Craigslist Furniture Makeover #3: Wingback Revival

I love that with every project I learn a little bit more. Not very long ago I realized that I'd falling in love with furniture.  Ok, that may seem like an obvious obsession for an interior decorator, but it sort of caught me by surprise.  I should probably clarify.  I didn't just fall in love with furniture, I feel in love with vintage furniture.  I love the craftsmanship that was so very prevalent in furnishings of yesteryear  It's not that it's no longer available, but as a designer working with a budget-conscious clientele, real quality furniture is often out of reach.  Thankfully, I've found that one way around this issue is reinventing vintage pieces.

By now you probably know that my upholsterer and I have a "special" relationship.  In my humble opinion, he's a genius.  I love that he's a bit of a perfectionist and never backs away from a challenge.  We often exchange late night text messages about ideas for future projects.  I know, it's a little weird.  I told you, we have a special relationship.  I recall sending him this text message after seeing this stunning chair in a Horchow catalog. 

 

 

Notice the lack of hesitation and confidence in his response.  He truly has a passion for his craft and I can certainly appreciate and relate to that. 

 

Fast forward a few weeks, during the Spring High Point Furniture Market and two of my favorite designers/bloggers both posted chairs from CR Laine with a very similar look.

Amanda Carol Interiors Instagram

 

Studio Ten 25 Instagram

Needless to say, I was SOLD and bound and determined to bring the vision to life in an upcoming project.  Thankfully my clients trusted me and were on board. 

The first step was finding the chairs.  There is no doubt wingbacks are a dime a dozen on Craigslist.  However, a set is a little more of a challenge to find.  If you add to that the fact that you really need to get a great deal because upholstery isn't exactly cheap, then the hunt can take a little time.  After about two weeks of searching I finally found this set at an amazing price.

Yes, they were orange and quite dated, but I knew you can never go wrong with a classic. Honestly, I wanted one with Chippendale legs verses the Queen Anne style, but price was more of a priority than the style of the legs.

So with a plan in place and two hues of the same fabric selected, Baity's Custom Upholstery got to work helping me achieve the look for less.   Mark is always good about posting the process on his Facebook page.  I love that part. 

In fact, he said the photo below received more "likes" than any other picture he's ever posted. Perhaps we'll start a trend.  If so, I hope he knows he owes me a cut.  : )

They turned out beautifully.  I think they may have been my client's favorite part of the entire design. 





Can you blame them?  I LOVE a wingback.  What can I say?  I'm a traditional girl.  They are so classic, comfortable and versatile. 

I get asked often about pricing, but out of courtesy to my clients, I don't share the pricing on items used in their projects.  However, it truly depends on the going rate for upholstery in your area and the cost of the fabric. 

So what do you think? 

I'd love to hear from you.  Until next time, Reduce, Reuse and REUPHOLSTER!

Craigslist Makeover #1

Read More HERE

 

Craigslist Makeover #2

Read More HERE