden website link.  It is one of the ones that I do not find irritating to get multiple updates during the week - they are always interesting and inspirational.  (The other website updates I like is for Real Simple - great ideas and recipes link).

Recently, I found a link to living rooms with holiday decorations on the Better Homes and Garden site - each bright and unique - many different approaches to decorating for the holidays.  I reviewed several with the idea of inserting some of my refurbished pieces and could easily imagine it.  I would guess this comes under the category of "more value for less money" since my pieces are reasonable, American-made and well constructed, and support green decorating - a nice combination!

BHG Living - Two of my Neutral Chairs

BHG Living Room - Two of my Red Chairs

You Choose Fabric Sales - Before and After - An Update

Several months ago I started selling "You Choose Fabric" upholstered furniture on eBay.  I regularly get comments and questions from potential buyers indicating that they love a particular piece but would need to have it in another fabric in order to use it in their decor.  So, I started showing the "before" pieces with some fabric options and a price tag that included custom upholstery work by the masters at my local Song's/Lee's Upholstery shop in Norcross, Georgia.  Here's an analysis of that effort and a status report.  I have sold three items in the "You Choose Fabric" category and show before and after below.  I have found it hard to sell this way and conclude one or more of the following:

• It is hard for people to visualize how a piece of furniture can be transformed from a not so great "before" to a wonderful "after" piece of furniture until it is complete.
• People often don't know what they want until they see it - then it either is a "YES" or a "NO".  I have had a lot of questions and on-line discussions with potential buyers who are not able to make up their minds about whether they want to go ahead with a particular fabric even when they clearly like the piece in question and are somewhat clear about fabric choices.
• Even if I have a buyer and a willing collaborator, they are nervous about the outcome.  I have had to say that I will not require them to buy the pieces if they don't really like the results.  Fortunately all around, this has not yet happened.

It is easy for me to list the "You Choose Fabric" options so I will continue to see to sell some pieces that way but I am not finding it as easy to do as I had hoped.

Here are some great transformations:

In Praise of the Vintage Look

Recently, as I was working on my painting project (see prior blog), I found an article in the newspaper I was using as a drop cloth entitled "The Vintage Look is Increasingly Trendy" by Emily Weinstein of the NY Times.  In it, she talks about the growing popularity of the handmade, the old, and the authentic.  She laments, to some extent, the fact that the major furnishings retailers such as Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn and West Elm are featuring new items based on vintage designs which of course makes them much less individualistic and authentic.  The market for vintage does seem huge.  In traveling several weekends ago to the Scott's Antique Market's monthly extravaganza in the Atlanta area, I was amazed at the number of people both exhibiting and actively buying - obviously in quest of that which is unique and authentic.   This brings me to my own quest for the well-build American vintage upholstered furniture pieces that I seek and refurbish - and that I sell throughout the country.  I hope that a comment made in the article is accurate:  "... the style's popularity has been a decade in the making, and won't be fading soon"!

Vintage French Chair in Silk Plaid

Vintage Cane-sided Wing Back Chairs (sold)

Vintage (60's) Club Chairs

Buying Furniture Online - Seat Heights

This is the third installation in this series about buying furniture on-line and gaining a comfort level with a purchase that you cannot feel, touch, sit-in, etc.   I have discussed color selection/matching and seat cushion composition previously.  This blog is about seat cushion heights and a little about width and depth.  The standard height (measured from the floor to the top of the seat cushion) of club chairs is 15-16" and wing back and other more formal chairs tend to be 18-20" (some even higher).   The standard seat depth (measured from front of seat to back) is 20 - 21".

Wingback - 20" seat height

Tapered Chairs - 17" seat height

Blue and White Chair - 16" seat height

Before buying on-line, it is a good idea to experiment and conduct some research about comfort levels in seat heights.  Start by sitting in chairs already in your home or going to a furniture store and sitting in various chairs - make sure you take measurements to determine what height works best for you.  If seat depths are too deep, it is easy to adjust with a lumbar or other accent pillow.