FIX IT OR FORGET IT?

"That chair sure would make a nice addition to my home but it looks in need of too much tlc!" Isn't this what you say when you see an old piece of furniture somewhere. There is so much potential in these pieces but they get overlooked for newer, cheaply built pieces of furniture because they are a little worn and need a little fixing. When it comes to older pieces of furniture, a lot of people don't want them because they don't look the greatest but that can be remedied by re-upholstering it and cleaning up the woodwork. You can get some great finds at places like flea markets or second hand stores. A lot of people have problems with knowing what's worth putting money into and what's not. What you want to look for is the quality of the furniture. Age plays a part in deciding to re-upholster but if there is no quality in it, then it's not worth it. The first steps after finding a keeper include figuring out where and who this furniture will be used for, how it will be used and how firm it needs to be based on what it's used for. To the right,  is an example of some tools that can be used when re-holstering furniture.

It's important to know what goes underneath the fabric. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not important. For example the second picture below features midcentury dining chairs which show the multiple layers underneath. First you have the jute webbing and foam, then goose down or in some cases upholstery foam depending how expensive you want to go. Next is a layer of polyester or cotton batting then the fabric. This is probably one of the most important steps, this is a where a major part of the integrity of the piece comes from. This right here is the meat of any chair or sofa. 

Something to keep in mind when re-uholstering is the fabric selection. Yes, you want something that looks good but you also have to think about the durability and how it will fare after being used. Here's how they break it down.  WORKHORSES-is for the pieces of furniture that are constantly used. They recommend tightly  woven indoor-outdoor textiles that are water and stain resistant.                                                                     MIDRANGERS-is for the pieces of furniture that are used but not that often. Some silks and cotton velvets can be used but are prone to marking. DELICATES-is for pieces that are a look but don't touch. Fragile fabrics such as silks, brocade, damask, satin, and linen aren't ideal for sitting on but make a great statement piece. You also want to use screen printed or embroidered by hand fabrics on these pieces as well.

One of the last important decisions in re-upholstery is the finishes. You can do anything from tufting to nail head trims. The finishing touches are where a lot of the fun comes in and this helps make the chair your own. 

Below are two examples of the multiple ways you can make the same chair look different.

This blog and photos was referenced from The Lonny Magazine-the October 2013 issue, article "The Lonny Guide to Upholstery" written by Allegra Muzzillo and photographed by Genevieve Garruppo

www.lonny.com

They got a lot of their information from 

www.chairloom.com

"ON A GRAND SCALE"

For this week's blog, I decided to share the article "On a Grand Scale" from Elle Decor out of the November 2013 issue, because in my class our next project is about global, ethnic and cultural design. This house is located in New Delhi, India and was designed by French designer Jean-Louis Deniot for Moin and Nasreen Qureshi who are prominent meat exporters in India. They purchased the five acres of land where the house now sits, but was originally just a plot of land with a pond and trees. The house is 25,000 square feet with 5 bedrooms and was built around a photograph of Picasso's 19th-century Villa California in Cannes. Nasreen wanted the house to look like it was 100 years old and she wanted to be able to see the gardens when you step in the front door. Her husband however didn't want the house to resemble a French house located in India. He wanted the inspiration to come from the architecture of Edwin Lutyens in New Delhi. Throughout the house there is a mix of both. However, most of the furniture and lighting was made in New Delhi. Building this grand scale house was a five year process where Deniot had to make adjustments because the cultural is different there than in western culture. For example, they are limited in textiles so they won't print off any more than is needed. He also said that if he drew up something, then he would have a sample in 15 minutes because the carpenter would set up his studio on the property which you won't see happen in the western culture.

 Resembles classic architecture with the columns, arched windows and quoining. One of the things I love is the Indonesian umbrellas because they help bring some culture to this grand exterior. 

I love the 18th Century French inspired railing along with the Venetian-glass pendants. I also like the way the pattern on the marble floor is reflective of the empire style table. The niches in the stairwell also add a dramatic touch. 

 This is the drawing room where the fireplace, mirror, sofas and stool were custom made. Deniot himself designed the 18th century style paneling along with the rug. I love the how the shape of the sofas are reflected in the chandelier. 

This is the other side of the drawing room. 

This is the winter garden. The mirror and trellis design is custom made which is seen throughout the space, even on the ceiling. The window draperies are of an Italian Linen while the marble floor is was inspired by the dining room floor at the Chateau de Groussay. I love the the light fixture and how it is reflective of vines and leaves you would see outside. 

This is the sitting area in-between the master bedroom suites. The daybed was found at an England auction while the chandelier was made in 1880 in France. The cocktail table, chair, and secretary were all custom made. The marble floor has the same pattern as there was in the winter garden. 

This is the husband's bedroom and the headboard, canopy and light fixture are all custom made.  

Above is a Art Deco cocktail table. The paneling is custom designed and feels very masculine. 

In the dining room they have Klismos chairs with a custom made table. The Directoire-style chandelier was made in India. Deniot designed the hand painted ceiling where the circles are reflective of the floor. I also like how the rug resembles the marble floor in the winter garden and sitting area. 

This is the library where the cocktail table and the rug were custom made. The chandelier is from the 19th Century and is very unique. I love the compartmentalized ceiling and doors, gives it an old world feel. I also love the round niches by the ceiling.