My New, Very Old Settee
I picked up this Napoleon III settee last week at Provenance. What can I say? It had me at “19th century.” As you can see, it needs reupholstering very badly and it’s a little rickety (you would be too if you were 150 years old!) but nothing that the upholsterer can’t fix.
So the fun (and agony) begins. Do I want to paint it? If so, what color? Or maybe I should just strip the wood? What fabric do I want to use? Do I want a pattern? Or do I want it solid? And on and on and on ……
One thought is to use that blue velvet fabric I still have. It would look not exactly but something like this one from Anthropologie I posted a while back:
Or this one from one of my old moodboards:
And remember this one I posted last year:
Again, not exactly the same but pretty close. Isn’t this lavender gorgeous – especially with all the orange? Anyway, these are just a couple of ideas. There are many more. As usual!
I want to thank everyone who came out to ADAC yesterday. It was great meeting so many of you and seeing old friends too. (Hi, Terry!)
Have a good weekend, guys and I’ll see you Monday. And don’t miss out on the Katie Ridder Rooms book giveaway. It ends tomorrow at 6:00 PM EST.
Such a great find! My favorite is the last one – lavender with the original wood finish.
oooh, dilemmas indeed. We have one that is 400 years old and we got it upholstered about 9 years ago but we left the wood as is. I couldn’t bring myself to paint it. I look forward to seeing what you will do, be braver than I am
Love your purchase Ally. I’m sure you’ll know what to do with it. I featured you and your pretty powder room today in my blog. Come over and take a look!
Happy weekend!
Score!!!! Can’t wait to what you do with it. xo xo
Love that purple settee! Purple and orange is a color combination I often forget I love (as weird as that is). Congrats on your find — I’m sure it will be gorgeous when you’re done!
Hi, Meg! That’s not weird at all. I love so many color combinations I need little reminders like this every now and then, too.
il est bon de donner une deuxième vie …
Gros bisous
Um, don’t you already have a settee exactly like that one?
Bon, seriously, eee to the Anthropologie photo for me–too famile bourge qui habite dans le banlieu de Lyon! I submit for your inspiration, the famous blue velvet couch from la Bastide de Marie (not at all the same thing but still):
http://www.labastidedemarie.com/597-salons-hotel-luberon.htm
What room is this for?
Bon weekend!!
My vote is to keep the wood and strip/stain it and then go with a bright fabric for upholstery. It will make it modern but stay true to the piece. Gorgeous settee, exciting!!!
lol @ ‘it had me at 19th century,’ love to see the after look. I like the anthropologie version, beautiful blue color.
What?!? How lucky you are to have one of those.
I think the blue is beautiful and better if you already have the fabric. Any way, I leave you this link from my blog just in case you find any other idea: http://decoritzion.blogspot.com/2011/10/retapiza-reupholster.html
Itzi
I love it! I got to the ballet last night and my friend and I were mesmerized by the emerald green velvet seats… that would be a beautiful option, too!
Ally I love it!! The lavender is scrumptious, however I adore the blue and for me would probably use that shade. Great find!
I am doing well in rehab after the hip replacement. (grueling that it is!)
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Can’t wait to see what you choose after obsessing and changing your mind a few times.