Before and After - Country French Chairs

Several weeks ago, I had a very productive weekend buying half a dozen great refurbishing projects.  Included was a pair of tired looking wing back chairs with extensive wooden trim - a look which is hard to find and I love.  These type of chairs can be restored to fit well into a French country decor.  Clad in the right fabric, the wood trim and elegant shape make them ideal for this look.  The fact that this particular pair is a little wider and deeper than normal makes them even more versatile and comfortable.

BEFORE - French Country Chair (one of a pair)

The fabric I choose is a fresh looking deep marine blue woven boucle (densely woven) with a cream white textured piping trim.   The trim shows off the woodwork (cleaned and polished) and the blue fits so many settings and decors.  I was refurbishing a French Settee at the same time and thought the pieces went well together - that piece, however, sold immediately and has already been shipped (Phyllis, take note of this comment in case you'd like to add these chairs to your purchase).  

My favorite location for these chairs would be a water (beach, lake, stream, ocean) location - I can see myself luxuriating on one of these while staring out at the sky and sea!!!

AFTER - Redone in Blue Boucle Fabric

AFTER - Wood and Piping Detail

Color Combinations - Working with Neutrals

Detail of Hickory Chair Wingback - Taupe and Cream Damask

I thought talking about neutrals would be easy.  In doing my (admittedly limited) research, I found many different definitions and illustrations about what is a neutral.  I thought Wikipedia's definition of a neutral color scheme interesting:

A color scheme that includes only colors not found on the color wheel, called neutrals, such as beige, brown, gray, black and white.

A decorating source (http://yourdecoratinghotline.com/exploring-color-neutrals/) used a very broad definition:

Neutral is a very broad category.  It covers everything from buff to chocolate brown; from ivory to mocha; from tan to espresso.  At the lightest end of the neutrals you’ll find ivory, bone and cream.  Add a little gray and you’ll get mushroom and taupe.  With a little yellow undertone straw, sandstone and biscuit will warm your walls.  Khaki has a hint of green.

Neutral Tufted Loveseat (sold)

Discussions about "the feel of neutrals" were particularly useful - Neutrals convey calmness and can be either refreshingly cool or softly warm.  What all the discussions had in common was the versatility of using some or many neutrals in decorating and how easy it is to add just small color accents to change the look.   I must admit, I am a brighter color person but do like to add neutrals to a more colorful setting to create a sense of balance and peace.

Sandstone and Cream Damask (sold)

Cream on Cream Pattern 

Color Combinations - Working with Pinks

This is the 6th installation in this color combination series.  Pink is a color choice that makes many people nervous but it can be both fresh and warm in just about any setting.

Pink is so much more than bubblegum! From youthful and exciting to sweetly sophisticated and soothing, pink can create many different moods depending on the shade.

Bright Fuchsia Pink Clubs (sold)

There are lots of recommendations in decorating magazines, websites, and blogs - just google "working with pink in home decor" and I found enough to write a book on the subject. The shade(s) of pink you choose as well as the complementary colors are the critical components of how a room actually works and thought the following guidance useful (source:  Home Made Simple website - also see marthastewart.com):

Mint green and other pastel accents like baby blue make a light pink palette feel cheerful and sweet.

Chocolate brown adds a deliciously fresh spin to a variety of pink shades from raspberry to cool mauve. The combination creates a warm feeling that makes a space feel comforting and grounded.

Metallic shades like bronze, brass, silvery gray and gold can make a deep pink room feel luxurious and add a bit of old-Hollywood glamour.

White or black provide the perfect backdrop for a bright pink palette. White makes a space feel crisp and feminine, while black adds a classy, modern look. 

Pink and Green Checks on Hickory Chair Club Chairs

The pinks I have used in my refurbished pieces tend to be more of a rose pink - one that is suited for more sophisticated (read adult) settings but certainly could work in children's rooms.   I love pink particularly with black and whites and greens and have a lot of the latter color combination in my home.

Deep Pink with Green Accents (sold)

Coral Pink (sold)

Color Combinations - Black and White

Black and white flocked velvet settee (SOLD)

This is the 5th installation of my color combinations series.  I LOVE black and white combinations and almost always have something in my inventory in this great look.  Interestingly, I have also learned that it takes longer to sell than other colors and yet, the buyers, are really, really happy when the pieces arrive and are integrated into their decor.  I am curious about why people are hesitant to use this combination.  It seems you really cannot make a bad decision using black and white - either alone or with another color to add punch (e.g., light/warm greens, reds, golds/yellows, etc. etc.).

Hickory House Chair and Ottoman

I googled "black and white in decor" and got a ton of hits.  It seems every magazine, designer and even blogger has an affinity for this color combination and all the photos look wonderful.

I found information categorized in many ways:

• Decor for nurseries
• Decor for teens
• Senior housing
• French country
• Modern - Contemporary

I loved the quote attributed to Coco Chanel:

“Black comprises everything. So does white. They possess absolute beauty. They are in perfect harmony.” -Coco Chanel 

I think people who are hesitant to use the color in their home need to spend some time looking at examples of its use by checking out magazines and websites - it is easy to see why, once embraced, it becomes a source of decorating pride!!

Vintage Ethan Allen Chairs

Before and After - French Settee

Here's a quick blog demonstrating the unbelievable transformation possible with fine old pieces.  This is a purchase from an estate sale several weeks ago.  It was hidden in a sea of old stuff - many not too exciting but I recognized the high-end construction features including fine woodwork and tufting on the back.

Before Settee

The piece was also reasonably priced - which is not often the case at estate sales.   I bought it immediately.

In the meanwhile, I had picked up a nice piece of blue and white checked cotton fabric sold by someone who had used the fabric in a room - this was a nice size leftover.

I asked Mrs. Song, my upholsterer to keep the tufting on the back but eliminate the tufting on the seat cushion adding some filler to make it more comfortable.   I just picked it up and listed it on ebay and on my website - it's already getting quite a bit of attention.  I LOVE how it looks in my sunroom - wish I could keep it!

After Settee

Wood and Double Cording Details

Tufting Details 

Color Combinations - Working with Yellows

In conducting my (brief) research for these blogs, I like to look at a variety of opinions and ideas and glean just a few to make my points.  I found an article about "working with yellows" in Southern Accent (link) describing the viewpoints of decorator Thomas Jayne that made a lot of sense and covered so many basics.  He, agreeing with others I looked at, first makes the definitive point that yellows are tricky and are somewhat difficult to work with.  Then, he goes on to describe SO MANY ways that yellow is the ideal background or foreground for many decors.  I have used yellow extensively in my home starting with a single paint strip and using three different values of the same yellow color - from deep to pale - in all hallways on most of my first floor and some of the second including one bedroom.  I have found that it provides a great basis for other colors and keeps the whole house cheerful looking even in gloomy weather.

Here are some of Jayne's rules about using yellow:

With its versatile nature and sunny-side-up appeal, it’s little wonder that yellow is a perennially popular choice for interiors. “I think yellow is a fundamental color to decoration because it’s the basis of a warm palette,”

Yellows such as pale citron or mellow ocher are usually easier to incorporate than high-voltage tones, which can quickly become overbearing.

You might think of yellow as challenging to pair with other colors, but in reality, it’s incredibly versatile. “It’s a primary color, so you really can’t strike out [adding just about any other color]

Err on the side of excess -- with just a couple of different yellows, you risk a mismatched effect. “You can combine two shades of a color pretty easily, but if you add a third, it gets more difficult,” Jayne says. “When you add a fourth and fifth, it gets easier again.”

 A little yellow goes a long way - in its brighter incarnations, yellow has a certain boldness that must be kept in check.

When using white and yellow together, keep the white tones warm.

Deep Yellow with Cream (sold)

Mellow Cornflower Yellow

Yellow with Cream Stripe

I have loved adding yellow pieces to my inventory and have been so pleased with the results that clients have reported.  

Weekend Update - Neighborhood Sales

This is a great garage and estate sales weekend here in the Atlanta area - it is almost impossible not to see multiple neighborhood and other sales throughout the area.  Usually, I travel 40 miles or more on a Saturday morning getting to the better sales but yesterday I was able to stay pretty close to home with several top-notch neighborhood sales.   In the Dunwoody/Sandy Springs areas I found  great sales in the Deerfield and Dunwoody Club neighborhoods.  Neighborhood sales are organized within a neighborhood and bring in a lot of customers because it is easy to get around to a lot of sales in a reasonable period of time.  I have also found that the best prices are found in neighborhood sales - people have cleaned out their homes and just want to get rid of stuff. My own neighborhood has at least one neighborhood sale per year.

A special treat for me this weekend is a visit by Dutch cousin Monique who is studying in Richmond, Virginia.  She accompanied me on my sale route and got a taste of what this American custom is all about.  She also met my upholsterer shop owner, Mrs. Song.  We had a wonderful time and I nabbed a number of great buys:

• Vintage channel back chair
• French bergere style chair and ottoman
• Modern style wingback
• Skirted chaise 

Monique waiting outside of estate sale

Monique and Mrs. Song (see my french chair set purchase on right)