Furniture Fix Ups: Not your Mama's Chair

Tweet

Over the past few months, I have been helping a newlywed couple merge their homes.  His taste runs toward clean line classics (think Crate & Barrel) while she is much more eclectic (think Anthropologie).  He likes neutrals. She loves color. They sold her condo and moved into his house, so one of the main objectives for the project was to infuse some of her style into the existing space.

 

 

The home office is the first thing you see when you enter through the front door.  They both need a place to work at home and wanted to add a comfortable seating area. I know, right, where?  After discussing how the space functions for them, it was decided that the bookshelves could be moved to another room.    

 

The furniture was then changed to a functional L-shape to free up space in the corner for a chair.  Also, now the desks are not the first thing you see upon entering the home.  We all know it is impossible to keep your desktop neat all of the time (ever?) -- plus, now they can both see out the windows while working. 

 

After further discussion, my client pulled out a chair that her Aunt and Mother had purchased at an estate sale years ago, along with some fabric she had purchased at Lewis and Sheron.  She suggested maybe we could use it for an accent pillow.

 

 

The lines were beautiful but the fabric was worn.

There was only about a yard of the fabric so I suggested we mix it up a little.

My client loved the idea and the search for fabric was on!  (Sorry, I did not get a picture of the original fabric).

 

 

I found this beautiful Belgian Lace fabric (on sale half price!) at Lewis and Sheron - perfect for the back of the chair and all of the welting! The fabric for the seat cushion was a little more elusive.  Nothing jumped out as the perfect fabric.  Now, although the inspiration fabric has purple in it (and we all know I love purple!), my client told me at our first consultation that she didn't really care for purple.  Many of the fabrics I found in the right colorway seemed too traditional -- almost grandmotherly.  (Not trashing grandmothers here, being one myself.)   I picked up a swatch of a purple fabric with red dots on a whim. Well, as you can see, it was the one my client chose!

 

Button detailing

 

 

Welting close up

 

 

View of all three fabrics!

 

As much as I like to make my clients happy, part of me hoped she wouldn't like it so I could purchase it from her for my living room (where it looked amazing!).  I am glad to report, she loves it.  I haven't heard how her Hubby (or her Mom) feels about it.  Here is a view of the chair in the client's office.  (We are still waiting for the last two picture rails from West Elm that were ordered in March!)  Once we add a small side table along with a floor lamp, the corner will be complete.

 

 

The total price came in at less than $500!  What does your Mom have stashed away in her basement?

 

Wendy

 

I’m linking up to:

Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed 

 Redoux

 Link Party Palooza

Open House Thursday

 

Birthday Table for HHM

Tweet

 

 

My faithful intern and I made a trip to the outlets in Dawsonville and to Lakewood Antique Market last Friday.  I found this great vintage Dutch Boy paint can at one of the booths at Lakewood and thought it would be the perfect gift for HHM for Valentine's Day! I know Valentine's Day had already past, but HHM was out of town for both his birthday and Valentine's Day so I had some leeway.  Inspired by my purchase, I changed up the table in my family room to pay homage to HHM for his birthday.  He is of Dutch descent, so I like to throw windmills, wooden shoes and such into our decor.

 

 

HHM is also a big fan of houseplants so we made a quick stop at Lowe's on our way home to pick up this fern.  I subscribe to the theory of treating plants like fresh flowers, you enjoy their beauty while it lasts, then you pitch them and buy something new.  The tag states that this Lemon Button Fern is easy to care for -- we shall see!

 

 

Here is a before picture.  The only items I kept on the table were the lamp and the Pottery Barn Navigation Desk Magnifying Glass (no longer available online but you may be able to locate one in the clearance center of your local store).  The vintage stamps were a bargain at an antique store in Braselton last fall.

 

 

The ceramic peanut box and binoculars are also discontinued PB items, though the peanut box may still be available at some outlet stores.  I would like to say I chose these items because HHM is a bird watcher and a nut lover - both of which are true.  In reality, they looked good in the vignette.  I always keep a supply of cigar boxes on  hand to use for elevating decorative objects.  Most cigar shops have a supply they will sell for $2 and up.

 

 

The gold peanut really stands out against the dark wood and the gold writing ties the two pieces together.   The juxtaposition of the rectangular boxes with all the other round and curved pieces adds energy to the vignette.  Now that we are empty nesters, HHM and I usually eat at this table so I kept the front half of the table empty.  In the winter we enjoy a fireside meal, while in the summer when the windows are open we can hear the fountain bubbling in the background.  (And, I am a messy cook, so we do not have to see the dirty kitchen!)

 

What areas of your house are you re-accessorizing for Spring?

 

Wendy

 

 

SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK NURSERY AFTER

Tweet

Back in October, I shared my initial plan for Baby M's School House Rock Nursery.  Well, Baby M decided to make an early appearance! Luckily, we had everything ready to go except for the artwork for over the crib.  (Funny, artwork was also the hold up in Sweet Baby Emily's Nursery).   

Before:  As a guest room
 

After:  An inviting yellow and gray nursery!

Here is the initial inspiration board I presented to my clients:

We stayed fairly true to the initial story board.  The rug is the scroll tile rug in gray from Pottery Barn that will easily transition to another room.  The Pottery Barn Kids polka dot drapes were a great price and by adding the yellow chevron twill tape to the leading edge, we gave them a custom look at a retail price.

 

 

After reading the current research on bumper pads and SIDS, my client opted not to go with a bumper pad.  The organic polka dot sheet from PB Kids along with a custom chevron crib skirt add a great punch of color and pattern.  As the debate continues on the safety of bumper pads, more alternatives are popping up:  an increased selection of printed sheets, sheets with a contrast band on the side and the faux bumper pad.

 

 

 

From the doorway, you see the inviting nursing/reading corner.  We again used the Ribba picture ledges as bookshelves because space is at a premium.  The Little Castle glider (as well as the crib and dresser) are from Georgia Baby and Kids.  We received a swatch of the chair fabric after ordering the chair, it was much bluer than anticipated.  Back to the store where we compared it to the original - not the same at all!  We still aren't sure if the sample they sent us or the store swatch was the color we had ordered, so we went with a different color all together to be safe.  Although the sales staff thought the chair would be the color we initially ordered, they were very helpful in changing the order.

 

This room is another great example of high/low decorating.  The parents splurged on the chair but the fun gray pouf ottoman and the pillow are Target purchases.   The Pouf was about half the price of the original from CB2!

 

I had originally specified a bright yellow file cabinet for the side table to add storage and a touch of whimsy.  However, the Mom was afraid the corners might be a hazard during late night feedings.  Also, her Aunt sent this beautiful stained glass lamp that she made for the nursery.  The bright yellow side table, under $100 at Target, works beautifully with the lamp.  I love how the lines on the lamp mimic the chevron from the bed skirt.  Her Aunt used several pins from Baby M's Nursery board on Pinterest as her starting point.  I know this special gift will be cherished for years to come.

 

 

Remember the beautiful paneling on this wall?   What a change!



The custom Abacus over the changing table adds a great focal point to this side of the room.  The contrast is ideal for Baby M's developing eyes to focus on.  (My child development background comes in handy for designing nurseries).  The parents decided to hang it a little high to avoid kicking feet and waving arms. Watch for a future post on it's construction by HHM.  The colorful wood beads pick up on the polka dot theme and will provide lots of fine motor skill practice in the future.  The polka dot changing pad cover, as well as the striped blanket on the glider, are both from Land of Nod.
 

 

Figuring out the best way to spray paint all these beads, as well as searching out spray paint in all the right colors was quite a challenge.  HHM used the directions at Anything Pretty Blog as a starting point but made some modifications.

 

The alphabet artwork over the crib was also custom made using alphabet flashcards based on a vintage ABC book and were purchased from Etsy.   I used this knock off of a Restoration Hardware Piece at that's my letter blog as my inspiration.

 

 

 

 





Freddie the Lamaze Firefly Mobile adds a whimsical touch to the crib.  Not only does he play music, his wings flap and the wings reverse to a more complex pattern as the baby's vision develops.

 



 

The Banana Yellow ceiling and Chantilly Lace Walls really lighten up the room.  (Both colors by Benjamin Moore).

 



 

Please contact me at Wendy@chapingroupinteriors.com if you need help designing your nursery.

 

Wendy

SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK NURSERY: SNEAK PEEK

Tweet

One of my current projects is a nursery for a young couple I have had the joy of knowing since their early High School Days.  The Mom-to-Be liked the idea of a yellow and gray color palette and also suggested we incorporate the alphabet in some manner, being what she describes as somewhat of a "school nerd."   The couple had already purchased a crib and combination dresser/changing table in a dark mahogany wood. 

BEFORE:

 The paneling has since been removed and replaced

with drywall.

 The room has two small windows and is shaded, so

it can seem dark.

Using the color palette and alphabet as my starting point, I expanded the plan with school room accessories for a vintage feel and then updated it with a variety of patterned fabrics in gray and bright yellow.  The walls and trim have been painted Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace and the ceiling is now Benjamin Moore Banana Yellow to give a light airy feel to the room.

We choose Pottery Barn's Scroll Tile Rug so it could be used in a guest room or office at a later date. We also chose to do the glider in gray as opposed to yellow so it too could be incorporated into another room when no longer needed in the nursery.





The original gray pouf was from CB2, but while shopping in Target one day I came across their version at half the price!  Sorry, I can't seem to find it on their website but it is in the Interiors section- available in stores for under $50!

CB2 no longer carries the giant abacus I chose for over the changing table so recreating it looks like a job for HHM (Hunky Handy Man, a.k.a. my husband!)   The bookshelves are the Ribba picture ledges from IKEA.  The curtain panels are from PBKids.  I am adding the chevron tape to the leading edge to incorporate the yellow and add a more custom style.  Adding trim to purchased panels is a great way to get a custom look on a budget!

Don't miss the after pictures in an upcoming blog by subscribing to Chapin Group Interiors: a lifestyle blog.

Wendy