Before and After - Vintage Ethan Allen Wingbacks

This is a quick post to again demonstrate the miraculous possibilities when buying and refurbishing well-constructted, American-made fine upholstered furniture.  It is my passion to convince people that making "old things new again" is a worthwhile endeavor and results in great heirloom quality furniture. It is also good for the environment - a GREEN way of furnishing a home!

It is always important to buy only good quality pieces to reupholster/refurbish.

MY CRITERIA

Good bones - look for evidence of fine workmanship such as solid (heavy) foundations and well-connected joints

AND/OR

Good provenance - labels such as vintage Ethan Allen, Thomasville or even Broyhill suggest high quality manufacturing standards.  ANY Hickory Chair, Baker or Sherrill label is indicative of a great quality piece

Since I pay the professionals to do the actual upholstery work (the great Lees of Norcross, Georgia), it is not an inexpensive endeavor and the piece really must deserve the attention and cost.  The end result is a set that is not "cheap" but the relative cost is a GREAT DEAL compared to comparable fine furniture and a GREAT VALUE compared to cheap pieces that could probably be bought for less money.  When someone says to me "I can go to XX store or website and buy furniture for less", I always tell them that that is what they should do if the difference in value/quality is not important to them.  A good quality piece could be reupholstered a dozen more times and stand up well for generations.  But that is the decision any buyer must make!

Now let's look at Ethan Allen - here's a link to their website - ethan allen.

a strong american brand with global reach. a design authority with a modern attitude. a high-quality manufacturer. an innovative retailer. a destination for the one-stop shopper. a full-service design center staffed by design professionals who make house calls.

I do not know if Ethan Allen furniture is still being made in America - but the vintage pieces certainly were.  I have found wonderful pieces over the years and here is a perfect example - from the 1970-80's.

The pieces were bought at an estate ale for $160 for the pair - not a steal but a good price.

Photos of the finished pieces reupholstered in a tone-to-tone damask in creamy white.  The accent pillows pick up the same tone-on-tone colors in a complementary stripe.  These are photographed in my foyer but would work ANYWHERE!

 What do you think of this set?  This posting has been linked to Restore Interior Blog and Savy Southern Style

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Fabric Series - Stripes for Every Occasion

Source - My Pinterest Board

Stripes seem never to go out of fashion in home decorating.   I have quite a few in my "fabric room" waiting to be artfully used.  Today, I kept seeing these great small and large vignettes/settings using stripes as anchors, such as the lovely photo above, in magazines and on-line features. I noted that many of my pinterest boards have striped themes as a main feature of a setting.  And, I just dropped off three striped fabrics with my upholsterers (the fabulous Lees of Norcross, GA) to be used on current projects.  Clearly, it was time to dive into the topic of stripes once more!

I found this interesting article on the Real Simple website called Stripes 101 with advice from one of my favorite designers, Elaine Griffin:

Whether traditional or unconventional, stripes—especially on walls and floors—promote order. They have an almost architectural power to redirect the eye and reshape a space. In smaller doses, like on furniture or accessories, they’re “the neutral of the pattern world,” says New York City interior designer Elaine Griffin, as they are low-risk and easy to incorporate into any type of room.


Three Expert Decorating Tricks 

Four Fab Stripes - source

1. Use high-contrast stripes in unexpected spots. For powder rooms and foyers (spaces where people don’t linger), strong stripes can be charming. “I love a brilliant stripe in a closet,” says Darryl Carter, a designer in Washington, D.C. “It’s like the lining on a fine coat.”


 2. Match the size of the stripes to the size of the room. In general, the larger the space, the wider wall stripes should be, because thin stripes in a big expanse can look like mere texture from far away. And in a small room broad, bold stripes can feel jarring.


 3. Blend striped, floral, and solid accessories. A foolproof recipe for throw pillows: Put together three or four designs that are clearly distinct but share a palette. Try a wide stripe, a narrow stripe, a dainty paisley, and a solid. The effect is cohesive, with just enough randomness to feel homey.

Love this striped settee and striped wallpaper - nice complement -  source

Bold use of stripes on walls - works well with this great little chair - source

Here are some of my 2010 and 2011 striped pieces - reds and blues!

Here are some of the more unusual, bright stripes in my fabric inventory.  These are all nice pieces but I'm a little nervous about using them - will they sell??

I am not as nervous about using these more subdued stripes.  The top one is a red and cream ticking (cotton) that is being used on a set of  Country French style chair with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint finish in old white.

 I do like the stripes!  What do you think of them and what, specifically, do you think of the "striped fabrics in my inventory" group - should I bite the bullet and just use them or toss (donate)??

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This Waning Summer - Life's a Beach!

Images from our trip to Grand Cayman - 2011

My granddaughter starts first grade today and, even though it is still mercilessly hot outside, that tells me that summer is almost over.  It happens so quickly!   

During my recent visit to Scott's Antique Market in Atlanta, I noted the many beach-themed decorative items available for sale - everything from shells to shell-encrusted lamps.  I photographed some of these for this beach-themed blog.  

I have always associated a "beach-theme" with blues and shades of blue, although other colors certainly work as well.  Some of the designers seem to like "sand-like" coloring - the pale golds and taupe neutrals that remind you of long days playing and lounging on a lovely beach.  I like anything that reminds me of water and the serenity of a long stretch of water and sand.  

The great room above is from House Beautiful Magazine - link to my pinterest board link - the chairs are in from my beachy collection freshly upholstered in an Annie Sielke fabric!

Another great House Beautiful scene - link to my pinterest board - the chair is my Highland House brass linen chair1 

A color board depicting various blue and white pieces link to my pinterest board - shown is my Vicki's Bergere Chair and Ottoman in a blue stripe -  works well in a beachy theme!

Just putting this blog together put me into a beach state-of-mind.  What are your favorite beach scenes and decorative pieces?

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Scott's Antiques Market Weekend - Fabric Trends

Fabrics - Accent Pillows and Tablecloth at Scott's Antique Market

This is the second weekend of the month and, therefore, Scott's Antique Market weekend - link to website.  My friend, Bette, and and I have become Friday regulars at the market.  We love the energy and crowds - a very diverse mix!  There is real shopping going on and that is always nice to see and gives credence to the fact that the economy seems to be steadily (if slowly) recovering!

French Tea Towels Usable for Pillows and Other Projects

On this visit, I concentrated on checking out fabrics - both "vintage" and "new" to get a more fine-tuned sense of what is being shown and what is selling.  This research is always helpful to me since I have to make frequent decisions about buying and using new fabrics on my refurbished heirloom-quality upholstered pieces!  There are a number of vendors that sell bolts, some of them have a huge stock at the monthly sales.  Some of the fabrics are viewable by the various accent pillow makers/sellers - displaying wonderful fabrics on ready-to-use pillows.  And, of course, other fabrics are best seen on the many upholstered pieces for sale throughout the two huge buildings that house the market.

Stacks of Vintage Materials 

I would say the overall most popular, or at least the most ubiquitous fabric seen on upholstered pieces is linen - usually in a very neutral cream shade.  It gives the pieces a very fresh, clean look and is a very versatile fabric.  Good linens are also available for sale - the average price per yard seems to be in the $25+ range.

Examples of linen on upholstered pieces.  I love the settee on the left and like the idea of the numbers on the stools.  You could use a transfer medium to do something like this at home!

Burlap is actually often used, particularly on "French Country" style pieces.  I have not and will not use plain burlap since it is scratchy and does nothing for me.  I have seen and used a textured linen or linen-blend that has a bit of the burlap textured look but not the scratchiness.

We saw some interesting examples of cowhide including this "stained and patterned" cowhide used on pieces.  

Damask, whether a silk or silk-blend or good woven cotton, is one of my favorites for pieces that are going into a more formal setting and/or are used to add some gravitas to an otherwise extremely casual setting.   The tone-on-tone qualities make the pieces work well in so many settings and color-groupings.

Older pieces with tapestries are generally costly - particularly if the fabric is in really nice shape such as these.  

Bette said she had never met a toile she didn't like and I must agree.  They add such a humble yet elegant flair and can be used on just about every style of upholstered furniture. 

Most of the velvets that I saw seem to be original to the pieces and a few definitely need to be replaced.  

This little bench with cotton ticking is nice.  I am working on a set of chairs (chalk painted country French style chairs) and will be using a red and cream ticking on those. 

This is a nice crewel on this chair.  Unfortunately, the chair itself (or at least the seat cushion) needs some work.  I have a piece of vintage crewel at home that still needs a project that works.  This gives me inspiration. 

I thought this flame stitch, in more modern colors, looks great on this French style chair.  

I could have taken 100's of photos but thought I captured the variety pretty well with these.  Now to get back to working on some of my projects with new ideas in mind!

What are your favorite current or vintage fabrics and where are you finding them?

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Looking for that Perfect Rug - A Struggle

Chair I plan to use in my new basement (unless it sells and/or doesn't work with final rug selection)

We are getting close to finishing our basement renovation and I will unveil the end results soon.  Like any project, both the timeline and price-point have been challenging.

Love Seat I plan to use in basement - matches color of the walls

I am currently looking for a rug for the "media area" of the basement.  I need at least an 8 X 10 size - perhaps a little bigger.  It goes without saying that I want a great deal!

 It's been quite a while since I've shopped for rugs so this is almost a new experience for me.  The colors I am looking to put together are a pale gold taupe  (color of wall and loveseat I plan to use - see photo), a lighter cream pair of chairs and a seafoam blue (one of my own Wydeven Designs chairs unless it sells before I have a chance to move it it) - see photo above of this beauty!  I would really like to bring this color into my new space and this chair would work well!

My biggest frustration is the availability of very few in-store options for rugs compared to the vast array available through websites like Overstock.com Link, Rugs Direct, Rug Exchange and others.
The on-line prices look good and there are LOTS of choices in all colors and sizes.  Some sites such as Overstock.com offer really low shipping ($2.95) and do allow you to return the rug if it doesn't work - of course, not for $2.95.  Overstock also provides customer comments which, when present, are very helpful.

My problem is the issue of color. The wall color is set because we were matching with other spaces already redone.  One of the customer comments made by many on-line buyers addresses the accuracy of the colors seen on their screen and the actual rug once they receive it.  Quite a few say that the colors are quite off.  This would not be a huge problem if you like what you get and it doesn't clash with other color requirements.  But this is what worries me!  I am afraid to buy an on-line rug I fall in love with only to find it just doesn't match well enough with my colors.  Even if it can be returned, it will be expensive and a hassle!

So, I am dragging my husband to the various stores in the area to look at "store-in person" options.  You would think that in a metropolitan area such as Atlanta, there would be a lot of options but you would be wrong.  Here is where I've been:

Pottery Barn Outlet (Dawsonville, GA) 

Ballards Back Room (Roswell, GA)

HomeGoods (Norcross, Dunwoody and Alpharetta)

West Elm (Atlantic Station)

Restoration Hardware (Dawsonville, GA)

I have found the best prices at HomeGoods and even recognize some of the patterns from my internet search - e.g. $199-299 for 8X10 wool rugs!   The selection, however, is very limited.  Pottery Barn had a few possibilities but would not allow returns.  I am still looking!

If anyone has any suggestions or ideas on this one, I would love to hear it!  I would also love to hear of experiences with on-line rug purchases!

Another Completed ASCP Project - Vintage Balloon Chair

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Color Chart

I have completed over 30 Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ASCP) projects - one table and the rest are chairs and other upholstered seating pieces.  I have seven colors in my repertoire;

Old White

Old Ochre

Duck Egg Blue

Napoleon Blue (sample size only)

Chateau Grey

Paris Grey

Coco

Graphite 

I just finished a vintage balloon-back chair with wood detailing that includes tapered legs.

Here is the before chair.  I bought it at an estate sale for $50.  The construction qualities and styling were there but the wooden finish was very tired looking and stained.

Before refinishing the woodwork, I have been using Goof Off link to website, a product that does a good job of removing waxes, stains, spots and nicotine residue.  I guarantee you that if your chair is over 40 years old, it has been in some smoking environment somewhere and it is amazing the amount of stain you will find.  I used a whole clean t-shirt on this chair and it ended up being totally brown when done - only a little of that was actual dirt and most of it was nicotine.  I have used Goof Off for over ten years and believe there has been a product reformulation which I have previously mentioned - see prior blog.  I would no longer recommend using it on wood surfaces that you are not redoing.  In this case, however, it works well to thoroughly remove all dirt and residue before refinishing the woodwork.

I chose to use my newest color, coco, which is a taupe-brown color.  I wanted to use it and see how it worked and thought it would nicely complement the cream textured linen I had chosen to cover the chair.  In one of my earlier lessons learned, I started out applying the paint by tipping the chair over and doing it from underneath before straightening it out.  This technique results in much better overall coverage.

I finished one coat and was not too excited about the washed out look - the second coat didn't add much intensity.  I decided I needed to use only the dark wax (not dark over light as some techniques suggest) to get as dark of a finish as possible.

Ahhh - much better.  I like the results and played with some other fabrics but ultimately stayed with the original cream linen selection.

And here is the finished chair - expertly upholstered by Lee's Upholstery of Norcross, GA!

So that's another project done.  I have two more waiting in the wings.  What do you think of the coco color?

I pay a great deal of attention to what others are doing with ASCP and have a pinterrest board set up just for the purpose - check it outlink

I am linked to the following parties:  Thrifty Decor Chick and Restore Interiors and Savvy Southern Style and Faded Charm Cottage

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Estate Sale Shopping in Horseshoe Bend - an Atlanta Community

Lake and Pavilion in Horseshoe Bend Neighborhood - Roswell, Georgia

This weekend, I spent time (and some money) at sales in the Horseshoe Bend neighborhood in Roswell, Georgia.  Actually, Horseshoe Bend included a number of separate neighborhoods and some eclectic mixes in homes.  Amongst the most elegant are those in the actual Horseshoe Bend Country Club Subdivision link to their website which includes a private golf course.

This lovely neighborhood is located along the Chattahoochee River not far from my own riverfront subdivision of Neely Farm.

Named after the magnificent horseshoe formed by the Chattahoochee River as it sweeps southwest along the rolling land, Horseshoe Bend was the original setting for the Atlanta Steeplechase - a springtime tradition.

 There were two great sales going on in the neighborhood and the overall prices were pretty good - not usually the case with sales run by estate sale companies.

Sale in Horseshoe Bend - Lovely Home

I put in a bid on these chairs - they were asking $135 each (for pair) and I bid 50%.   

The sale featured a lot of "Americana" type furniture and accents.  They were in good shape and well priced.  This is just my style so I didn't see that much to think about.

The next sale was on Steeplechase Drive.  This was a newer house with more classic furniture.  The Vintage Girls were running the show - they usually have 2-3 sales every weekend and tend to  have a well staged sale as well as good prices.  This sale was no exception.  Unlike many companies, however, they are sticklers for the prices:  full price on day one, 25% off on day two and 50% off on day three.

I saw a set of Lee's Industries (excellent American furniture manufacturer) on day one for $110 per chair and ottoman - a pretty good price.  I am a stubborn (and cheap) person and they would not take a cent less so I left a bid for $170 for the four pieces.  I got the call this morning that the bid was accepted and just picked them up to be dropped off at Lee's Upholsterers in Norcross, GA.  I do still have to select my fabric(s)!

But I'm getting ahead of myself.  I liked quite a few things at this sale and could have bought more.

Lots of great mirrors - my friend bought the last one.  You can see my "broken foot shoe" in the first one - I am probably overdoing my running around!  I would have bought the venetian style mirror ($80) but it had some minor damage on the bottom.  These are hard to find and pricey!

These are some of the high-end items at the sale including the great breakfront. 

My favorite purchase ($15) - a sweet small chair that I plan to refinish and use as an accent piece! 

One of two sets of Lee's Industries chairs and ottomans that I bought - these will be nice redone!

I bought a wingback settee and matching ottoman at another sale (Brooke Farm Subdivision in Dunwoody) so this was a good weekend!  I could have bought more - it's a little dangerous when I find TOO many good deals!  I linked this blog to the following Southern Hospitality - highlighting my little chair purchase

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