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.
Chedva’s last post…HOME TOUR: Ilanit’s Airy Apartment
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!
julie at BV’s last post…Bloggers with Style: The Home is Enchanted, Design is Marcus & The Right Bank
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!
Meg’s last post…Did Jane Austen make her do it? Chatting with editor Laurel Ann Nattress
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!!
Heather in Arles’s last post…Past Adventures: A rose with greater thorns
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!!!
Jenna @ Homeslice’s last post…Living Room Love
lol @ ‘it had me at 19th century,’ love to see the after look. I like the anthropologie version, beautiful blue color.
Hodan’s last post…Look and think before opening the shutter. The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera.
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
Itzi’s last post…Sorteo en MESCAPRICES BELGES / Free decorative advice
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!
Sweet Freak’s last post…A must read
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
Karena’s last post…Special Announcement and a Winner
Can’t wait to see what you choose after obsessing and changing your mind a few times.