Beautiful Friday for Sales

Since my husband retired at the end of last year, he often becomes my companion for "estate sale shopping", particularly on Fridays. I am increasingly finding that most good sales start either Thursday or Friday and not too often on Saturday. Thus, Friday has become my primary day to buy refurnish-able upholstered furniture. He describes his role as "carry and haul assistant" - which I will not dispute!

Yesterday was a beautiful day in the Atlanta area with clear blue skies and temperatures into the low and mid 60's. We, like much of the country, have had a very rough winter and this was a nice change.

We traveled to a number of locations to check out the listed sales.

This was our first sale - handled by Ann & Dell, a selling team that has been doing this for years and years. The prices were pretty good and I bought the chair for $50. It does need everything and I was able to talk them down from $75.

I left three bids at this sale and have not yet heard if I got any of them. The first chair was actually pretty well priced at $250 - if is a beauty. I, however, am such a cheapskate that I just couldn't do it. I bid $160 which is very high for me.

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This was the first of two "Vicki" sales - one of my favorites although this particular sale did not have much to offer. The Victorian love seat was tempting but had pieces of wood missing.

This was the other Vicki sale - lots of upholstered furniture although most of it was oversized and not me. The prices were very high and Vicki told me that the sellers wouldn't entertain low-ball bids so I passed. 

Best sale of the day also handled by a known estate sale organization. I was able to negotiate a very nice price for two Ralph Laurent (YES) love seats - all down, a rose-ted slim wingback which I hope to sell as is, and a set of square ottomans. Not too bad!  I even was able to get a dress, silk blouse and cashmere sweater thrown in - what a deal!

SO, this was a great day and now I need to find enough fabric to cover the two love seats - about 30 yards will be required which is far more than I usually am able to buy at one time.

A Week of Buying Adventures!

This has been a busy week of buying "refurbish-able" upholstered furniture. We are getting close to a two-week vacation out of the country, so I am feeling particularly compelled to get out there and check out as many bargains as I can. Sales have also been robust (for my world), so there is even some money and, more importantly, room for more pieces.

The week started with a phone call from one of my favorite vendors, Vicki, who had a nice sale over the last weekend. I had found a set of great Kindel (perfect condition) dining/accent chairs that were priced pretty high. I had left a bid for 1/3rd the price thinking that was the end of it so was surprised to get a call from Vicki saying that the bid was accepted. I picked up the chairs on Monday afternoon and listed them "as is" on eBay. They are currently under bid with lots of viewers. So, it looks like this was a good investment.

I had been corresponding with a couple living on Lake Lanier (North Georgia) in a city called Flowery Branch. They live on a houseboat and were selling a set of Norwalk accent chairs. I liked the look and have had good luck with Norwalk which is a good to very good brand. The styling is generally very good. So, I drove out there on Tuesday to look at (and buy) the chairs which I plan to reupholster in a great Robert Allen "Beacon Hill" velvet on linen fabric to coordinate with the black woodwork,

The trip was not that long and the visit to the marina where the couple is living was charming - photo of chair below.  I did actually go to Marietta the same afternoon to see (and not buy) a set of club chairs and ottoman - the quality was just not good enough.

The "weekend" estate sales often start as early as Thursday, and I checked out sales Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

This was a nice sale and well orchestrated - something that I have learned to appreciate over the years. This is a neighborhood about six miles from my home.

There were definitely interesting things for sale but the prices were a little high. I left two bids - one on the French style chair and another on the set of club chairs (Drexel Heritage) with ottoman. I haven't heard back so think I didn't get either one. 

This was one of Vicki's sales - it was being held in the garage and lower level of this fabulous house. i did pick up the Southwood Martha Washington chairs (plan to redo in a wonderful green and cream zebra stripe). I also left a bid for two wingback chairs and an ottoman and think I didn't get those.

Line of people waiting to get into Dan Carithers home for the estate (moving sale).

On Saturday, we (now traveling with my faithful companion, Ouida), we really struck out - not much to see and most of the sales were Friday/Saturday meaning that all the good stuff was long gone. We did attend an estate sale at the home of nationally-renowned Atlanta-based interior designer Dan Carithers Link to article bout Dan. I attended his design shop closing about two years ago and bought some wonderful fabrics at great prices. His home was actually somewhat modest but very interesting - although everything was pretty pricey. I was told that he is in poor health and was moving.

On Saturday afternoon, I got a phone call from an estate sale I had attended on Thursday and left some bids). I ended up getting three pieces (two of which are photographed below) for 75% off of the price they had been asking. Not a bad deal!

The chair in the middle is one of two that I got in Flowery Branch - see houseboat sale above.

So, pretty good for the week. I even stopped by a local thrift shop that is run by volunteers and benefits pet shelters and pet placement. I have never bought here but I do check and it is a good cause. I bought two 1950-60's era "junior barrister" chairs that have split leather and solid woodwork - I plan to redo both the wood and the fabric but haven't decided what to use yet.

I got tired just writing this posting!

Before and After - My Own Parade

The thrill I get from transforming old and/or dated upholstered furniture that has good bones and potential (and often saves it from the trash heap) is the reason I do what I do - it certainly isn't a great way to earn a lot of money! I also hope that I can inspire others to do the same. Instead of buying new (often/usually inferior quality) furniture, invest your time in finding and refurbishing heirloom quality pieces - just make sure the quality of construction is there. That includes primarily woodwork and frames that are in good shape and well-constructed foundations in seating platforms (hand-tied 8-way coil springs are the best).

In the name of giving away all of my secrets, here are some recent "before and after" photos with original source information. It's not magic but it does take time and effort - maybe there is a little magic involved!

This great chair (sold) came from one of my favorite estate sale sellers - Vicki - and was reupholstered in a great ikat gold/yellow print. 

This chair was one of two bought from someone on Craigslist - this one was not even listed. I asked if she had any more and here it was and well-constructed too! The fabric is a heavy woven cotton-combination and the woodwork was refinished with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in off-white. I only redid the legs because the original finish was badly chipped. 

This set of club chairs (with matching ottomans on casters) was being sold at a garage sale for a song - they were manufactured by Century Furniture (great construction). I had them reupholstered in a cream damask and they are now sold.

This chaise lounge (hidden amongst a lot of junk) came from the same garage sale as the chairs above and was better constructed than the average chaise with the hand-tied coil springs in the foundation.  It is already living in Florida! 

I love the nice lines on this Italian-made French style chair. The woodwork was in perfect condition and I had a small piece of wonderful cream-on-cream crewel (very high end - costly) available. The chair was bought at an estate sale. 

This chair  which may in fact be a real antique but I had no way of verifying was listed on craigslist and I bought it as well as the striped blue chair above. It was upholstered in a gold damask - slightly formal - and has sold. It is on its way to Asheville, NC. 

There were two of these chairs covered in different fabrics in different rooms at an estate sale. The prices were over a $100 apart which I pointed out to the seller. He sold them to me for the lower of the two prices. The woodwork was in rough condition but I might have redone it anyway since I wanted a painted finish. 

This set of slipper chairs was purchased at another one of Vicki's estate sales - the bones were great but the old fabric was very poorly applied. This new fabric is a pale taupe and cream combination woven - very neutral in appearance.

This lovely vintage settee was purchased at a neighborhood garage sale - the kind that you walk from home to home checking out the goods. The original fabric was actually a mohair (very costly) velvet but just not in great shape. The new fabric is another velvet - this time in pale green.

This little settee was purchased during one of my monthly visits to Scott's Antique Market in Atlanta. It had painted legs but the finish was not in great shape. I refinished in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in graphite (grey-black) and matched it with a great linen fabric. It is living comfortably in Virginia.

I loved this style of small settee which would be wonderful at the end of a bed or in a narrow hallway. It was in very good condition when bought at an estate sale - just needing a fresher fabric. 

This set of settees (bought from a Craigslist add) has been one of this year's favorite transformations. Initially, I was doing the set with this treatment and fabric for an intended buyer in California. She got cold feet and changed her mind but both sold the first week listed. I could have sold a dozen of these. 

These chairs were purchased from the same home as the settees above and have been refinished in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (chateau grey with old white combo) and new Chelsea Linen Fabric.

Well, that was fun for me - I hope you enjoyed the parade and feel inspired to try some of these ideas!

Estate Sale Weekend

Weekend sales in January have been OK but not great for the most part.  I didn't even go out on my usual Friday morning run because there were dire weather reports in the Atlanta area - a lot of talk of icy rain and sleet that causes major accidents in the area. Southerners definitely do not know how to drive in this stuff. As it turned out, it was a nonevent - overcast and a little rain at best. I do think sales were probably cancelled as a result of the weather forecast.

My friend Ouida and I did go out for Saturday sales and found several - one of which was pretty spectacular. The sale was at a huge house in Buckhead - not far from the governor's mansion. Buckhead is THE in-town neighborhood that is the priciest and fanciest in the Atlanta area. We love Buckhead sales just for the opportunity to see some of these homes.

Here were some of the items at the sale that I considered buying.  The chaise was my overall favorite but the price of $1400 was at least 90% higher than I would have paid.  I did leave a bid on the French chair but didn't get it.

I didn't really need any of these items but loved the oversized deer - a very serene looking holiday centerpiece.

We did actually buy a few things at this sale. Ouida bought one of two spectacular white silk sofas and wished she had the space for both. She is redoing her living room and this is the first piece she has bought to start the process. It was a custom-made piece in perfect condition.

Ouida's sofa (one of two) 

I bought these two slipper chairs for $70 - a pretty good deal.

I've been carrying my new emerald green bag for most of the month just to prove to myself how versatile it is and loved finding an emerald green accent table.

I am definitely gearing up for early spring when sales start popping all over.  This, however, was not a bad day!

Introducing a New Line for Wydeven Designs - The Estate Collection

Home in St. Marlo Country Club - John's Creek Area of Atlanta

I live in a wonderful metropolitan area that has many great neighborhoods and wonderful old (and new) estates - larger homes often in wonderful settings!   I have talked about some of these in my blogs.   Some estate homes have been visited on house tours and others (many) are visited as estate sales are conducted on the premises.  I LOVE getting inside of these wonderful spaces and seeing "... how the other half lives"!

In attending just such an "estate sale" in an "estate property" last weekend, that I decided to take the plunge into buying well constructed upholstered furniture in very good to excellent condition that exemplifies this rarified setting and offering them through my Wydeven Designs outlets (web, eBay and Etsy - link to website).  Unlike my primary inventory, these are not pieces that are refurbished but rather are bought "as is" and sold "as is".  Needless to say, my costs for acquisition are quite a bit higher than they would be if the pieces were in dire need of attention.  Still, I am offering the pieces at either close to the amount asked for at the sale or even less - I just was able to acquire them for enough less to make it worth my while.  I am calling this my ESTATE COLLECTION!

Estate in Druids Hills area of Atlanta - Garden Tour (April)

Knollwood Estate in Buckhead Area of Atlanta - I attended a Showhouse Tour and Estate Sales here!

Another Buckhead Area Sale - I actually bought a piece of furniture for myself at this one!

Ansley Park Neighborhood Sale

So, even though my primary interest (passion, motivation, etc.) continues to be finding heirloom quality pieces and refurbishing them for one or more generations to come, I will be offering some of these great pieces from time to time - space and great pieces available!

Here are my newest acquisitions - offered for sale!

Italian Chairs (Pair) with Distressed Woodwork and Impeccable Silk Upholstery (Down Cushions) - available through Wydeven Designs!

French Style Chairs in Very Dark (almost black) Slightly Distressed Woodwork and Chenille/Velvet Combination Fabric - available through Wydeven Designs!

These are lovely pieces and came from a GORGEOUS home in the Sandy Springs area of Atlanta - love them!