Repurposing

Last summer we traded up from our queen-sized bed to a king--made up from (2) twin extra-long bed frames/mattresses. I pushed for the upgrade because CA can be a blanket hog, and with my sometimes erratic sleep habits I'd become extremely sensitive to bumps-in-the-night.

We've had a headboard dilemma, thinking we'd commission an upholstered headboard once we moved from the main parts of the house redecorating to the master bedroom. Somewhere between then and now I got the idea to re-purpose the antique iron twin bed frame that had been DM's growing up.

Our handy-dandy electrician with his handy-man crew took on the project of converting a headboard and foot board of different heights into the king-sized headboard we desired. I'd asked that they be wall-mounted to alleviate the rattle-rattle I associate with metallic headboards.

So, we're now in the process of choosing fabric for a bed skirt and a few fun pillows. And, the art above the bed is too small, so that requires some re-thinking and possible re-purposing, also.

As for the toss pillows--I'd found white linen napkins a couple of years ago which I've had embroidered with some significant numbers and French phrases. DV is having those made into pillows to use here. And, I'm guessing we'll repeat the bed skirt fabric in a couple of pillows, too.

TAKING THE PLUNGE

Aristocrat Red

8' x 10'

Great Room

Poise Plum

4' x 6'

Foyer

So, I've ordered two rugs--one for the foyer and one for the great room. I'm nervous and excited. Nervous because if one or both don't work, the return will surely be a hassle. The website assures me that the vendor adequately provides for such action with enclosed instructions and a flexible policy. I just can't imagine that two awkwardly shaped and heavy parcels can arrive and potentially depart my home without some less-than-artful wrangling and maneuvering.

However, most of all I'm excited! I've lived with these images for weeks and weeks. I've enlarged them on my iPad and carried the images from room to room considering and imagining how they'll complete our spaces. We've been redecorating for months and months, and CA agrees that, whatever it takes, we're going to finish our great room, morning room, entry, and study-dining room in the weeks ahead. Installing appropriate rugs is one of the key tasks in accomplishing that.

Here's hoping...

LES CHAISES

 Voilà!

The Craig's list chairs (6 for $250) in their new fabrics: linen-leather-chateau print.

From this...

To these...

Beaujolais

Chateauneuf du Pape

And, from this...

To these...

FRED IS FAST

When Fred called me yesterday just after 9:00am, I learned that I need to finalize my fabric decisions.  I'd expected to follow-up on my upholstery plans with Fred sometime next week, as he'd indicated before Christmas that his schedule was full and it'd be January before he could start on my project. 

I've been waffling on whether to actually use the French fabric we'd purchased in Antibes last winter. CA is a oenophile and the French fabric is embossed with the labels-branding of some of our favorite chateaus. We've had a small ottoman re-upholstered with the fabric without really knowing where it'd fit in our new decor. 

But, I've recently become infatuated with the splashes of  hot pink appearing across the interior design blogger world, and have a sudden irrational desire to incorporate some of that luscious color into my world--possibly on inside back of the arm chairs (just two of the six are armchairs--the four side chairs are destined for neutral "cement" leather-linen). I've spent hours looking at fabric and found nothing that quite suits.

Yesterday morning at my house...

This afternoon at Fred's Upholstery:

That butt-sprung look/feeling is explained with one look at the 25+ year old webbing.

Learned that this furry creature is called an edge roll.

It's the only part of the existing upholstery that will be reused in this project.

Edge Roll: Thick jute cord wrapped in burlap. Used to soften frame and spring edges. 

http://www.hamptonhouse.ca/upholstery_terms.pdf 

Another look at the before;

and, after... 

While my iPhone camera angle is similar in the two photos, the shot is taken from a bit high. 

Consequently, the seat cushion appears somewhat distorted. 

The color is very off in the iPhone photo.

This color swatch is from the Greenhouse website.

Greenhouse Design Fabrics

Cement 98069

Just after noon I visit Fred's shop and quickly realize that the wine fabric is the absolute right choice for our study-dining room. I'd forgotten that I matched the Greenhouse "cement" color for the linen and the leather selection with the taupe background of the French fabric.

Fred's 30% or more into the project. He's already rebuilt the seats and installed the leather on two chairs, and installed the linen on the outside back of one arm chair. Lovely, and exciting--what a difference!

The linen cording will be next on this chair--single cording on the inside and outside back, and double cording on the leather seat.

Fred says he'll deliver the finished chairs as early as Saturday--2 days--or Monday at the latest. WOW and WOW!

Update: Just after 10:00am on Saturday morning Fred's son, Craig, delivers our six chairs. CA and I have fun placing them in various rooms and standing back to admire the changes.

FRED

Fred called this morning.

He'd been on my mind, but after our last conversation I'd expected I'd have to chase him down. We'd spoken in vague terms about reupholstering my French dining chairs after the first of the year. Yes, we'd discussed fabrics several times, and come to logger heads (an antiquated expression? Are we talking turtles or Paul Bunyan????)

This is what I've had in mind:

In essence, Fred is a purist, and I'm not. I want double cushion seats on my two armchairs and Fred refuses to accommodate my vision. He insists these chairs are not designed for double cushions. He really won't compromise. Excuse me, Fred? Isn't the customer always right? Apparently not, so our chair seats will be constructed like these:

Yet, I think Fred and I have a future together. His labor is more that the previous upholsterer, but the cost is justified by his attention to detail and fervor. I mean, I expected to hunt him down and here we are on January 4th ready to roll. His son came to collect the 5 chairs--Fred already had an armchair stored in his back room--and said the fabric has arrived and the first armchair seat has been rebuilt. WHOA!

I'd been waffling a bit over my leather selection. Obviously, as they say, "The die is cast." The existing leather choice is in-play. Except, the really great news is that Fred's fabrics are downright (that's archaic, too, isn't it?) reasonable. I could say "Toss out those 3 yards!" and the $$ loss would be negligible.

Tomorrow after the gym I'll stop by for one more double-cushion conversation (with slide show in-hand), but Fred won't back down, I know. We'll do it his way...

CRAIG'S LIST, CHICAGO

My Thanksgiving Day fever, chills, and sore throat have been officially a sinus infection since wake-up yesterday (Monday). In pj's all day, I resorted to day-dreaming about a spontaneous beach vacation for CA and I, and did some Internet exploring.

I don't visit Craig's List on any kind of regular basis, but we did buy a beach week last May for JE's family on CL. And yesterday, I found 6 French dining chairs for $250. Yep, $250( total) for 2 arm chairs and 4 side chairs.

I enlisted LL's time, opinion, and SUV to check out those chairs today. Had to go today, because someone else was scheduled for tomorrow. While the existing upholstery is more than funky, the shapes are excellent and the frames are heavy and solid. SOLD!

We will use the two arm chairs as occasional chairs in our study-dining room, along with two side chairs at the desk/table. Another side chair goes in the morning room, with the final chair in reserve.

Tomorrow I will wash-down the painted surfaces and consider whether they are good-to-go or need to visit the  faux-finish painter in Chicago. DV will soon be enlisted to help select the two fabrics--arm chairs will have fronts Fabric A, backs Fabric B; side chairs will be the reverse. Thinking toile or checks, or maybe toile and checks...

Here are a few I've bookmarked in the past.

Or, maybe we'll use this blue/camel plaid from the ottoman top, coordinated with the brown fabric used in the cording on the embroidered medallion chair and toile ottoman.

HUGE PROJECT

There will now be a refreshing pause in our renovation, until the furniture is delivered and set in-place. Then the results will be revealed.

IT HAS TO STOP

The window washer just left. I can't take any more. We've had non-stop renovations and service/repair guys here for two solid weeks. We need a break. No more small talk. The end to dust and clutter. I've nothing left to give.

HUGE PROJECT: The Painters

We hadn't planned to paint until winter, but with the hardwood floor installation all the furniture is moved out. What better time to call in the painters?

Today is Day 2, and most likely the last day they'll be here. We will have them back later to refresh some other rooms, but this visit they're concentrating on the great room, back hall and kitchen. They've done some drywall repairs; painted the baseboard and a few doors. Every time I do a walk-through I find more I want them to do, but they will come back...

I am very, very weary from all the chaos and home invaders. My choice, I know, and worth it. But, nonetheless, I'm emotionally exhausted.

Sal, the painter, and his assistant have agreed to move all the large furniture back inside for us at the end of the day. What a blessing! CA and I endangered our backs moving it all out (except for two chairs and the sofa), and are wiser this week--deciding to spend a few dollars to have  younger, stronger backs take on the task.

HARDWOOD FLOORS: Day 6 and 8

Gorgeous floors. (The caramel-colored chair rail is being re-painted the same SW Blonde as above.)

Between Saturday and Monday I'm out of town visiting GG--helping with some administrative  matters. It's increasingly difficult for her to write checks, etc., so we're setting up on-line payments for her utilities, etc.

Sunday, it's a relief to have no workmen in the house. A huge relief. These guys couldn't be any nicer or more efficient. It's just that home is my center, my refuge, and we've had days and days of clutter.

It's fabulous to have a day free and quiet. CA and I sleep in and go for a late brunch in Woodstock. A very mediocre to bad experience. The restaurant. Enough said.

CA says the fumes on Monday--after the house is closed-up for 9 hours--are piercing and tear-inducing. He's able to open doors and windows before sequestering in the bedroom for the evening.