Ya'll don't want music do you? You need furniture and fabric and lamps. So let's get to it!
I was so inspired when reading Meredith's blog, Like Merchant Ships. She is smartly frugal and knows when, where and how to spend money. Well, I saw a chair that she bought second hand for less than $100 dollars and decided that I was gonna find me an inexpensive chair. Here's her chair, love her! Actually, hate her! {please don't sue me for using your photo}
So, I get to the Goodwill and they actually have a pretend leather chair. This is totally breaking Meredith's rule of trying to buy stuff that is real and not fake. Strike one. But, look how cute the back is!!! I'm in love!
Ok, so it's got a little wood on the edges. Strike two. That's not so bad. Look at those cute covered buttons. Love. Meredith would approve of this, right?
Hmmm, it does have those 1960's wood arm end things. Strike three. But, I really love the back! 
Well, I got it and now I'm stuck with trying to make it work. It's is no where near the chair that Meredith found and I think I might have wasted $29. Does anyone have any ideas here? I could paint the wood. Maybe I could sit it behind a table. It does sit well. I could put it in the boys room. Those arms are awful. As June would say, Sanford and Son called, they want their fake leather wooden arms back. Only, she would make it funny.
Besides an ugly chair with a cute back, I also got:
Pretty white lamp $4 I had the shade and it's black in real life, not purple. I found a bunch of lamp finial things a few months ago for 50 cents each and bought a few for this very reason. 
Also, a pretty childern's book $1/ white candlestick $1.69 {I love white stuff} /new pottery barn frame $2/wooden mom and baby--completely not my style but even I know that these are worth more than $2 and lots of people collect them. I have a feeling that figurine was strike four.
Help Me Please
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31 comments:
I loved the music, it just wouldn't let me comment.
Plus, I do love you for your decorating sense, nasty fake leather and all!
I love thrift store/ garage sale shopping. My victorian-ish couch is from the Goodwill, in fact.
The best find I ever found? A perfect, luxurious, 3/4 length mink coat for 35$. I totally wear it grocery shopping with lots of jerwelry. I look like Cruella DeVille, but it makes me deeply happy!
Your chair does have a wonderful tufted back!
I love your blog, the chair? It isn't bad for $29 and for that kind of money you didn't get such a bad deal. Does your hubby have a man room you can use it in:>)
Hmmm...I think if you add a nice throw on there it would dress it up just fine. If you painted the wood--perhaps black? I can't picture painting it anything else--but you are creative. I think for $29, you did pretty well!
Found you through Meredith @ Like Merchant Ships. Loving your blog!
The figurine is a Willow Tree by Demdaco. While they don't really appreciate a lot in value, they're very popular, and even a "recycled" one would be a great gift. It probably retailed for roughly $15.
Here's what I'd do with that chair. Since you only paid $29 for it, I wouldn't be afraid to staple/recover a lot of it. If that back part that you love can be separated from the rest of the back, pull it off (even if the back of it is messy). Then buy some foam rubber and fold it over the wooden sides of the back, attaching with a staplegun. Do the same thing over the whole arm piece, including the wood. Bend it over the end of the arm rests, and continue down the front/side/bottom part of the chair, stapling as you go. It should cover the "hole" behind the wooden arm rest. Now you have 2 choices: 1) You can cover everything except for that pretty back piece with the fabric, stapling with your staplegun in hidden places. 2) You can cover just the front of the back of the chair (under the back part that you like), and the inside and tops of the arms, leaving the outsides of the sides and back with the original vinyl. You can use those upholstery tacks that you already have from the valance. Fold under the fabric and tack in every couple of inches.
Reattach your tufted back. You could also do the cushion in a contrasting fabric.
It's a lot of work, but sometimes that's part of the fun when you rescue furniture!
Good luck!
I agree with painting the arms black! It's a chair with style and you can rescue it and make it pretty. I have faith in you and all your decorating prowess. I'll look forward to an update!
OK, Just pack it up and move to San Antonio... Austin would be fine too! Keep us posted on the progress of that chair! Smiles,
Michelle from TX
I saw a chair with wooden arms at this blog post http://southernhospitality-rhoda.blogspot.com/2008/01/chair-of-many-fabrics.html
I think if you did a different fabric for the seat cushion and another for a throw pillow and painted the arms it would look cool. Is it your sister or sister in law that does the cool tassels? She could probably do something up to hang on the arms too that would be cool. I think its a winner for the frugal price you paid and what you can do with it..
Have fun and God bless!
Sallie
Alright, I'm gonna give this a go--but my style might be a little more radical than you want. First I would rip the fake leather skirt off and put on a chainmail skirt (long thin strands of tiny metal balls--like some keychains are made of). If you need more chainmail inspiration--see Kelly Hoppen's new HOME book (go look for free at a Barnes and Noble). Next I would take and hit all the wood with silver paint---to match the chainmail of course. Some kind of a hip pillow, maybe one with a little applique bird on it (?) would complete the look. I think that would be a neat way to mesh the "old" look of the chair with something sleek and new--and that's a combination that can never go wrong!
I don't think you had any strikes! Good finds all of them!
also here from LMS. You have great taste! Meredith knows quality ...
Years ago we had a rocker with those kind of arms but yours is actually kind of cute. I fooled with it, hated the results, and ultimately took it apart. Then threw a little bit out in the garbage week after week (so I wouldn't have to pay a dump fee for the whole thing).
What would happen if you sawed- off/sanded those turned arm pieces?
deb meyers
I'm amazed by all the great suggestions. All my dull noggin could come up with is have the salvation army pick it up. Can't wait to see what you do with it!
Nester,
You could always do some slipcover magic. You have already shown your fabrical talent in many posts! I slipcovered an old chair for my daugther's room (see my archives). It has good bones, just needed to be more shabby chic. You could slipcover it in a plaid and leave the arms exposed and paint them black for a "man chair".
Don't give up yet. Study it, walk by it, think about it. I know you'll come up with something brilliant.
Didn't read through all the suggestions so maybe this one was already taken ... I'd saw off the main part of the arms, leaving only the wood part that's actually attached to the chair and then paint that black. Throw a great cushion on it and I think it would look really neat.
i never have any bright ideas when it comes to decor but i can't wait to see what you come up with. and $29 is a great price even if you sit it on your front porch and watch the neighbors drive by. :)
(i live in south arkansas. people do this).
I am laughing so hard reading all of these great ideas. I'm not sure why it's funny to me. I just never would have thought to try to recover the arms like tamara said. She told me to simply 87dnyzu 4hiyzjnn ldij 0pp ahd7hf 6PK<0_n Hgb @#5b 8gfh ":jhyy . Wow! So easy!
Just kidding--that's the suggestion I'm actually leaning towards. That and Jennifer P. People, you must leave now and visit her inspiring home. I really need that little dash of modern feel that she so effortlessly has. Ya'll, she says to use chainmail as a skirt!!!!! Isn't that the stuff on my ceiling fan pull? AWESOME!!! I really might have to do this. Do they sell that in gold?
PS Please don't google "chainmail skirts". It wasn't what I was looking for.
I agree with Tamara about recovering it, but then you'll spend a bunch more money for the foam and fabric and maybe not be totally satisfied in the end anyway.
If it was me, I would paint the whole thing black. But can you paint vinyl? Maybe they make special vinyl paint. I feel like it would look a lot better black, and then you could see if it would grow on you. The sort of mottled color of the vinyl I think would make it hard to salvage just the back piece because it would be hard to mix...
I'll be interested to see what you come up with!
BTW, I found your blog through Like Merchant Ships and I think it's great!
Funny...after I read my comment, I thought it sounded like "87dnyzu 4hiyzjnn ldij 0pp ahd7hf 6PK<0_n Hgb @#5b 8gfh ":jhyy". I couldn't even make out what I'd said! But I couldn't think of a better way to say it. I LOVE the idea of painting the wood black, too. And I'm headed over to check out Jennifer's chainmail thingie right now. I love bloggy brainstorming...such good ideas!
wow...what awesome suggestions. I have none, of course. when I have stuff like that I just ask you. Someone said to saw off the arms...much better than my "Can't you break the arms off?" Sawing is much more acceptable...and easier, I'm sure.
I am laughing out-loud at your warning "Please don't google chainmail skirts" That is so funny! I am sure my imagination is far worse than your reality.
Oh blush! blush! I don't think my house is THAT inspiring--Ballard Designs wasn't copying ME or anything :)!
Yes--chainmail even comes in gold. And yes--chances are your ceiling fan pull is made of it. You can buy it by the yard at any home improvement store. I shop Home Depot like others shop Pottery Barn.
Just found your blog today through Creative Blogs. Love your style, attitude and personality!
Another possible idea for the chair... I saw on a design show that you can paint leather. I know that is pleather, but maybe you can still paint it. Painting the back might be a bit of a challenge though... Perhaps rip off the cushion pleather and make a coordinating cushion cover. You could also make arm rest covers to hide some of the wood. Something tells you you could beautify the wood. I think a darker brown stain, or if you go black use a black stain, not paint. I'm interested to see if and what you do with it.
I'm leaning towards wrapping those arms with some foam and duck tape then making a nice slip cover for the chair. If you hate it then you haven't completely altered it beyond no return and can rip the duck tape and foam off to try something else...
Love love love your blog!
It seems like a great man-room/library chair, especially with a plaid throw? I love the back too... and nothing could ever look Sanford and Son in your house! :)
My mil had a similar style chair. She did cut the arms off..well fil cut the arms off. She sanded it and painted it. $29.what a deal, even if you did break all the rules.
Thanks for sharing your treasures.
Wow! I'm always suprised when I see the treasures that other people find at Goodwill. I Never find ANYTHING!!! I think I need to head East~ That has to be the secret!
By the way.. Love the chair! I'm sure you'll find a great spot to stick it!
great finds!
as for the figurine... if you don't find anything to do with it - I want it - I love those and can't bring myself to spend the money to buy them and we just had a baby in September. If you're interested email me and I'll buy it from you!
by the way - I've been reading your blog for about a week now and I love it!
Right...so this is why you decorate and I run, remember? I think the chair has character just the way it is. (all your design friends are covering their ears and screaming at the sight of my comment) ha!
angel
p.s. you have 28 comments
I love the back, too! And the handsome wings would look great in a library.
I think it's the skirt--more than the arms--which I dislike. It seems so stiff.
What's under the skirt? Are the feet okay? If so, I'd consider exposing them.
Paint the wood sides and arms BLACK!
You've got a very good thrift store! I think that's a great price. I love Like Mercant Ships - she always has such great budget friendly ideas.
Manuela
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