Diamond In The Rough

Good morning, friends! Hope you had a beautiful summer weekend! We’re spending a few days on the Cape but after a busy day yesterday everyone is sleeping in, and I miss you, so I thought I’d sneak in and quickly share with you the latest addition to our furniture family – an antique armchair I got from Facebook Marketplace a couple of days ago that I’m very excited about!

Doesn’t it look great? Of course, it needs a good cleaning (as does our driveway 🙂 ) and new upholstery, but the frame is beautifully made and sturdy and has some great patina – which I’ll do my best to preserve. All in all, I think it will be a fun summer project to fill in the slower afternoons. The upholstery appears pretty straight forward to redo (ahem, famous last words), with only three pieces that need replacing: the seat + inside & outside back, and I think I can handle that. I’ll just have to dust off my stapler and start watching some Youtube tutorials.  How hard can it be? 🙂 Here are some fabrics I’m considering:

Because the chair will be in the family room and the sofa already has a pretty strong floral pattern, I was thinking along the lines of small prints, geometrics, or solids.  I’d also like to contain the blue + white + yellow scheme we’ve got going in there, but I looked for blues that are slightly off and not too match-y with the existing sofa blues. So far, I have two contenders:  the blue and white plaid, and the solid linen (the rest will go on pillows). My favorite is the plaid,  because I feel the piece needs to be a simple pattern on a predominantly blue background to balance out the softness of the floral and add some visual weight. My second choice would be the solid linen, but a lighter upholstery color will better highlight the dark wooden frame, so I’m torn…  What do you think, friends? 

Wishing you a great start to your week! 

P.S. Thank you so much for your warm reactions after our last post! It’s lovely to see that so many of us are thinking (and feeling) alike….

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27 Comments

  1. Linda
    July 11, 2022 / 5:45 am

    I can’t wait to see this. I found a piece with a similar style that is covered with a needlepoint pattern. I have it at the foot of the bed in a guest room and I’m debating using the cover for something else (a long pillow maybe?) but it’s growing on me. I just always love a small block print and that is the first one my eye went to among your options. But I know whatever you do will have this look amazing! Love seeing your home evolve in such a personal, charming way.

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      July 18, 2022 / 9:38 am

      Thank you so much, Linda! Your chair covered in needlepoint sounds lovely!! Have we seen it on Insta? 🙂
      xo, Eva

  2. Sheena
    July 11, 2022 / 5:58 am

    What a score! That frame is so beautiful. I like the solid fabric when thinking about the sofa and pillows you’ll add. No matter what, I know you’ll create something lovely.

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      July 18, 2022 / 9:39 am

      Thanks, Sheena!!!
      xo, Eva

  3. David
    July 11, 2022 / 6:07 am

    I’m going with the plaid. I think you’re on the right track! Not at all in favor of the solid. Good luck with the reupholstering!

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      July 18, 2022 / 9:39 am

      Thanks, David!
      xo, Eva

  4. Jody
    July 11, 2022 / 6:10 am

    This is a win for sure. All the fabrics are nice. But I cringe at the thought of matching the plaids! Good luck and can’t wait to see the finished product! Enjoy the process too!

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      July 18, 2022 / 9:40 am

      Thanks, Jody!!
      xo, Eva

  5. July 11, 2022 / 7:29 am

    The chair is indeed a diamond in the rough. Such fun to locate these pieces and bring them along to an updated life. Love the spindle detailing on the chair frame. Whatever the choice of fabric, this will be lovely when completed. Have you thought of adding some nailhead perhaps around the bottom of the seat? Easy to do with the proper equipment and youtube tutorials.

    Looking forward to the completed project!

    best,
    teaorwine

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      July 18, 2022 / 9:41 am

      Thanks, Sharon! I haven’t thought of nailhead trim, but the prospect sounds lovely! I think it would complement the frame nicely – thanks.
      xo, Eva

  6. Yarrow
    July 11, 2022 / 7:47 am

    I like the little flowered one, and I don’t like prints much, but when I look at the chair against the dark background in the picture, the chair itself doesn’t stand out much. But maybe you want the wood of the chair to blend in? I love wood with patina though. Have fun!

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      July 18, 2022 / 9:44 am

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this… I would love to highlight the wooden frame but also work in some blues (which is why I am hesitating on some of the darker textiles, including the solid).
      xo, Eva

  7. Mary
    July 11, 2022 / 7:55 am

    Solid. I think the lines of the plaid will fight with the curves of the wood spindles on the frame. Great chair!

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      July 18, 2022 / 9:45 am

      Thanks, Mary!
      xo, Eva

  8. JoAnn
    July 11, 2022 / 8:06 am

    I think your new (old) chair has had enough of stripes, and would like something entirely new, but not the solid blue linen, it would make it feel like you were hiding it, so something with a pattern that would make it feel proud to be in your lovely room.

    If chairs could talk…..

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      July 18, 2022 / 9:45 am

      Thanks, Joann! I agree! 🙂
      xo, Eva

  9. Cathy Rodden
    July 11, 2022 / 9:51 am

    SOLID BLUE

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      July 18, 2022 / 9:46 am

      Thanks, Cathy!
      xo, Eva

  10. Karen B.
    July 11, 2022 / 7:41 pm

    What a great chair. I love blue and white plaid, but then my husband used to say, “plaid is your favorite color”. Haha.
    Have a nice vacation on the Cape
    Karen B.

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      July 18, 2022 / 9:46 am

      Thanks so much, Karen! We had a lovely time!
      xo, Eva

  11. Jo Ann Moldenhauer
    July 12, 2022 / 4:31 am

    Hi Eva—
    Thanks for asking ‘our’ opinion! I’m thinking differently than the others, it appears…in my mind, nothing beats a navy/white stripe! Won’t take attention away from the beautiful spindled wood, and gives the chair versatility to go ‘anywhere.’ Have fun with this project!

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      July 18, 2022 / 9:47 am

      Thank you, Jo Ann!!!
      xo, Eva

  12. Karen
    July 12, 2022 / 4:07 pm

    I have owned a similar chair and love the look .
    I reupholstered it in a beautiful blue tartan .
    Having said that and done that I would encourage you to upholster in a natural light linen and possibly make a kidney pillow out of the fabric you like . Antique pieces need a ying and a yang to sing otherwise they just look a little tired .

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      July 18, 2022 / 9:48 am

      Thanks so much, Karen! This is very useful and very much along the lines of what I’m feeling.
      xo, Eva

  13. Deanna
    July 24, 2022 / 3:33 am

    Please sign me up to your blog posts / newsletters

    • Eva Contreras
      Author
      July 27, 2022 / 7:19 am

      Thank you so much for your interest, Deanna! I’ve just signed you up to our newsletters!
      xo, Eva

  14. Susan
    July 24, 2022 / 7:41 am

    One of the stripes would be lovely! The chair was a great find!