Monday, September 15, 2014

Wing Back Chairs



After a visit to our local green furnishing store, I realized that new 'green' furniture was not going to be in our budget. So I've instead turned my focus towards (affordable) older furniture that pre-dates the era of flame retardants and the like. My intention is to use these antiques to slipcover or reupholster, and I have indeed found a couple of chairs that will be perfect for that. 

While searching, I fortuitously found this beautiful brown and cream toile wing back this past weekend which is perfect as is. It is in wonderful shape and has the most lovely down cushion to nestle upon. 


The toile pattern is a lovely pastoral on creamy linen. 


I found another wing back chair at an antique store I frequent that came from a local home. It is in remarkable condition considering its age. The pink damask slipcover (which has a cozy English feel to it) is so lovely, but something I'm not sure will work. We'll have to see. 

If not, I will most likely have it reupholstered as the cost to do that is about the same as having a slipcover made. I'd also like to have a fuller cushion made. 

After looking at several antique stores and learning the typical prices of vintage/antique wing back chairs (they range from $135 up to $500), I've come to realize how hard it is to find good ones for a good price (my range is $145 and under, which I've miraculously accomplished). 

Considering the state that the new house is in at the moment (there's lots of projects going on), it's hard to believe that one day soon, we will be living there, cozying up in a nice chair. 

Renovation updates next!

27 comments :

  1. So glad your posting regular now can't wait to see the updates !

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  2. I love the wing chairs, how lucky to find one in fabric you can live with now! Looking forward to seeing the transformation of your new home!

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  3. I have a great fondness for wing back chairs. have two old beautiful ones flanking my fireplace. Also have a fondness for toile. So cannot imagine anything more spectacular than a toile wingback. Which room will it be in? I like that you are considering a pattern- seems like something new for you.

    I am definitely looking forward to more updates.

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    1. What I love most about this chair is that it's something I absolutely love yet would probably never be brave enough to do!

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  4. NOTHING is as green as an antique!! Reuse and/or recycle!

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  5. These chairs are great! I love that you're looking for older chairs to avoid the chemicals. I, too, am happy to see your posts again. Looking forward to each one.

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  6. I love the chair!! The fabric is perfect and looks great. Catherine

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  7. I would love to find a Toile, antique wingback! We too fill our home with antiques for several reasons; affordibility, green, fitting to our 1800's colonial and we just love them! Great finds Catherine!

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  8. These are both gorgeous but I think I'm swooning just a little over the toile one.

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  9. Beautiful chair! I also purchase organic goose down pillows to refill my chair cushions. I simply provide organic linen to allow my expert seamstress to measure and sew a inner liner with a zipper then I fill this liner to my comfort level. When filled, then insert into the freshly washed (with an organic soap) formal seat cushion cover. luxury without the markup. This system is easy to maintain, and lasts for many years. Just remember to vacuum and then stream clean the chair to sanitize it before it enters your home.

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  10. Good to know about the organic down pillows as a cushion resource. Thank you!

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  11. What great finds!! Toile is one of my all-time favorite things. You might not be big on patterns in general, but I think you had some brown-and-white dishes, so to me this is still very "you." The other chair has great possibilities, too, or you could keep it as it is.

    Take care, Em

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  12. Such fantastic finds! I love to use heirloom and antique pieces in my own home and designs because they're so cozy. The damask print especially makes me want to snuggle up with a book!

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  13. I love the 2 chairs and how lucky to have one upholstered in a fabric as lovely as the toile. I revised a file of pictures from your home in Oregon. You and your husband did such a beautiful job on that home. I can hardly wait to see your creative design and hard work on this home.
    Karen

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  14. Love the toile chair, I am sure that the pink chair will look lovely when it is redone also. Both chairs are great for reading stories to the little ones. So nice to follow you making a new nest for your sweet family.

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  15. Older wing chairs are generally a great investment. As an upholsterer, I can tell you that most of these have good frames, and will last for generations. You say you might want a fuller cushion, but one thing to consider, is that older chairs had thinner cushions (and I prefer the look of a thinner cushion in general). Down cushions (like your toile chair) are high-end, and wonderful to have (they often get replaced with foam).

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  16. Oh, I love a good wingback chair. I have two that are still waiting to be reupholstered. I picked the pair up at an estate sale for $50 each. They are hideously covered now, but have gorgeous lines. They will be glorious...some day.

    All my best,

    Tim

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  17. I have a Chippendale wing back that looks very similar to the toile one, though the arms of mine curve out more. It was my grandparents'. I have recovered it twice, and I'm not sure how many times my grandmother had it recovered because the upholsterer took off several layers. I also refinished the legs because they had that dark mahogany finish and I wanted to lighten them up to more of a faded mahogany. We've recently moved and I don't have a space for it until we can add on, but I can't bear to part with it, so it sits in storage.

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  18. I love the brown and green toile fabric, lovely find!

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  19. Thank you so much for keeping us up on the progress. We all enjoy the ride right along with you!

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  20. LOVE the chairs. You have a great eye - and I'm jealous of the shops in your area!

    I don't know if you're near MA, but I was perusing Skinner's Discovery auction which is on Thursday - their auctions can have great deals - and I saw this chair, and the price is right:

    http://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/2747M/lots/43A

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  21. The chair is gorgeous! I couldn't help but notice the rug beneath it since I'm searching for a new rugs right now. Do you mind sharing details? I'm looking for something neutral with texture and your rug looks really nice. Thank you! Karen

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    1. The rug came from Home Goods. It's by Calvin Klein. I haven't been in awhile but they were carrying quite a few of them in smaller sizes. It's nice because it's much lighter than the seagrass but still durable.

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  22. I love love love your toile wing back chair
    I would have taken it home also .
    I am new to your blog about re doing this wonderful old house, it has always been a dream of mine to live in one of the old homes from1900's -1930's

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  23. Oh I just love the cream and brown colored one! I would leave it just like that. What a great find!

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Thank you for leaving your thoughts. Kind regards, Catherine

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