Hand Me Down Furniture
My parents have decided that they want to downsize. This translates into me being “gifted” a lot of furniture, china, crystal and all sorts of other what I call “grown up” things. Fortunately my mom has impeccable taste and since we have a lot more rooms to fill in the new house, I’m not complaining.
My mom’s taste runs more traditional than mine (a lot of antiques and dark wood) so I have plans to update a lot of the pieces. I’m thinking paint and upholstery in unexpected colors . . .
I don’t know how my mom is going to feel about that! We’ll soon find out . . . I’m off to pick her up at the airport now.
A truck is arriving later this week so I’ll show you everything when it gets here. There’s also a very cool surprise in the mix!
(Photos: 1.Livingetc. 2.Chaircouture)
Awww, i'd love a hand me down chair like that to re-upholster, lucky you!
If Mom objects, let her know that 229 people (at last count) follow your design blog religiously because you know what you're talking about.
.-= Raina´s last post ..Auntie Meme =-.
I hope your Mom doesn't mind! It's a look I love: the careful manufacture and intricate curves of old, pre-self-assembly furniture, with the glossy browns, respected though they are, covered by beautiful paint and rich fabric. I'd like a truckful too.
.-= mise´s last post ..still talking about cushions =-.
wooo hooo good for you! im sure your mom will be happy for you even if you do some changes
cant wait to see
.-= Helena´s last post ..A spanish LA house =-.
I have had the similar problem with dark wood in houses that I've wanted to keep and dark trad furniture clashing with my husband's preference for clean and modern. I thought that Amy Butler did a fabulous job with integrating all of this and making it new almost exclusively with a cool color scheme that unified it all. Check her site out. I don't think you HAVE to go blue/green. Pinks and greens and grays might work. You do have to be pretty discliplined with consistent color families though.
.-= mlle paradis´s last post ..Martin Luther King Day – "Free" =-.
Ohhh I love a modern twist on traditional antique furniture! That is going to make for some excellent new digs. How wonderful a truck load….I am standing by to see this!!
The thought that crossed my mind while reading this post, "mana from heaven"…what a wonderful gift! Can't wait to see the treasures and what you do to make them yours.
Janell
Great idea! MetroSofa has some good pieces for inspiration. Can't wait to see the end result!
How fun! I'd love to get a truck load of my mom's antiques. Can't wait to see photos of everything.
.-= Caitlin @ Sacramento Street´s last post ..A Trench Kind of Day =-.
Love both of those chairs. Can't wait to see what you come up with.
.-= Blueprint Bliss´s last post ..What's Inspiring Me this Week… =-.
Love both of those chairs. Can't wait to see what you come up with.
.-= Blueprint Bliss´s last post ..What's Inspiring Me this Week… =-.
Super fun! We inherited my MIL's very nice dining room set last year, and had the seats reupholstered – they look fabulous, if I don't say so myself. But we're a bit more traditional than you, and kept them a pretty wood stain. I'd love to paint some furniture sometime – can't wait to see what you do!
.-= christy´s last post ..Fondue on the Brain =-.
Hmmm. I'm working on updating my traditional "hand me downs" and antiques as well… but when I mentioned paint to the Mister, he nearly passed out.
.-= Aspirations of a Southern Housewife´s last post ..Black, White, and a Little Bit of Gray =-.
How wonderful that you get a full truckload of furniture to make over. Mom may be aghast at first, but she may change her mind once she sees how happy you are with the newly refurbished furniture. Can't wait to see the furniture once it arrives.
.-= Mama Without Borders´s last post ..The lure of aged and well-loved furniture =-.
HA! My mother would die, but we'd revive her and give LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to all that paint. Yum! Can't wait to see yours!!
.-= highglossblue´s last post ..Dogs At The Flea =-.
I love hand me downs! Just keep an upholsterer on speed dial!
.-= Jessica at Lavender & Lilies´s last post ..100! =-.
How exciting! Both my husband and I have an aversion to painted wood…unless the wood's crap…but I am curious to see what you end up doing.
I'm new but am enjoying your blog so much!
Mom is going to freak.
But it would look good.
.-= Bromeliad´s last post ..And it's . . . =-.
Can't wait to see!
.-= Jesse´s last post ..Living Room Love and Coffee Table Ambition… =-.
Do it! And then share pictures with everyone.
Oh yeah, definitely bring out the paint…I think it instantly modernizes all things! Can't wait to see all the new goodies!
.-= Donna´s last post ..Tuesday inspiration… =-.
That is so exciting for you, I cant wait to see what you have in the big truck!!
Please do a turquoise/chartreuse chair makeover, because those are just too cool for school. It would make me look like this–>
.-= Marsi @ The Cottage Cheese´s last post ..Howard's End in Petaluma =-.
Those green chairs withe the yellow trim are perfect! I can't wait to see what comes in the truck!
.-= Blayne Beacham´s last post ..Every perfect day should include Neel Reid! =-.
your mom is really generous , will love to have furniture like that
Lucky you!! Love your inspiration pics!
.-= Dagny @ Beautiful Living´s last post ..Where's it from – the bathroom / Hvor er det fra – badet =-.
How nice they're, I think your mother will love them.
Christian
.-= le banc moussu´s last post ..valise..ok!…paréo..ok!..crème solaire..ok!…banc moussu..ok!.. =-.
Now that sounds like fun! Definitely think outside the box, I think the results could be fabulous!
.-= nkp´s last post ..Lounge Act =-.
Can't wait to see some of your projects. I love to see an unexpected makeover of a traditional piece. Sometimes, too, though I really like a traditional piece or two tucked into more modern decor.
I'm looking forward to seeing the delivery!
.-= Lesley @ TheDesignFile´s last post ..Does your nonprofit need an office makeover? =-.
our home is basically compiled of hand me down pieces! those chairs are fantastic by the way.
.-= Down and Out Chic´s last post ..V-Day Handmade Market =-.
I personally believe that paint and fun upholstery is the only way to go with antique pieces! That's what I do to all of mine! I like to think of it as fun, modern, elegance… right?!
.-= Jessie´s last post ..Golden Globes Rundown =-.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but do you watch Top Design? Ok, last year Nathan (the winner) redid an antique chair in a gold frame, and then did the upholstery in white. Then he painted Klein blue slash marks on it that look a lot like Kelly Wearstler's ceiling wallpaper. Now that I think about it, KW prob stole the idea from him…
.-= erin@designcrisis´s last post ..10 Things That Make Me Happy =-.
Yeah! I am all for it. I am about to upholster a wingback chair that I found at a consigment store in Issaquah for $37! When I am done w. it it is going to look like a $3000 chair (at least that is what I hope!). It is amazing how a little bit of fabric and some paint can totally turn furniture from yikes to yeah!
Say hi to Mom!
Hug, Mon
Very fun! I love this idea of updating an heirloom, its still personal but with a fresh approach
.-= A Life More Fabulous´s last post ..Give-away: Fine Art Photography =-.
That's what us mum's are here for. Our children pinch loads of our stuff, all the time !!
I look forward to see what you do with it. XXXX
what a fun project — i'm jealous!
Love hand-me-downs from my parents too!
xo,
cristin
Hand me down furniture is awesome when it's nice pieces like that. I have a few of those from my mom too. I also have bergere chair that I got about 8 years ago from the thrift store and it's my husbands favorite to sit in and read, but it definately needs to be recovered and updated. I love those bright colorful updates you've shown here.
How lucky are you?! I will be on pins and needles to see what you get and how you transform it!
love it! Cant wait to see what you come up with.
PS isn't Chair Couture the best?
.-= Naomi@thirteenandsouth´s last post ..Branch-Like Console tables =-.
I love that idea! I'm thinking of hitting up some flea markets and doing that myself too!
.-= Alissa´s last post ..Lacey Gracey =-.