Before and After - My Own Parade

Periodically, I post examples of my own before and after transformations in the hope of encouraging others to seek and restore heirloom quality upholstered furniture themselves. It is almost always better made than anything available today at reasonable prices and it not hard to find. The trick is to be patient and wait for the right quality piece to come along - here are some pointers:

• Make sure the woodwork is substantial and intact - it should not wobble or move when pushed and be free of obvious breaks and repairs.
• Make sure that the piece has a solid seating platform - my personal preference is hand-tied, 8-way steel coil springs that are the true signs of quality upholstered furniture. 
• Make sure that the seat and other cushions are medium-firm - if down is preferred, it should be firm enough (often wrapped around a coiled interior or mixed with non-down materials). If the cushion is in bad shape, ask your upholstery shop to replace it with a high-quality foam.
• Make sure that the piece does not exhibit strong odors (minor odors will dissipate with new fabrics and innards) or animal/insect damage.

Here are some of the nice pieces that I have recently had transformed. Again, I do not do my own upholstery work and rely on the experts for that. That said, making sure you are using a really good, meticulous master upholsterer -  is just a good investment. This is not the place to save money but you should shop around for the best values.

This piece is available on Etsy and Ebay. I bought the original off of a craigslist ad and had it upholstered in a great graphite and white bold print. It is a heirloom quality piece probably over a 100 years old. link to eBay description

This set of chairs came from an estate sale (WAY back in the woods in a huge but ancient estate in the Buckhead area) . It has sold!

This stylish chair was purchased on a craigslist purchase of another chair. While there, the seller told me about another chair she no longer wanted. It has scuffed black legs so I had to refinish those but the construction is wonderful is wonderful on this piece and I love the sway-back. link to Etsy listing 

This chair and ottoman (slightly undersized) was purchased at a garage sale in the neighborhood. It has those great hand-tied, 8-way coil springs but no longer had any brand information which is often lost when pieces are reupholstered. 

This great chair was purchased on a "bid" left at a nearby estate sale. It is a beautiful vintage piece in wonderful condition and before proceeding with it,  I showed a photo to a favorite client who loves fine furniture and particularly anything with French styling. She bought it immediately and selected this fabric from about 10 I showed her. 

This wonderful settee was purchased at a neighborhood garage sale. I love how it looks in this soft green velvet. I think it is sold and on its way to San Francisco to be a star in a little girl's room! 

This great looking chair was one of two (with ottoman) that I bought off of a craigslist ad. The other chair with ottoman was sold as a custom piece for a client who has long received it and loves it! This chair was just completed and is available on both Etsy and ebay.

This great chair manufactured in THE fine furniture capitol of the world (Hickory, NC) was part of a two-piece set which includes a high settee. Both were re-upholstered in this striking stripe (navy and cream-white) and both are available on Etsy or eBay. I would love to see someone buy the set but have offered to split them up. 

This set of Thomasville Chairs is in almost brand-new condition. I had actually bought the originals from a craigslist add and found they perfectly matched the colors in my bedroom so used them for about three years in that space. Just recently, I completed a minor redecoration of the room and the colors no longer matched (got rid of the pink). Now the new fabric makes them a good match again but I  am selling to change out the room a little more. These are available on both eBay and Etsy.

Well, that was somewhat exhausting but inspirational - even for me,  I hope you enjoy!

Buying Fabrics through eBay

One of the primary challenges in my quest to find and refurbish heirloom-quality upholstered furniture is buying great fabrics at low prices. I buy from a number of sources: store close-outs, designer sales, estate and garage sales, discount fabric stores and eBay. This posting is about buying fabrics on-line and gives away another of my secrets - my primary eBay source.

Fabrics already purchased in 2013 - I see a theme emerging!  The source for these pieces is Designer Fabrics - check them out here.

Predicting which fabrics will work (and sell) for my pieces is even harder to do with on-line fabrics because you are not able to feel the fabric and accurately see the color. I have been buying fabrics from this particular vendor, Designer Fabrics, for about five years. Over that time, I have loved some, found others to be OK and disliked a few. Designer Fabrics is the biggest on-line retailer that I've found that offers large sized pieces (as well as small) at reasonable prices. Ray is the owner and he is located not all that far from my house in Canton, Georgia. He provides discounted consolidated shipping so I always buy at least a few bolts to get the discount or he lets me wait until I've accumulated several purchases since all his sales are 7 day auctions. He also provides a 7% discount for purchases using United States Postal Service (USPS) money orders - a discount I also take advantage of.

Here are some pieces reupholstered using the online fabrics purchased from Designer Fabrics - from my 2011 collection.

One of the reasons I like Designer Fabrics (besides price) is the detailed description that he provides with all of his fabrics along with multiple both-side photos.  Normally, composition of the fabric and weight are provided which tells you a lot about the usefulness of a piece for upholstering. I like a weight of at least 1 to 1.5 pounds per yard - less is usually too thin/flimsy for upholstered pieces.

Here is a partial description of one of the fabrics that I purchased (above).

Weight is just under 2 lbs per yard.
Valued at $48 per yard and not available at the retail level.
Pattern in the vertical direction for easy use as drapery or upholstery.
This piece would look magnificent on any window.
100% heavy weight canvas cotton.

Designer Fabrics also has a 14 day return policy which I have used sparingly but it is available. Not all of the fabrics are reasonable enough for me to purchase and, like everything else in life, his prices have gone up over the years. After all, it is a business!

Over the years, I have also used other eBay sources. Several years ago, a woman whose family had a business in the furniture capital of America - High Point, NC - sold italian woven fabrics for about a four months period. I got some GREAT deals and developed a good communication pattern with her including advice and comments about completed pieces.  She quit, however, indicating that she just wasn't selling for enough money to make it worth her while.  Hers were consistently the best fabrics I have bought on-line. I wish I had bought everything she was selling during her brief stint - but who knew it would end so soon.

Some of the great Italian woven fabrics I bought back in 2010 - wish I had more.

So, buying online via eBay does work and give you fabric choices that include some very reasonable pieces. Buying and selling online, as I know, does require faith and perseverance - and as much research and homework as you can do.  I do recommend Designers Fabrics - tell me if you have found any sellers on eBay (or elsewhere) that you would recommend.

My Own Before and After Parade - A Tribute to Refurbishing

My passion is to find great, usually American-made heirloom quality upholstered furniture that is no longer useable but has good bones and a solid foundation.  It is lovingly restored for at least one more life - hopefully, more. It is such a GREEN way to decorate a home!

I am constantly impressed with the magic of the restoration process.  I find that this time-honored tradition is often a component of decorated spaces in major decorating magazines, websites, etsy and eBay stores and pinterest boards - check out several of my boards here.  I use estate sales, garage sales, craigslist, goodwill and other sources of well-priced heirloom pieces.

Every so often, I compose a posting of just my own "before and after" images and here is one that covers pieces completed over the past several months. I do not do my own upholstery work - I use the fabulous Lees of Norcross, Georgia. I do touch up (and sometimes refinish) the woodwork but generally do not buy any piece that has damaged woodwork (even if repaired) or badly scarred woodwork that cannot be refinished.

Vintage Channel Back Chair - Craigslist Purchase - available for sale through eBay and Etsy 

Set of Lee Industries Club Chairs (with Ottoman) - Estate Sale Purchase - Available through eBay and Etsy 

Set of Classic Wingbacks - Craigslist Purchase - Available through eBay and Etsy

Gooseneck Martha Washington - Consignment Sale Purchase - Available through eBay and Etsy

Sherrill Tight-seat Chairs - Craigslist Purchase - Available through eBay and Etsy

Sette and Ottoman - Garage Sale Purchase - Available through eBay and Etsy

Cane-sided Wingback Chairs - Craigslist Purchase - Available through eBay and Etsy

Club Chairs - Estate Sale Purchase - Available through eBay and Etsy

I think these transformations demonstrate how nicely these great pieces can be transformed and hope the results inspire others to do the same!  They truly do not make them like this anymore and certainly less and less in America!

This posting is linked here - Savvy Southern Style.

Chattanooga, TN - A Delivery and Great Day Trip!

When we first moved to Atlanta from Wisconsin over 25 years ago, we drove through Chattanooga, TN, often twice a year - once to return to Wisconsin for the Christmas holidays with family (a 14 plus hour drive) and often to meet my sister in Nashville to celebrate our March birthdays.  We always enjoyed driving through this wonderfully picturesque river and mountain city but seldom spent much time.   It's probably been 10 years since we've made this trek. Then, last week, I sold a bergere chair and ottoman to a new client living in the Chattanooga area.  I figured that is was almost as easy to deliver the piece as to package and ship it and, since the distance is only about two hours away, I felt I could do this quite easily in my trusty van.  I offered to personally deliver the piece and my sweet husband agreed to accompany me - we planned it as a nice day trip!

Today we made out trip in glorious, even a little warmer than usual, spring weather.  I had contacted a neighborhood friend who was a little more familiar with the area and she had recommended visiting the "Bluff View Art District" - an up and coming area with artist studios, bed and breakfasts (B&B), restaurants and views of the river and bridges.  We had a plan!

I took a series of photos and wished I had brought my "good camera" - the scenery and attractions were that special.  Here are some of the images and a STRONG recommendation to anyone who can to visit this lovely spot - we plan to go back and stay at one of the quaint B&B's in the area - hopefully by fall!

Roadside - On the Way 

Downtown Chattanooga

Bluff View Inn - Bed and Breakfast - One of Three Historic Homes

B&B - Bluff View Inn

Rembrandt Coffee Shop 

Part of Walking Tour

"Grandfather" 

Museum 

Pedestrian Bridge 

Enjoying the Weather

Lot of GREAT Views

View from Brunch Table 

Rembrandt's Bakery

Part of Sculpture Garden

Amazing Sculpture

Again

River Gallery - Sculptures Above Included

This was a wonderful visit - looking forward to coming back!

Shipping - A Recommendation for TSC Moving

Since I sell large upholstered pieces on eBay and through my website link to website, one of my biggest challenges is to find reasonable and reliable freight shipping options for my customers.  I have been using Greyhound Package Express (station-to-station shipping) for some time and have found it meets many of my needs and is still the cheapest.  In this blog, I want to discuss the main freight shipping - door-to-door option I have now been using for over three years and several hundred shipments - TSC Moving out of Gainesville, FLA - link to their website.

One reason I love this company is that is it VERY easy and quick to get quotes - usually within hours of asking.  They have recently developed a "widget" that can be installed on electronic listings such as eBay which allows potential buyers to get quotes without going through me - how great is that!

Widget to Get Direct Quote

I am in the process of installing this widget into all my listings - here's an example of one of the listings - link to eBay listing with widget 

Another reason I love this company is that they truly are the best value for door-to-door shipping - and I have checked a lot of other options.  It is still not cheap, however, and the further from my location  a piece has to travel(Norcross, Georgia), the more expensive it becomes.  Although the company does cover California, the price is pretty steep and I have yet to use the service for west coast deliveries.  

The final and most important reason I like this company is that they are VERY CAREFUL with my pieces.  They do a blanket-wrap service and handle the transaction from pickup through drop-off themselves.  Most companies broker for space with other carriers to there can be multiple hand-offs and  responsibility is not invested in only one company.  I have had NO damage on any of my shipments - and that is saying a lot!

One drawback (other than some steep prices for far-away destinations) is the fact that they do not cover the entire country although they are constantly expanding.  For example, I have a customer near Madison, Wisconsin - clearly not shown as one of their service areas on the following map.  I have had to use other, less satisfactory methods, to ship two chairs to her last year.  She just made another purchase and TSC accepted the shipment and is only charging $189 - that is a good deal!

TSC Moving Service Area - As Shown on Website

So, I will continue to use TSC and hope they continue to expand.  I also hope that "frequent users" are given a discount down the road - not a current practice - but I'd like to get and pass on every good deal that I can!

Weekend Sales - Chairs, Chairs and a Whip!

Estate Sale - Look at this property (it just sold not that it is ANYWHERE near my price range) - very nice!

As I try to do each weekend (usually Friday and Saturday), I check out the estate and garage sales around the area - with a focus on those that appear to be offering furniture and particularly chairs.   For some years, my friend, Ouida, has accompanied me on many of the Saturday sales and we always have a great time. Her sons and my son have grown up together and we use this time to catch up on their lives/antics; complain about work and other variables in our lives; encourage each other in various endeavors; and, run around the city "oohing" and aahing" the great properties we are able to visit.  Both last weekend and this weekend turned out to be good for estate sales - see my estate sale discussion on prior blog lessons learned about estate and garage sales - there are few garage sales this time of year.  

Sale in Roswell - lots of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Potential Projects - Fortunately, I did not Succumb!

Regular visitors to my blog know that one of my favorite estate sale "sellers" is Vicki - I have several pieces of furniture named after her.  This sale in Buckhead, a VERY nice part of Atlanta, had everything - a great house to ogle and some nice deals!   Ouida bought that nice oil and I bought the bergere set (to be refurbished)!  Great!

I ended up with a number of good purchases this weekend including the nicely sized and constructed club chair (one of a pair); the Sherrill Slipper Chairs (craigslist purchase) and the limed, carved Italian styled cane seats which I will be selling under my "choose your own fabric" category on eBay.

My camera gave out on me this morning and I didn't have an opportunity to photograph several sale properties today AND didn't have an opportunity to take a photo of the BUY OF THE DAY - a leather whip that Ouida couldn't resist.  She bargained for a good deal (of course) and chuckled as other sales goers had lots of suggestions about how she could use it.   I told her it too bad it was after Valentine's Day - a perfect present!  

 A couple of great weekends and it's not even spring!