Feeling the love

A fellow blogger bought a set of the Faux Bamboo Chippendale Chairs this week.  She sent me a link to her blog with a post referencing my site (Thanks Hannah!!).  I think you should go check her out: simplyperfecthome.blogspot.com.  We would be total BFFs if we lived closer.  I am excited to look at a whole new cache of inspirational design photos.  And, her husband is a fellow ginger.  I so love that he was Prince Harry for Halloween!  


One of my loving friends sent this to me earlier this week:

Off to Vermont this weekend to meet another future BFF.  She lives in Montreal and my shipping methods do not travel to such foreign destinations (!) so we are meeting half way to complete the transaction.  My home will soon be rid of all things Faux Bamboo Chippendale......tear.  I'll be on the search again soon.

Have a great weekend!

Something Else To Feast On This Holiday Season......

Meet Rubie.  I die.

If you're like me, about every other woman in your life/neighborhood/gym is preggers.  Wouldn't this be THE perfect start to a little girl's nursery?  Imagine the design diva she'd grow up to be.  AND, you'd really set a great example for reducing your carbon footprint: reclaimed furniture upholstered in 100% organic cotton fabric.

Just read for yourself at Rubie Green:

"Our upholstery fabrics are made of 100% certified organic cotton, which is whitened without bleach and printed here in the US. We print with water-based, non-toxic inks that contain no volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), and utilize a printing process that minimizes water consumption. In fact, the factory uses only one gallon of water per day! This was an exciting discovery for our team as water plays such an integral role in most other methods of printing. We also wanted to avoid fabric waste so we decided to print only on demand, using heat and pressure to finish our fabrics instead of chemicals."


How cool is that??

Here is the complete transformation.

Pre Strip

As old as horse hair

Tightened the springs, added new webbing, new burlap, rebuilt the arms with new cotton

Finishing touches....

And the big reveal....

I am going to paint the legs to the specifics of the buyer.  What do you think?  Could that buyer be you?

Ok, off to get lost in the new Lonny issue.  If you haven't read it - GO GO GO!

Go Green!

Remember these sorry excuses for chairs?

Well, they finally got some love with this beautiful Baranzelli fabric.  After all that back and forth about what fabric to use, I ran down to this store to get some inspiration and was smitten with the simple green stripe.  I must admit; I was worried about my impulsive buy.

I think they turned out quite cool, what do you think?

They'll be up on my Etsy shop soon if you're interested in purchasing them.  I am picturing them as your client chairs for your new burgeoning career.....get started! 

This is what I feel like like....

trying to juggle this in this.

Photo courtesy of Absolutely Beautiful Things

We're going to need a bigger boat

I was not able to finish the chair last night because the instructor was out of plygrip, which is a flexible metal teeth fastener that helps finish the edges.  I was really bummed, but I cut out all the pieces and took home the leftover fabric to see if it will work for the X-Bench.  Cross your fingers!


If only we could sell this condo and move to (and find!) my dream house I would be able to spread out and do these projects faster........

A Sneak Peek: Inanimate Love

Is it possible to be in love with an inanimate object?  The minute I put the fabric on this chair, it transformed into the prettiest seat I've ever seen.


She will be finished next Wednesday soon and ready for a new home (tear).....

I just have to finish adding the piping and put on the back

This is how I am picturing her

Photo courtesy of Cote de Texas

Ottoman Empire

I have been on the search for an ottoman to redo for a few months now and I finally found the perfect one!  I  have been coveting the X-Bench at Ballard Designs forever for its affordablility.  They are also offered by William Sonoma Home and Jonathan Adler for a bit more money.  I love the interactive fabric selections offered on these sites.

The bench looks great in a classic solid

or a fun print

.  

The X-Bench has been a classic staple in front of the fireplace or at the foot of a bed:

I think they are best in pairs, but I only found this lonely soul:

I am hoping I will have some Raspberry East Village left over from my chair, but I won't find out until tonight's or next week's class.  I think it would be the perfect little pop of color in a room.

Do any of you have an X-Bench in your house?

New Faux Bamboo Lounge Chair

I had a productive weekend scoring some great furniture pieces! If I only had room for more.....

I feel very inspired this week.  We went to the Mount Auburn Cemetery on (of all days..) Halloween because it was such a warm, beautiful fall day.  Did you know Central Park was modeled after this cemetery?  It is beautiful!  The colors of the  leaves and limestone were such a great inspiration.

Here is a horrible cell phone shot from the top of the monument looking at the Boston skyline:

You get the idea......

I am soooo excited for this chair to arrive.  My sister has her eye on it already so hurry up and email me if you're interested.

I am picturing it in one of David Hicks' geometric patterns.

Remember this?

or for a less bold statement

Decisions decisions....

I am steering away from the KWID Imperial Trellis pattern because

1. it is very trendy
2. it is very expensive
3. it is a very bold statement for chairs, especially when you factor in reasons 1 and 2.

I think I prefer it for pillows, drapery, and headboards.  I do reserve the right to change my mind on this at anytime.

So........anyone like these options?

Bocce in Coffee

East Village in Pink

High Voltage in Sand

High Voltage in Smoke

Yes, I'm obsessed with the chevron pattern.  Very trendy, too, but still very classic and the colors I chose are muted.

I do already have the High Voltage in mind for something else (cross your fingers the piece is still there on Thursday!) but there is no harm is using the same fabric twice.

Thoughts?

Updates and new project

I just ordered the East Village fabric in Raspberry from Rubie Green!  Thanks, Michelle, for setting up an account for me!  I feel very business-y now.

The chair is coming along great and the fabric should be on it by next week's class.  This is the current state of the project.  I just tightened the springs, added webbing and burlap, and started working on the arms with cotton and muslin.  Next is more cotton and muslin on the seat and back and on to fabric!

I am scoring my resources for fabric for this new project:

They are both the same color, but the photo came out weird.  The wood is in pretty bad shape so I may have to paint it (white? or a bright color?)

Anywho, I was thinking Imperial Trellis

I was playing on a fabric site and ordered a bunch of expensive samples.  They all arrived this week and I am in love.  Why do I have champagne taste and a bud light budget?

From left:  Couture Home's Contessa, Donghia's Suzani, Schumacher's Imperial Trellis, Schumacher's High Voltage, and Alan Cambell's Zigzag.

Swoon.  Apparently I have to return the samples within 30 days.  Now what is the fun in that?  I wonder if it is a designer faux pas to disregard that request.

Fabrics and Cane Back Chairs

When I was in Charleston last week I had the pleasure of touring Coastal Living's 2009 Idea Cottage featured in this month's issue.  I had borrowed the magazine from my sister because there were some great fabrics showcased and I wanted to look them up.  I was thrilled to be able to see and touch them in person!

My sister has already laid claim to 2 fabulous cane back chairs I planned to start after my current project.  After being in the presence of all those fabrics, I was inspired to find the perfect cloth for her chairs.  Now I just have to get her over her fears of patterns and color.....

I am going to paint these white and reupholster the seat.

Wouldn't they look great in Donghia's Suzani pattern?

or a fun animal print?

I'll keep you posted on what we decide.

Faux Bamboo Chippendale Chairs with Schumacher's Chiang Mai Dragon Fabric

While this fabric is overused, it is still one of my very favorites.  All the pretty colors make me so happy.  And, paired with a timeless classic as the faux bamboo chippendale chair.....perfection!

Here is the transformation......

I had to replace all the innards of the seat.  After taking off the old fabric, foam and cotton from the frame and tightening the webbing, I traced out the new foam and cut it using a kitchen knife (ssshh, don't tell my husband).

And then wrapped it in batting

Had to make sure it all fit

I then positioned the dragon image over the cushion, cut it out, and used my trusty nail gun to attach it to the frame.

The final product:

These are for sale for a really great deal....$250 each for the armless and $275 each for the arms.  I would prefer not to break up the set, which is discounted at $1,000 for all 4 chairs.  Shoot me an email or visit my Etsy store if you are interested.

UPDATE:  The arm chairs are sold, but 2 armless chairs are still available!  SOLD

And the winner is.....

Chiang Mai Dragon!

Thank you for all your comments. For those of you who voted for the Carnival fabric, I am still on a search for the perfect chair or settee. As the images below show, the pattern needs a bigger surface area than a measly ol' dining chair. Yes, I would have DIED to find the fabric in these colors. Alas, I did not, but at least you can see what I am aiming for.

Onward and upward to the Faux Bamboo Chairs make-over........