Wednesday, July 6, 2011

My Antique French Chair

Remember this beautiful photo of my niece in my old chair. I just knew this would be a great photo and was so glad I had the groom's men take it outside and place it in the pasture field. After the wedding I took out my newly purchased "natural linen " to take it to the upholstery . . . but somehow it just did not feel like the right thing to do.




So I went on the hunt for a different fabric, one as close to the original as I could find. This is what I came up with, not silk, but the same color and feel as the old fabric. Everyone except Vanna that I talked to about covering my chair thought natural linen was the way to go and maybe it would have been. But somehow I always swim upstream if the rest are going down . . .



This is the BEFORE , it was so dirty and worn. I could have learned to love the worn, but not the dirty. So what do you think? I really love it all fresh and clean without looking like a completely different chair. Always follow your heart when it comes to your own castle.





17 comments:

  1. Such a gorgeous chair and I love the fabric. I think it is timeless and it totally fits the chair. Hugs, Marty

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  2. Gorgeous - but the idea of the photo of your niece in the field in her dress: genius.

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  3. you just can't go wrong with a classic wing chair any way you look at it. Timeless style. A grown up chair. The bridal photo is splendid. Gorgeous actually.

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  4. The chair is magnificent...it is always best to follow your instincts. (-:

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  5. Yes! Always listen to your heart! Your mind will trick you and change, but your heart will remain true..

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  6. Glad you listened to me girlfriend *winks* It looks just like a freshened version of the original! I think it's perfect!
    I like natural linen and grainsacks etc. just as much as the next girl (maybe more lol!) but I think it's faddish jmho. The shot of your neice is fab! Vanna

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  7. That is a great final quote, can I use it on my blog (credits to you of course!) Your chair looks awesome, so classy!
    Tracey

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  8. I love it! the fabric you chose is perfect!
    The wedding shot looks transported back to old England.

    Have a great day!!

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  9. It's gorgeous. I even like the dirty version.

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  10. Your chair is beautiful, good for you for following your heart!
    Hugs, Cindy

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  11. Re the chair, personally I agree with you and Vanna. Not disputing the merits of Linen as it does have many, I just feel using such a fabric would not have given it the 'regal status' it demands ... and

    the photograph of your Niece is absolutely wonderful Ms. Vicky! -Brenda-

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  12. great reupholstering job, it looks amazing!

    http://dallianceswithsuitsandskirts.blogspot.com/

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  13. Hello vicky,
    Google is a good help! I search for reupholster a french chair and choose your blog. You have a lovely chair. Did you decided what you will do with it? Hmmm, settle for this long post:))

    I like these chairs and a few years ago I wanted to get some french or barok chairs. My daughters, much younger then, reacted with oooh no mom, that looks so old .... I didn't want to have unhappy daughters because of the furniture, so I got ordinary seats. Modern and they liked it. But it was good to, so they could play, without me making too much remarks about the furniture. Now my oldest of 18 years is doing some modeling work and saw the houses of the ladies she is modelling for. Her oooooh sounded different than years ago and now we have some old chairs. I decided to reupholster them by myself (never done this before, pfff). i am excited and wondering how and what. I have a lot of tutorials now and will go for it within some weeks. I'll post some pictures on my blog. And maybe you can't wait that long, but you could enjoy the project and the pictures on my blog. I would love to read and see before and after stories and pics of your chair. Good luck with it.

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  14. it lost value when you put on the new fabric.

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  15. I actually like the new fabric better than the old; it looks so nice with the medallion design centered on the side there.

    Also, @anonymous... the value of an item is defined as whatever someone is willing to pay for it. With the ratty dirt on it, even as a completely preserved antique, it was less likely that anyone would want it, much less pay a premium for it. Now that it's not in "original" condition, you could argue that it's lost authenticity, but if more people like it, and thus are more willing to pay more to get it, it has gained value. Besides that, if the owner likes it better, what does it matter if other people are willing to pay for it?

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