My Schumacher Chair and Some Art

Remember that I Stole a Schumacher Chair?  I finished it within two weeks, but hadn't put the bottom cover on until the other day, so I've been dragging my feet about posting it.  Today -- the big reveal.

Here she is before, in her new spot...

F. Schumacher chair, F. Schumacher linen (maybe 20 yrs old?)

And, here she it today, on this lovely Memorial Day...

I'm going to bore you with modeling her at another angle because I am so happy with the way she turned out, and because, quite frankly, reupholstery is a ton of hard, patient work. :)

Keep in mind, my living room is in the process of a redo, hence the naked windows.  (You know how I dislike a bare window.)

I'm thinking about this ROMO fabric for a summer pillow.  Just waiting for the fabric to come in to whip it up with some great trim....

If you wonder what differences there really are between high-end upholstery and its low-end counterpart, here is one of the things to look for...

Most better quality upholstery will have hold-downs (my fancy term) on the seat cushion, with a corresponding clasp on the frame to keep cushions in place.  Here, I replicated what was on the original, and made sure to expose the clasp when I redid the decking. (Lousy picture.)

I'm kind of a freak about making sure things I do don't look homemade.  I prefer to think I am a perfectionist rather than a snob.  That said, if you are thinking about reupholstering anything that has a welt or cushion, you really do need to know how to sew (or get someone to do that part for you :)


In other news, my girls went on their first solo trips to opposite ends of the country this weekend.  As a welcome back surprise, I framed some of their artwork that I've been wanting to get done.

One did this pen and ink, and they each did one of the marker black and whites below.  I'm hoping they will love this addition to our walls!

There's nothing like original artwork, especially when it's done by someone you love.

Hope you've had a fabulous weekend.  Talk to you soon,

Carol

Need help finding the perfect piece for your home?  Contact me about my services.

I Stole A Schumacher Chair

Okay, I didn't really steal it, but when I found this Schumacher classic English arm chair at an estate sale back in the fall, I felt like I did!  Yes, it came home with me for a mere $300 dollars.

Schumacher has a line of furniture built like tanks, with a price tag to match.  This was a major score, people.  I am still dancing a jig.  I love classic lines.

I figure the Schumacher linen on it is from the 80's, which cracks me up because the colors are still/now current.  Anyway, as I can never leave well enough alone, I'm in the process of reupholstering it myself.  These are the fabrics I am using for the re-do of my living room...

Don't hate me.  This is actually a current, spring green Highland Court fabric that I scored last week for $60 to do the whole chair.  In person, the hand on this is exquisite.  I am doing my living room all in green, with cream and black drapes (haven't figured out that fabric yet).  Not only did I score this fabric, but this Kravet Ikat (same kind of pricing) is going on my French chair...

Again, in person, these fabrics are perfect together.  My tufted sofa is going a deeper green in velvet.

But I digress from my chair.  I started the reupholstery progress this weekend, pulling out 7 million, 4 hundred and 82 staples.  Okay, an exaggeration, maybe, but if you've done it, you know that's what it feels like.  Here are some shots of my progress over the last three days...

Don't freak -- the old rug is not part of the plan. :)  Anyway, I impatiently took the cushion cover apart and the inside back to use as a pattern.

I've checked and retied a few springs...

This morning, this is what it looks like (bad lighting).  I sewed the inside back with the welt yesterday, and here it is making sure it fits.

I'm beside myself excited with the plan for the living room, and with these crazy scores.  That's what I've been up to lately, in my spare 5 minutes of time.  Have you ever attempted serious reupholstery?

Stay tuned...
Carol


Need help redoing your living room?  Contact me here -- I'd love to help.

I Got A New Rack

Put your eyebrows down.  Plastic surgery isn't the topic today.  I'm talking antlers.  Deer antlers.

If you read design blogs or the latest magazines on hot decor, you'd have to be sleeping through it to not to notice all the antlers being used in design of late.  They are everywhere, from white plastic deer heads to silver coated Texas Long Horns.  Some of them are clever and whimsical.  And I have to say, unless you have a personal connection to them in some way, why would you use them for any other reason but whimsy?  The fake ones, I mean.

Here's a couple of examples, the first from Ballard Designs, the other source unknown...

(I found the above on Google images, which led to the blog  Chic on a Shoestring, which I immediately fell in love with.  Check it out.)

I won't bore you with the million images out there of rooms using them.  Instead, I will entertain you, lol, with this image from my family room.

The antlers, yes, are real, and they came from my parent's house, where my dad has several racks holding his collection of baseball hats and other sundries.  They line the stairs to the basement.  When I asked him if he'd like to donate some to my family room (in my ongoing attempt to have this room truly reflect our family), he offered me these.  I love them.  He had mounted them on a slab from a cedar tree.

So I have given in to trend and put antlers in my house.  Only because they reflect my dad, and my husband's one foray into deer hunting (another story).  They also contribute to the English library feeling I'm going for in there.  (Can't you just imagine the stenciled, tone on tone damask pattern that coming to those walls? :).

Do tell...are you in or out on antlers?

Talk to you soon,
Carol

I've Been Invaded by Scots

You know I like to find some kind of meaningful connection to the things I put on my walls.  So when I saw these prints of Scottish soldiers in my favorite consignment shop, I knew they had to be mine.  Perfect addition to my family room (my man and I both have some Scottish blood, and our good friends live there).

When I got them home, I placed them on the floor to decide on a layout.  This image was taken on the rug in my family room ( I wish it was my wallpaper).  It's a wool tweed with a leather boarder and I love it.  I digress.  Here they are...

I'm crazy about them, but the bright brass toned frames were a bit much, so I picked up some black water-based stain and gave them a makeover...

And here they are, on the wall...

That wraps up my day!  How was yours?

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Art and The Dancing Bears

My heart is beating a little faster today.  My feet are dancing a jig.  And my head is running a happy tune on a loop.  All because of this consignment shop find, which is so much better looking in person...

A closer look, you ask?

Okay, so some of your are saying that I've lost my mind.  So be it.  I'm in love.  The perfect amount of serious meets unexpected in my striving for an English library feel in my family room.   Believe it or not, in person you have to stare at it a few minutes to process what it is and take it all in, because it looks like a serious scene in a beautiful forest.  It also plays on my memory of zip lining with my man and my kids in an Alaskan forest, and seeing huge black bears in the woods below.

When I told the shop owner I'd like to purchase this today, he laughed and said that the snow storms did me a favor -- it kept all the interested buyers home.  So, I say, bring on more snow!  (In addition to the 4 feet that's in my yard!)  I've thought about this piece for two weeks, hoping it would still be there when I went back.  Today was the day.  Yippee for me!

Don't you just love a good consignment shop?

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Creating Inexpensive Artwork

When you can't find what you want for artwork, either because the subject matter isn't readily available or it doesn't fit your budget when you do find it...create it!  It really is pretty easy.  Here's the story behind the super inexpensive artwork I have in my living room...

I have really grown fond of using birds in my own decorating (I know, I know, some people are totally freaked out by the very thought of birds in a house, but I love it.)  Why?  Because when we took our girls on vacation at age 4, they were totally enamored by these little sparrow-like birds that hung around the pool area of our hotel.  Everywhere we went on that vacation, the girls would think the same birds followed them because they saw them everywhere (any place that served food outside, that is). The point?  Having reminders of that sweet time makes me happy.  So I have a few birds in my decor. 

Anyway, I wanted 6 pieces of artwork to flank my sofa, 3 on each side.  This was my inspiration, at $229 a pop -- a little beyond my budget for 6 of them.  (Available here.)

So, being a make-it-yourself-er from way back in the day, I went on a hunt to find a book that would provide me with some "prints" that I could frame.  The heavens parted and a light shone down on this baby, for $3.99 at a discount store, one day when I actually wasn't looking for it.  (Much like love, don't you think -- you find it when you're not looking?)  I digress (again).  Here's the book...

The pages had no copy, save the text notes by Audubon, so they looked very similar to my inspiration.  Next came the sagey-olivey double mats at $5 each from Michael's craft store, along with $5 clearance frames.  Can you say "making mamma's day?"  I love the frames because they are sort of branchy looking, and I thought that added the perfect texture.  They also add balance to the darker wood pieces on the opposite side of the room.

I chose the bird "prints", or pages, which worked the best with my colors.  Here is one of them close up...

Ok, maybe not quite as rich looking as the inspiration, but I'm really happy with the outcome.  When a few changes are made to the living room in the coming months, I'll photograph the whole wall so you can appreciate the symmetry they provide.  (Sorry for the lack of accurate colors in the images in this post today!)

The very best part?  My grand total was a mere $63.99, as compared to $1,374 for my inspiration!  Can't beat that.  Ok, the caveat?  Beautifully executed artwork, be they prints or originals, always trumps an imitation.  But, there's always something for every budget!

What's your best artwork creation?

Oh, and don't forget to check out Window Wednesday this week for the first reader dilemma! (Please feel free to submit your challenges and photos to me any time at SofasandSage@gmail.com).

Talk to you soon,
Carol

One more thing!  Vignette Design is celebrating one year today with a giveaway -- check out her GORGEOUS blog :)!  I also linked today's post to Colour Me Happy -- check that out, too!

Christmas Tree Ideas

On my recent trip to Cary, North Carolina, I was suprised and thrilled to find some gorgeous Christmas trees, ready for me to blog about!  It seems that purple may be the color of the season this year, and I'll start with that.  However, it's all about what you love.  Most of the pictures are from sections of the trees as it's hard to capture a tree in a store without all the other background stuff.  Maybe something will inspire your look this year!

First, some trees and looks from Family Home & Garden...

I loved this candy tree...

All the images below come from Carolina Pottery USA, a wharehouse-type discount store with fantastic accessories for your home.  I was amazed by the number of gorgeous trees they had on display, along with all the available decorations.

 

For a little peace on earth...

So, do you feel inspired and delighted?  I hope so!  Leave a comment and tell me which is your favorite.

Have a great weekend, and,

Talk too you soon,

Carol