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….
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.
Author
Thank you so much, Linda! Your chair covered in needlepoint sounds lovely!! Have we seen it on Insta? 🙂
xo, Eva
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.
Author
Thanks, Sheena!!!
xo, Eva
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!
Author
Thanks, David!
xo, Eva
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!
Author
Thanks, Jody!!
xo, Eva
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
Author
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
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!
Author
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
Solid. I think the lines of the plaid will fight with the curves of the wood spindles on the frame. Great chair!
Author
Thanks, Mary!
xo, Eva
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…..
Author
Thanks, Joann! I agree! 🙂
xo, Eva
SOLID BLUE
Author
Thanks, Cathy!
xo, Eva
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.
Author
Thanks so much, Karen! We had a lovely time!
xo, Eva
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!
Author
Thank you, Jo Ann!!!
xo, Eva
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 .
Author
Thanks so much, Karen! This is very useful and very much along the lines of what I’m feeling.
xo, Eva
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Author
Thank you so much for your interest, Deanna! I’ve just signed you up to our newsletters!
xo, Eva
One of the stripes would be lovely! The chair was a great find!