Ringey-Dingey

Lately, I have been a bit obsessed with ring pulls on furniture. They seem to be the touch that sophisticates a piece. They even helped the secondhand dresser that is our media cabinet. It looks better in real life, I promise.

This dresser had matching wooden knobs-yuck.

Can you imagine Dorothy's dresser with black wood knobs?

Wheely?

I don't know what made me think of the antique ship's wheel I saw a few months ago, but the question as to what to do with such a thing popped into head. 

Through the fog of cold medicine (an explanation for bizarre thoughts?) I googled these.

The most obvious use would be a chandelier, ala wagon wheel. It could work in an overly themed beach house.

This table should shiver your timbers.. sorry its the cold meds.

Don't get me wrong, I like the occasional bizarre accent piece.

What do you think? Bad taste or cool kitsch?

Copy India Hicks style

Many of us would love to stay in India Hicks' magnificent Bahaman rental, Kings"s Treat.

The lovely island feel of one particular piece can be found in a very unlikely place.

This similar chair can be found in the Home Decorator's catalog, known for discount furniture and rugs.

I hardly think Ms. Hicks shop there.

Join me in my addiction, won't you?

Marrakesh table

I feel compelled to look at every side table on the internet these days.

I saw the "Marrakesh" table on Lonnymag.com and it was a different table. It was $250 and I almost bought it.

Moro table

It was similar to this "Moro" table but white and I felt I had to have it.

It is probably best that Lonny made it so popular that it went away but I keep going back to Plantation's side table page.

Linked table

Can you blame me? I just fantasize about where I could put them.

Corinth table

This Corinth table would make a lovely bar.

Lookout table

I thought the Lookout table was wood but it is bronze. I'll keep it in my mental file as a stylish, kid-proof option for someone.

Sigma table

I love this one too.

West elm table

This $129 number from West Elm has my attention as well.

And just to end on a weird note...

Bazaar tables

These fabric wrapped nesting tables at Urban Outfitters seem impractical. How would you wipe up a spill? I guess the college set embraces the patina of filth. Maybe they meant "bizarre" tables.

Urban Outfitters does have some cute furniture that is not so boring although I can't speak to the quality.

I really don't need another side table, although I have a spot for one, I must stop filling every empty spot in my home.

Putting lipstick on a pig

Not exactly lipstick on not exactly a pig, but this dresser that serves as the TV console is not my ideal piece of furniture.

It is a hand-me-down from my grandfather who knew enough to keep it hidden in a walk-in closet, although, these photos make it look worse than it really is. It is highly functional for us so it stays for the moment.

Last week I found these little brass ring pulls online and thought they might help that dowdy dresser.

It wasn't quite the impact I was going for but I think it is an improvement over the wooden knobs.

This $30 update made a much better "pig".

Have you ever updated with new hardware? Was it a let down or really fabulous?

Don't know whether to cry or make martinis

Finally, my newly reupholstered chair arrived, clad in black velvet with new nail head trim. I was over the moon until my little girl got in it. The petite scale made it perfect for me and luckily there are lots of options for its placement.

I have no idea why, but the chair wants to flip onto its back with little provocation. Making in unsafe around my two year-old. It was originally intended to be in my family room with the newly reupholstered sofa...

but it is now banished to the formal living room unless I can fix it.

Bummer.

This means I need to rethink everything and that happens from time to time in design but it stinks.

Oh yeah, this table that I ordered was lop-side.

Fail.

painted chairs

Years ago, those cream colored chairs were painted royal blue with gold eagles on the backs. Yikes! I bought them at a yard sale and painted them a creamy white. They are now in my kitchen and my dining room beckons for attention.

It is the more formal space with a pedestal Duncan Phyfe mahoghany table. I will most likely have contrasting host chairs at each end and find a set of armless dining chairs. 

 

I was thinking about doing this and painting them glossy black but I'm not sure that is the look I'm going for.

I did see four chairs that needed some TLC recently and they were only $9 a piece.

I've been running through paint choices in my mind. Like red with some fabulous chinoiserie fabric on the seat.

Queen Anne chairs with cracked leather seats would be ideal.

I also imagined painting them gold and using a red cotton jaquard I already have.

After all the walls will be red, I know, I know, every blogger hates red dining rooms but I am the one living here and I love red.

I just bought this vintage chandelier for the dining room.

I think I'll hold out for better chairs.

homegrown furniture



Yesterday was a beautiful day for a drive through the Virginia countryside. We drove to Madison, Va about 25 miles north of Charlottesville.

The drive was for the purpose of picking up

 my almost 2 year old's birthday present at E. A. Clore and Sons furniture.

This youth chair is her "big girl chair" and while I could wax sentimental here, I'll just keep it to the facts.

The chair is wonderful and satisfies my aversion to plastic furniture.

It is made right here in Virginia at a most charming little factory in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains.

Even the people that work there are charming.

The furniture is heirloom quality and I hope it sees many a future generation in our family.
You won't find any sleek lucite consoles here but I wanted something other than that and Fisher-Price just wouldn't do.

Here is a bit of info gleaned from the E. A. Clore and Sons site.

E. A. Clore Sons is a family owned business that has been in the Clore family since Moses Clore began making furniture in Madison, VA in 1830.

E. A. Clore Sons was listed by Family Business in the Summer 2008 issue as the 43rd oldest family company in the United States.


The Clore family has continuously produced handsome and enduring furniture in the Early American tradition since 1830. The knowledge and skills needed in making our handcrafted furniture has been passed down with pride from generation to generation. Each piece of Clore furniture is crafted to remain beautiful for years to come using techniques such as mortice-and-tenon construction and dovetailed drawers.

I love buying locally and I am just thrilled with the chair.

Comfort or Style?

Comfort? No, I'm not going to talk about shoes...

but sofas.

The Carlisle sofa from Pottery Barn was a favorite of mine until I sat in it.

It may be great for lying down, although I didn't try that, it

was way too deep and squishy.

I'm short so its rather difficult to find seating that everyone in our house likes.

Its is nearing the time for us to go out and find something for our family room.

It won't be a high-end custom sofa. Somewhere in the mid-range, $1000-$2000.

I like the idea of slipcovers, like on this Ikea Extorp sofa and the price is great.

I have one and my husband has been trying to put it out with the garbage since we got it.

The seat cushions are rock hard and it sits too high up.

I also think that white slipcovers are going to be too high maitainance for me. I have a toddler, think sticky fingers and crayons, and two teens, think food and possibly shoes soiling the furniture in our

family room.

Washable is great but white might be an everyday chore.

That being said, this sofa from Ethan Allen is too fussy.

This looks comfy.

I prefer the sleek lines of something like this, but it remains to be seen if it is

comfortable.

Comfort is most important to my husband.

Style and practicality are big on my list.

This will never happen at my house.

What are your priorties in seating?

Hardwearing and comfortable? Stylish?

Contemporary or traditional?

Seriously cute! in a cool way

It is bothersome to me that my Christmas budget does not allow for one of these for my littlest.

Starting at $3840 for the chair alone. I am afraid my little sugarplum is out of luck.

Knoll kids has a womb chair too, but alas it is also out of budget range.

This cutie (the chair) is closer to realistic at about $585 from Littlenest.com.

Check out the really cool mini mid-century iconic furniture HERE