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About Me

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My name is Gerrie Wydeven doing-business-as Wydeven Designs. I have been conducting this small GREEN business since 2004. Wydeven Designs, based in the Atlanta, Georgia area, sells CHAIRS, LOVESEATS, CHAISES, SETTEES and other fine, well-constructed refurbished upholstered pieces. I love to travel, cook, take photographs and generally follow style and decor topics as well!
Showing posts with label Atlanta marketplace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Atlanta marketplace. Show all posts

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Weekend Estate Sale Shopping

First sale on Friday morning - a "Vicki" Sale. I  did get a call on the red Baker chair late Saturday but declined - probably not a wise move.
We've had a long stretch of rainy, dismal weather here in the Atlanta area and were overjoyed to see a blue sky Friday morning despite the below 32 degree start of the day.  My husband, my now-regular Friday morning sales companion since his retirement almost exactly a year ago, and I traveled to several sales to check out the goods and just get out of the house.

One of my favorite estate sellers, Vicki, had two sales this weekend. As is typical, there are "high-brow" and "low-brow" items for sale. In the beautifully transformed ranch house shown above, prices were high on most items such as a pair of no-name Jacobean chairs/provenance for $3000. I did leave several bids and did get a call later on Saturday. By that time, I had made several purchases and didn't want to return to the area so I declined - probably should have pursued it - a Baker wingback for $100 is a very good deal!

This Buckhead sale had some nice pieces as well. I bid on two sets of chairs (prices were $350 for the pair and I bid $150). I haven't heard back from this sale and don't expect to.
There are still not many sales this time of year and we decided to stop at a local shop called "My Favorite Place" link to facebook page. It is a nearby flea market type shop and prices tend to be very reasonable. Friday was a great day to stop by and I found three pieces to buy (two are Annie Sloan Chalk Paint projects) - total costs = $171.00 (much better than estate sale prices).


On Saturday, I again went on the road with my Saturday shopping companion - Ouida. We did see some decent sales and even stopped in a design shop that is relocating and was offering, amongst other things, fabrics for $5.00 a yard up. I bought 12 yards and Ouida may buy some for chairs she wants to recover.




One of two chairs purchased
After returning from the sales, I got a call on a set of Hickory Chair leather wingback chairs (wonderful condition) that I had bid $500 (against $900 asking). I consider these "as is" chairs and would love to keep them myself if I had the space. I asked my son out in California whether he could use them but his space is so tiny that they just will not work. I also asked my daughter to see if she had any use possibilities but she has no more space as well. SO ... I guess they will be listed as part of my "Estate Collection" which are items that are not refurbished. It is a fairly small collection because my joy is in transforming and revitalizing dated furniture but these just don't need it and, truthfully, I would not have paid this price for chairs that need redoing - my average is less than $100 per chair.

So .. a wonderful shopping weekend all around. I am already working on the chalk paint projects completing clean-up and first coat yesterday and will be picking up the two leather chairs later as well as returning with Ouida to the design shop to revisit some of the fabrics for sale. I do love this!

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Preparing for the Holidays - Christmas at Callanwolde

See website - link
On this beautiful (but cold for the South) day, my husband I traveled to Callanwolde Fine Arts Center to view the decorated mansion and seek inspiration for our own home's decor. Actually, I'm not too sure that this was my husband's intention but it certainly was mine!

First a little about Callanwolde. The Gothic-Tutor style mansion was built in 1920 by Charles Howard Candler, eldest son of the Coca-Cola founder, Asa Candler. It is located in Atlanta's historic Druid Hills neighborhood and is 27,000 square feet. It was saved from demolition in 1971 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The estate consists of 12 acres with several other buildings including a retreat, gardener's cottage and conservatory. It also has beautiful formal gardens.

Approaching the main house from the front gate
Every year, the Center hosts "Christmas At Callanwolde" for about two weeks (thru 12/16).  Some of the main rooms are decorated by local designers and there are several Christmas markets with items available for purchase.

Here are some of my favorites!

Tree in Great Hall
This lively room provided great examples of "working with ribbon" -  the tree was magical!
I loved this fireplace and the beautiful wallpaper in this room - naturally I was attracted to all the great chairs! 
My FAVORITE space in the whole mansion! I loved the colors and think that a blue and green combo is always great. It was very sunny in the space and I did not get a good photo of the big tree with its colorful green and blue ribbons (too much backlighting) but the details are shown above.
I will want to come back when the gardens are in bloom - what a lovely setting!