Bamboo Desk Makeover!

You may remember when I posted about finding this Lexington faux bamboo desk at an antique shop in the NC mountains.

The desk was in absolutely perfect condition, and while the cream color was pretty, I thought another color could really make it stand out. In fact, I almost overlooked it in the antique shop because of its nondescript color. The fabulous style is really lost in this beigey color, and I knew that would be an easy fix!



You can see that it was priced at $70 (!!) but we were able to negotiate it down to $65. This is half of what a particleboard desk would cost at Target (and a fraction of what this desk would cost retail), and this desk is real wood and a heck of alot cuter than anything I've seen lately!


The big task was deciding on a color. I was initially thinking black, but the more I thought about, the more I thought a glossy red would look fabulous and really show off the desk's chippendale detailing.



I took Nick Olsen's advice and bought a few cans of red enamel Rustoleum. Sounds crazy, but he says it is a dead-ringer for Fine Paints of Europe's Tulip Red, and I believe it. It is the perfect cherry red- not too orange, not too blue, just perfect.

Time to paint! I did sand the desk a bit first, but I don't really think that was necessary.

It took about 3 coats to get it completely even. This picture shows the shadows from the trees on the top of the desk.

And, the (almost) finished product. I love how it turned out. I think the red really makes the lines of the desk stand out! (By the way- use a dropcloth. I skipped that step, and the red paint made the back yard look like an unfortunate crime scene- and it doesn't disappear after the grass is mowed once).

Here it is in its final resting place, in a little corner of the den. The room is mainly blue and white, so I love the pop of red with this desk.

Here is a better angle of the finished product (ignore the cords that have since been hidden).

And with the pictures hung and a little "styling"... I updated this brass lamp with a black shade, and I love how it turned out. I think you can definitely use brass without it looking outdated!

Voila! From boring and beige to the perfect pop of red!

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DIY to the Rescue: Custom Cushions

I recently purchased some new chairs for the kitchen table. I'd been on the lookout forever for some chinese chippendale inspired chairs at a more reasonable pricepoint than Jonathan Adler's, and finally found some locally at Miss Pixie's on 14th Street here in Washington (their "window shop" feature on the website is very handy!).

However, as with all decorating projects, there was just one hitch: the cushion covers were heinous. They were well made, and seemed fairly new (the chairs themselves are vintage and in excellent shape), but there was no escaping the fact that the fabric was not my cup of tea. It looked like something you'd find in the $2/yard remnants bin at the fabric store along with the 80's pastel florals. Case in point:

The print, with its blue and white flower vases on a geometric scroll background and its awful mauve flowers, took the Asian inspiration of the chairs a little too literally.

When I unzipped the covers to remove the cushion form inside, I had an Indiana Jones moment and unearthed the original cushions, which I actually liked a lot more!

The 70's inspired green and white bamboo-style graphic is totally chic! But for all I know the fabric was actually from the 70's, as it definitely showed signs of age. Plus, as Teresa from the Real Housewives of New Jersey would say, when it comes to sitting on used cushion covers of unknown origin, "I skeeve, I skeeve"! (Come on, you know you watch it too).

I'm a pro when it comes to cushions with a wooden bottom- pop the seat off the chair, whip out the staple gun, wrap the fabric around the bottom and cushioning, staple, and call it a day. However, these box cushions required a little more effort; namely, the sewing machine.

Using the old cover as a template, I cut out two 18"x18" squares for each cushion to serve as the top and the bottom, then a long, narrow strip that would go around the middle (which I had to piece together from two strips since I did not have a 72" continuous piece of fabric). Then, it was just a matter of sewing the pieces together. It really couldn't have been easier.

Remember, no sewing project is complete without ironing!

In an ideal world I would have added zippers to the back of the cushions, but being pressed for time (and patience) I opted to just leave part of one seam open in order to stuff in the cushion.

After inserting the cushions, I quickly stitched the openings by hand with a basting stitch to close the seam- no need to be fancy, as this seam will be placed on the bottom at the back of the chair and thus isn't visible.

My trusty assistant admires his handywork.

The before(s) and the after:

New cushions are the easiest way to freshen up a piece of furniture. For the same price as buying those generic seat cushions from Target or World Market, why not put in a little extra effort and really make them your own? You'll be glad you did!

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Thank you for being a friend!

Does the workweek following a long holiday weekend always seem to go especially sloooow? To lift us out of a case of the I-can't-believe-it's-not-Friday-yet's we need a little fluff....a little mindless entertainment...something you might see on the Hallmark channel between 11pm and 2am...what you only watch when no one else is in the room...that's right, the Golden Girls! Long before "GG" came to mean Gossip Girl, the Golden Girls were the original GG's.

We're not here to just wax nostalgic about 80's TV classics, but rather to point out even a show about four Miami retirees can prove to be an unlikely source of style inspiration. While the first things that probably come to mind when thinking of the GG's are probably "80's Miami," "saucy man-hungry retirees" and "I can't believe Dorothy wore those weird bow tie outfits," let's take a closer look at how the GG's were actually right on the money when it came to a few things....

First, the kitchen:

I nearly feel out of MY chair when I noticed the Golden Girls' chairs. Paging Jonathan Adler! Try not to let that tablecloth blind you, though.

Jonathan Adler Chippendale Chair

Do we think Aerin Lauder was inspired by the GG's bamboo chairs? Perhaps she sits at the kitchen table late at night eating cheesecake too!

Moving on...to man-crazy Blanche's boudoir.

Can you believe her MATCHING banana leaf wallpaper and bedspread? Over the top.

I was about to laugh this off as an 80's relic, when I seemed to recall a very similar wallpaper making an appearance in a recent issue of Elle Decor.

A-ha! Brian Atwood's Milan apartment, featured in a 2008 Elle Decor, is exactly what came to mind. Wisely, Atwood nixed the matching bedspread and gave this iconic wallpaper a masculine twist by pairing it with a sleek bronze desk.

Atwood's designer (who also happens to be his partner, Nate Berkus- how's that for convenience?) claimed in the Elle Decor article that he was inspired by the iconic banana leaf wallpaper at the Beverly Hills Hotel, but who knows...maybe he was just a big fan of Ms. Devereaux!

Above: the Beverly Hills Hotel.

On to the living room. While we most always eschew "sets" of furniture like the GG's had (and don't even get us started on those round throw pillows), you have to admit, that classic rattan has staying power....

via Cottage Living

Maybe it's the fact that I grew up in South Florida, but I generally cannot resist rattan or bamboo furniture in any form. You can easily find plenty of vintage rattan furniture out there for a steal...reupholster the cushions in something a little more modern, and voila! You've got vintage furniture that still looks current and fresh.

The accent table between the two chairs looks like it was lifted from the GG's living room!

Rembmer this amazing foyer from a few weeks ago when we posted about sunburst mirrors? What got the most attention were those yellow stools- which we suspect are vintage rattan pieces that have been spray painted yellow! This would be a super-easy (and inexpensive) DIY project.

Celerie Kemble uses rattan quite frequently in the Florida homes she decorates, as seen above and below.

But don't worry...our love of GG style only goes so far. We would never advocate the staying power of Dorothy Zvornak's bow tie/cardigan/jacket/long skirt/velvet/Dalmatian print getup. But Blanche's sexy red sequins? Well, we're not making any promises.

,

Who is your favorite GG? And is it just us, or is Golden Girls oddly similar to Sex and the City...add 30 years to Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha, send them to Miami, and you'd have Golden Girls redux!

Tomorrow- we put our fancy pants back on and take a trip to Martha's Vineyard!

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Rising to the Occasion

Every home needs at least one occasional chair. It can serve as a desk chair, extra living room seating, or pulled up to the dining room table when you have company. Occasional chairs are generally lightweight and mobile, and there are some great stylish and affordable options.

Here are some of our favorites:

We absolutely love the lines of this French chair from Wisteria. The color of the fabric is beautiful and so versatile, and the price is right!

Red Upholstered Louis XV Chair from Wisteria, $299.

This rattan chair from Pottery Barn is so cute and affordable. We think it's a bit overkill to pair it with the matching desk, and we aren't dead-set on the color. We think it would be cuter painted black or even red, and for $149, you can afford to fix it up!

Rattan Chair from Pottery Barn, $149.

This Colonial Accent Chair is so versatile and would be so pretty in a casual beach house or even a formal library.

Colonial Accent Chair, ZGallerie, $300

These Queen Anne chairs from Pottery Barn are a bit stuffy in the traditional wood tones, but we think the red, white, and light blue are alot of fun! Cover the seat in a modern fabric, and this chair is a real winner!

Queen Anne Upholstered Chair, Pottery Barn, $249


This is such a great go-anywhere chair. From a desk to a dining room, this would look great in any home!

Upholstered Louis Chair, Pottery Barn, $349



We love the feminine lines and French details of this armchair. And the fluffy cushion with pretty bows is just the icing on the cake. It's a little expensive, but we think you will have (and use) this chair for a long time!

French Market Julie Chair, Horchow, $529 and $419 for the cushion



How fun is this black and gold armchair with a cheetah cushion? Great in any dressier room, and we've heard that every room needs one touch of animal...

Jennifer Armchair, Horchow, $699


We love the weathered, lived-in look of this occasional chair. So pretty without being obnoxiously "shabby chic."

Cherie Gray Armchair, Horchow, $659

This black velvet armchair is so dramatic! We like the combination of the somewhat masculine black fabric with the chair's dainty French legs.

Velvet Armchair, Horchow, $540


We just love faux bois! Faux bois doesn't have to look like it belongs in a mountain house- painting it white would be especially modern!

Black Forest Chair, Wisteria, $499


We definitely have a girl crush on Annie Selke. From her Dash and Albert rugs to her line of fabrics at Calico Corners to her fabulous bedding from Pine Cone Hill, her talent and work ethic is obvious in everything she does. Her line of furniture for Horchow is no exception!

Annie Selke Home O'Hara Chair, Horchow, $1,670


You know how much we love our stripes! One of our favorite things is Ballard's semi-custom furniture! Choose the shape of the chair, the finish of the wood, and the print of the fabric!

Louis Upholstered Armchair, Ballard Designs, $525

This upholstered chair from Ballard has so many great details! From the tufted back to the nailhead trim, this chair is so versatile!

Gentry Chair, Ballard Designs, $769


This might be our favorite occasional chair! We are obsessed with bamboo, and this chair would look great in any room! We think every room needs some bamboo!

Macau Armchair, Ballard Designs, $279

Of course, to add a modern touch to any room, you can't go wrong with the Louis Ghost Chair. Whether your style is traditional or modern, these really work in any room!

Philippe Starck for Kartell, Louis Ghost Chair, W Hotel Store, $410


We like the lines of this boxy chair from West Elm. We would add a fun cushion instead of their boring beige choice, but we think a pair of these on either side of a buffet or other large piece of furniture would be great!

Overlapping Squares Chair, West Elm, $169

Also worth noting- occasional chairs are a DIY favorite of the MoS girls. You can almost always find one that needs a little TLC at a junk store. Add a coat of paint and some fun fabric, and voila, you have a great chair for next to nothing!

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