Posts Tagged ‘Furniture Friday’

Miss Muffet would be jealous of this fabulous chair!

I have had this great little bistro style chair hanging in my shed since last fall.  I should say my husband’s shed.  I get the house and he gets the shed.  He doesn’t touch my “stuff” and I don’t mess with anything in his 4500 square foot garage.  It’s the perfect trade off!  I do all the interior design at inside and he does all the outside work!   I do, however, store a few items in there once in a while.

A cut little bistro style chair in it's original yellow paint and vinyl seat

This chair for instance.  It was a great find for $9.99 at Goodwill.  I wanted to do something very girly in hot pink, so my 7 year old niece Kayla became the inspiration and recipient.  I knew it would be perfect for a child’s bedroom.

The glitter really sold me on this tulle!

I was very excited when I found this glittered fuchsia tulle and a floral fabric and embroidered trim to go with it.

Green paint really updates the look of the chair

A little sand paper to rough up the finish and a can of neon green spray paint updated the chair from the 1970’s.

The old seat batting was in good shape.

The black and white vinyl seat was stapled on and easy to remove.  Then I cut a piece of the fabric 2” wider than the seat and attached it with a staple gun.

A staple gun is the handiest tool when covering chair seats

I gathered a double layer of tulle by hand and stapled it to the seat making the gathers even all the way around.

Never cut off the excess fabric until you are satisfied with the fullness.

Instead of cutting off the excess netting, I folded it up for extra fullness and sewed it in place.  You could glue the trim to the fabric, but hand stitching is neater (no mess) and you have greater control.

The floral trim is the finishing touch

Miss Muffet would have loved this chair

I happened to find the lime green pom-poms in my stash that were a perfect match.  It turned out so cute and just right for a girly little seven year old.

A chair fit for a little princess (or even a Queen)

Adding  style and design to any room can be as simple as a trip to a resale shop and fabric store.  Go ahead, brighten your home with color!

I was interview by Tammy Kahn Fennell of Collectibles Corner TV.  She offers practical tips for collecting antiques.  I talked to her about designing and living with antique furniture.   Check out the interview at #42 Interior Designing with Antiques.

Send me your living with antiques design questions!

Our next step in redecorating Patrick’s room is to look for bedding and fabric.  He is a typical guy who really doesn’t like to shop, but it’s his room, so I insisted he choose the chair and bedspread.  I know I won’t have time to make a bedspread, but I can manage valances for the window and a bedskirt.

We headed for the bedding section at the local department store.  Red is just not a hot color now, so our choices were limited.  I pulled out 5 bedspreads that would go with his chair:  denim, a black/red bold stripe, a navy matelasse, a grey/red hip and trendy print and black graphic print.  He chose (drum roll, please…) the navy matelasse!  A matelasse is two pieces of fabric that have been quilted together by hand or machine with matching thread.  It’s beautiful coverlet, but it doesn’t offer any other colors to use in the room.

Pat chose a navy matelasse for his bedspread

Next, I went to area fabric stores to look for a coordinating fabrics for the drapery and bedskirt.  That was a challenge too since we didn’t want a patriotic red, white and blue room.  I also didn’t want to show him too many choices.   Like most clients, too many options are simply overwhelming.  A good designer knows her client and can narrow down the choices before making a presentation.

This stripe fabric would have been perfect had it not been sold out!

Pat liked the navy, green, red and beige stripe, but it was already sold out by the time I returned.  He also liked a solid red quilted fabric and I talked him into a dark, navy, red, green paisley.

I think we will use this for window valances

This paisley fabric is very grown-up and a little sophisticated!

• The bedspread was regularly priced at $150.00, but on sale and with a coupon, I got it for half price!
  
• The red quilted fabric was also on sale, marked down from $14.00 a yard to $11.19.  Unfortunately, the store had less than 2 1/2 yards.   There won’t be enough for the bedskirt, but I can make a simple drapery valance out of the piece.
• I also had a 50% off coupon for the paisley fabric (see a trend here?).  I paid $12.50 a yard instead of $25.00.  I bought the end of the bolt so I’m hoping 5 yards of fabric will be sufficient.

At least we have some colors to choose from when we pick paint.  Fortunately, I have lots of paint chips at my office and we can pick one out before we head out the store again.

If you’re sending your teenager off to college this fall, I don’t have to talk to you about expenses.  Everything about higher education is costly, but furnishing a dorm room doesn’t need to break the bank.  You know how I love to “re-purpose” an item (find a new use for something).  You also know I’m a flea market and antique junkie and Goodwill is one of my favorite places to shop.

Rearrange the furniture to create floor space. By lofting the beds, we had room to add a couple of chairs and area rugs. Throw a couple of pillows on the floor and you have seating for several friends.

I have been working with Goodwill SEW along with Marquette and Carroll Universities creating dorm showrooms entirely furnished with items purchased at Goodwill stores.   The average cost has been around $200 for two students living in the space!  It takes a little time to shop, but the savings are amazing.  Why spend a bundle of money now when you know your student will want something different next year?

It's amazing how much money you can save with smart shopping. We did an the whole room for under $200! Have a game plan and color scheme in mind when shopping.

Most dorm room furniture can be moved around and beds can be lofted for more floor space.

Lofted or bunk beds free up the floor. Talk to your room mate about color choices and who will bring the important stuff like the TV, refrigerator and chairs!

I found a green folding chair and a second one I covered with a blanket.  You might find a love seat size sofa or a comfy arm chair to fit your space.

Posters add personality to your dorm room without breaking the bank. Be sure to find out what you can use to hang pictures from the housing staff!

Once you choose a color scheme, shopping is easier and faster when you concentrate on your particular colors and you will be amazed at how many accessories you will find.

Each student gets a desk and shelving at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Plenty of room to organize books, toiletries and personal items.

Personalize your space with photos and items that are important to you.

Arrange your furniture to get the most floor space. Separating your desks will give each of you a little privacy.

Use colorful baskets and containers to hold your toiletries and towels.

The hunt is half the fun!

Whether you have lots of money to spend on your design project or very little, there are always things you can do to update your home.  Sometimes money isn’t the problem, having the time to tackle a big project isn’t always feasible.

Rearranging furniture is the fastest, cheapest way to change the look of a room.

• Move the sofa from one side of the room to the other to create a new conversational grouping

• Put the sofa in the middle of the room.  Place a unique sofa table behind it for a new focal point
  

• Forget the TV and orient your furniture to the view outdoors.

• Arrange furniture on an angle instead of everything straight with the walls.

• Be sure to angle the area rug too or roll them up for the summer season
  

Before you move furniture, make sure it fits the space!

Move furniture from one room to another for a totally different look.

• Mixing up styles adds some excitement to the space.

• Try the bedroom chair in the family room.

• Or move the upholstered arm chair to the bedroom for a cozy reading nook.

• The trunk or bench at the end of your bed might make a perfect coffee table.

• Swap some of your casual tables in the family room for the more formal tables in the living room.

This orginal painted table by artist Debra Ellinger would look great as a coffee table, sofa table or at the end of your bed.

Change room entirely:

• Make the dining room a library or den or office or craft room
  

• Never use the formal living room?  Turn it into a reading room or move your computer in and create a home office.

The point is,  you don’t need to spend much time or money to get a fresh look to your home.  A little ingenuity and muscle power and you have a new space!

“Oh the tangled webs we weave…”

If your office is anything like mine, you have a messy maze of cords hiding behind your desk.  My philosophy is out of sight, out of mind.  I totally ignore the lot until I add a new item and then I’m faced with massive dust bunnies along with a twisted and tangled mass of wires.

Now we’re faced with a new mess of cords for our hand-held gadgets.  There is a cord for each cell phone in my house, plus my palm, my camera, portable gaming devices, i-pods and mp3 players, various cables for a variety of laptop computers along with the miscellaneous unidentifiable cords I’m afraid to throw away in case the missing item turns up!

Cords out of control!

These are easier to control than the behind-the-desk-mess.  I gathered up some office supplies including tags and stickers.  Each tag identifies the item, “Merri’s phone”, “Pat’s i-pod”, etc.

Why shouldn't organization be fun?

Maintaining order is as simple as twist ties you get with your trash bags or bread.

You can even recycle twist ties.

Rubber bands (I get plenty with my mail).

Rubber bands will do the trick

Or giant paper clip!

These clips come in all sizes. They are easy to hang on a peg.

It only took a few minutes to organize (not counting the time it took to figure out which cord went with which thing!).  The best part is I don’t have to unravel the cords to plug myself in!

Minwax(R) Teams with This Old House Magazine for Furniture Makeover Contest: ‘From Attic to Awesome’

Have Furniture in Need of Revival?  Enter Now for a Chance to Win a Professional Furniture Makeover and a Backstage Visit to the Set of the This Old House(R) Television Show

Minwax, the leading manufacturer of wood finishing and wood care products, has teamed with the popular This Old House magazine to announce the “From Attic to Awesome” Makeover Contest. To enter, contestants need only to submit a photo and a bit of background information on a furniture piece in need of a transformation – perhaps a well-worn dining table, handed down from one generation to another, or a sturdy old chest that has been collecting dust in the attic? Maybe a new “find” from a yard sale or flea market, or even a “craigslist” treasure that needs some updating but would look terrific in the house? One Grand Prize winner will win a professional furniture makeover plus a trip for two to a behind-the-scenes day with the cast and crew of the “This Old House(R)” TV show. Two 1st Prize Winners will each win a professional makeover for their furniture piece, and twenty-five 2nd Prize Winners will each win a $100 gift card. The contest runs from July 1, 2009 to September 30, 2009.

“We are thrilled to be collaborating with the creative folks at This Old House on this contest,” said Jacquelyn Ferrara, director of marketing, Minwax(R). “Over the years, we’ve transformed countless pieces of forgotten furniture into stunning showcases using our full line of wood finishing products; now that we’re teaming with the professionals at This Old House, we can’t wait to see the results.”

To enter online, visit minwax.com/makeovercontest. To enter by mail, send a picture of your furniture item, plus a brief written history of the piece, to: From Attic to Awesome Makeover Contest, c/o Brushfire, 2 Wing Drive, Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927. All entries must be received by 9/30/09.

Abbreviated Rules: No purchase necessary to enter or win in the From Attic to Awesome Makeover Contest. Starts 12:00:01 am ET on 7/1/09, ends 11:59:59 pm ET on 9/30/09 (”Promotion Period”). Open to legal residents of 50 U.S. and District of Columbia 18+ years as of entry date. Void where prohibited. Subject to the Official Rules, available by visiting minwax.com during the Promotion Period or by sending a SASE for receipt by 9/30/09 to: From Attic to Awesome Makeover Contest RULES, c/o Brushfire, 2 Wing Drive, Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927. Sponsor: The Sherwin-Williams Company.

For more product information, wood finishing tips and project ideas, visit the Minwax(R) website at minwax.com.

The Minwax(R) Company is the leading manufacturer of wood finishing and wood care products. Headquartered in Upper Saddle River, NJ, with a manufacturing facility in Flora, IL, Minwax(R) is part of Sherwin-Williams Wood Care Products.

About This Old House

This Old House Ventures is America’s premier home enthusiast brand, netting 50 million multi-media impressions each month through its award-winning television, print, and web properties. The leading consumer publication for home how-to and inspiration, the award-winning This Old House magazine currently has a circulation of 950,000 and reaches an audience of almost six million.

Since its debut, the Emmy Award-winning program This Old House has been the highest-rated home improvement series in TV history, providing audiences with expert advice on design, remodeling and restoration. In 2001 This Old House spawned a second show, Ask This Old House. The ultimate website for home design and remodeling information, thisoldhouse.com has inspirational photo galleries, step-by-step DIY projects, and instructional videos available to homeowners 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

SOURCE The Minwax Company

My friends and I have been going to the New Berlin parade on the 4th of July since we were in college.  Over the years we added spouses and children, changed our post parade venue and added brunch.

Summertime is my favorite time of the year and who doesn’t love the celebration of July 4th?  It gets hot by noon, but in the morning we relax on the porch over breakfast and Bloody Marys!

Festive red, white and blue

Setting an independence table is fun and festive.  You can pull out all the red, white and blue stops.  I found the iron table and chairs at a flea market for a song a few years ago.  A bit of sanding and spray paint and it seats up to 6 people comfortably.

Red, white and blue the color for the day

Denim placemats add the touch of blue to the place setting.  Since this is practically a picnic, I bring out my enamel dishes from Sweden.  You can pick up lots of white enamel dinnerware at flea markets, but since I’m part Swedish, I stick with those marked Sweden.

Vintage enamelware

Look for dishes marked Sweden. The cm indicates the size

Start the party with basic supplies

What could be more Americana than a red bandana?  They make perfect napkins—colorful and inexpensive.  I fold them in thirds and then half again.  Triple pleat in the middle and hold together with an old fashion clothes pin.  I write each guest’s name on the pin and add a couple of mini flags.

What could be easier than writing guests' names on old clothes pins!

Bandanas also work as chair seats. No upholstery required!

Bandanas also fit the chair seats.  The upholstered seats are fine, but I like the coordinated look since the table top is glass.

Festive place setting

It’s OK to break the rules when setting the table.  Since the cup and saucer take up the right hand corner of the placemat, I chose to put the knife next to the fork and spoon with the saucer.

Patriotic candles and ribbon for the centerpiece

The centerpiece is a trio of RWB candles, ribbon and flag.

Festive table setting

Such a simple way to start the celebration!

I love books and read as much as my time allows.  My favorite author is Jane Austen and my all time favorite book is Pride and Prejudice.  I’ve read it a dozen times!  I collect antique editions of classic children and adult novels (my oldest copy of P & P was published in 1892), vintage etiquette and entertaining books and interior design books from every decade.  I read the classics and the others are great for resource and inspiration.

Books make charming and lovely displays.  A new acquaintance walking into your home will instantly discover a bit of who you are just by reading the titles of your collection.  But they can also become unwieldy and messy if you don’t have a plan.

There are several ways to organize your book collection without looking like the local library.

• Arrange books by author or subject if you need to find a particular edition quickly.


Design books on the top shelf, etiquette books below

Framed photos in various sizes offer a nice contrast to old books

By simply elevating the books at the left of the top shelf, makes the display more interesting.

• Choose color or size to create an interesting display.

• Stack books vertically and horizontally for added interest.

• Stagger books for depth and to create little pockets for display.
  

• Find unique items for bookends.


Cut glass dishes can serve as book-ends



I love the contrast of the vintage book covers and beautiful glass

• Display books with another collection.  Family photos are a perfect pairing with hardcover volumes.  Art work of any sort offers a nice contrast too.

Vintage books and children's artwork are creative combinations

Books are great for elevating pictures. Successful displays have different heights

The Georgian Revival Breast Cancer Showhouse was built in 1912 by the daughter and son-in-law of Patrick Cudahy.  As in all grand homes, the front vestibule was the first interior space visitors would see when entering the house, so it had to be spectacular.

Anne Wangman of Forbes Design took the challenge of bringing the entry back to life for the BCSH.  The original leaded windows and transom are still intact, along with the stunning plaster quatrefoil design on the ceiling.

Anne Wangman chose a lovely chest and lantern trio for the entry

Anne chose a reproduction bow front chest in a distressed black finish to contrast with the paneled oak wainscot.  It’s a simple, yet elegant place to set your hand bag while you remove your wrap!  The candlelight lantern trio offers a lighting alternative to a typical table lamp.

Wall brackets featuring a playful collection of wire-haired fox terriers are an unexpected touch and draw the eye toward the ceiling and the Steuben glass light fixture.

Have fun in your entry. Display something fun and unexpected like this collection of ceramic terriers

Have fun with your entry.  Make sure a bit of your “Signature Style” is evident when guests enter your house!