Antique Lamps

Over the past few weeks, we've had several of our antique table lamps re-wired. It started with on of our lamps being quite a challenge to turn on. We would have to turn the switch to just the right point in order for the bulb to come on, which would usually take several turns.

I discovered that this means that the switch is bad and can be a fire hazard because the lamp may be on when the bulb isn't illuminated. 

A more obvious sign that it is time for updates is a tattered cloth cord with exposed wiring. 

Another trick to determine if your cord should be replaced is to bend it in half. If you see cracks form in the bend, it's probably time to update.

We've been replacing our old cloth and vinyl cords with new cloth cords. The reproduction cloth versions come in various colors (my local antique light repairman had a selection of brown, gold and white in his shop).

In addition to updating the cords and plugs, we've also updated bad switches with new three-way switches. I honestly had never considered this before, but it was an option that I thought we'd try. Now that most of our table lamps are three-way lights, I absolutely love the versatility it offers in the lighting a room.

The cost of updating a table lamp has run us between $25 and $35 each, depending on how much gets updated. The cost is well worth it for the peace of mind that safety brings, along with the added aesthetic benefit of the lighting versatility.

A New Painting

19" x 27"

Once it was decided that we would be moving east, we began to review our possessions and started the process of deciding what to keep, and what to sell or give away.

This can be a complicated process but in the end, we adhered to two values. Was the item something we truly loved, or was it useful? Or better yet, did is possess both qualities?

I did this with just about everything - furniture, clothes, linens, and even our art work. I had a regional painting of the Three Sisters in Oregon. Although I thought it was a beautiful painting, it was not something I truly loved. So I took it to our local antique art gallery and sold it.

In its place (although there wasn't supposed to be an acquisition in exchange), I purchased this landscape painting. It absolutely grabbed a hold of me. So I put the value of the Three Sisters towards it, and paid the rest through the gallery's lay-a-way program.

Last week, I finally received the painting. I had forgotten what it looked like actually. I even wondered, especially in the midst of our long move, what on earth I was thinking to purchase something at a time where most of our belongings were in storage.

But when I opened it, I understood once again.

I love the ornate and intricate detail of the gilded frame and the contrasting simpleness and complete calm of the subject matter, which is thought to be Greenwood Lake in New Jersey (from markings on the back of the frame).

Unfortunately, the frame did not withstand shipment across the country and arrived with a few broken pieces. They were clean breaks and likely easily glued. But nonetheless, I took it to a local antique frame restorationist and he mended the pieces back in their place.

In addition to repairing the frame, he also was able to give me some wonderful information on the piece. He believes it to be a painting by the 19th century American landscape painter, Thomas B. Griffin.

I haven't had a chance to further research the piece, but I am excited to learn more.

The Upstairs Bathroom

This is the upstairs bathroom in our rental house as it was when we moved in. I was thrilled to see it because it had a lot of great features that could shine with a little TLC. My first thoughts were fresh coat of paint, new ceiling light fixture, replace mirror, and install new light sconces over sink. In addition, the homeowners wanted to replace the bathtub and sink as it has been on their to do list for quite some time, and had already selected new ones. 

So here's a little peek with the new sink and bathtub. 

The sink has a lip on it so it's easier to place things around the basin, which is a nice upgrade. The bathtub matches the lines of the original. After the tub arrived and sat in the dining room waiting for installation, Mike and I pondered out loud to one another how he and the homeowner were going to be able to move it upstairs. We then discovered, to our astonishment, that the tub is fiberglass. 

This before photo looks like a black and white image because the original paint was a light grey. We chose to paint the bathroom white because we had extra paint left from painting the hall and stairwell. The end result gave us a much brighter space. 

We kept the blue floors but added a large throw rug. It comes from Dash and Albert. Dash and Albert rugs are not chemically treated with stain repellants or flame retardants, which is absolutely wonderful. 

I tried all sorts of paintings above the bathtub and settled on The Torn Hat, in this case a reproduction of the original painting by Thomas Sully (1820). The mirror is the first example of our movement to use lighter woods in the house. I really liked the warmth that lighter woods offered in our old guest house, so we're phasing out the dark and adding the light. 

In the end, we opted to not upgrade the ceiling light or replace the sconces. Instead, to save money, we left the ceiling light and simply removed the old sconces. We economized by not replacing the sconces, but they were also off-center from the new sink. Thus covering their wallboxes with blanks and mirror made the best sense to us. 

I added my Grandmother's old buffet for storage (she used to keep napkins and See's candy in it and I can't help but think of that every time I open the drawers). 

Antique European Textiles

When my dear friend Kate recommended an online source for antique French textiles, I found myself lost in a sea of never-ending awe and beauty. This was my first real peek into textiles such as these and my immediate feeling was, how could I never have known of such things? 

Wendy from The Textile Trunk is the most gracious caretaker of these historic threads. Her passion and love shine through in her endless knowledge and enthusiasm. I fell in love myself just reading her descriptions. But I did not truly comprehend her words until I held these threads in my own hands, when I purchased a 1900's French monogrammed sheet. 

It's so much heavier than I imagined with its dense weave of cotton and linen. 

But heavier than the material itself, is the weight of its presence. 

The monogrammed letters adorning the sheets had been hand-stitched by mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers. What beautiful imagery they invoke of these women, needle-in-hand, their thoughts, their art form. And such simplistic beauty so delicately woven into the common fabric of life.

Do you think these women could have imagined that over one hundred years later an American woman would hold their threaded beauty? Or that it would be a gift a mother would give to her daughter in two thousand fourteen? 

This heirloom textile will be made into a duvet cover for my daughter's bed when she is a little bit older. I absolutely love that these century-old threads will help keep her warm, holding her in their wonderful and inspiring beauty. 

The Textile Trunk 

I asked Wendy about the history of monogramming and this is what she told me: 

During the 19^th century, it became de rigueur for middle class families to have every item of the trousseau monogrammed , in imitation of the aristocratic crests. A Trousseau was the collection of linens that a woman would bring with her to a marriage. Monnogramming the items in a trousseau was an art in itself , with special techniques and ruses for each piece. The style of monogram chosen often reflects the prevailing fashions of the entire epoch�.quite easy to distinguish. The monograms letters were often of the bride and groom, however these rules were not set in stone and some lunch napkins only were monogrammed with the woman�s initials. Creative license!

There were linen maids in the 19^th century and nuns were often used also for the washing, monogramming, folding and stacking of linen. Often people employed linen maids, however washing the family linens was also something that the woman of the household would do. The sheets being washed sometimes in public laundry areas and hung to dry in the sun ( hence, the holder the sheet tended to become sun bleached with time from the many hangings! ) Linen cupboards were a status symbol and  the doors of the cupboards were sometimes left open ( accidentally) so show the many many stacks of fine linen a family owned! ( so I�ve been told! ) �.

A wonderful book to recommend on linens is : The Book of Fine Linen, Francioise de Bonneville  ~ so much wonderful information!

The Duncan Phyfe - AFTER

My Great Great Grandmother's Duncan Phyfe sofa was reupholstered in white organic duck cloth. Over the original horsehair and burlap, all new organic cotton batting was used throughout the sofa. The cushion is comprised of a custom-made 3-inch 100% natural latex cushion, wrapped in similar organic cotton batting.  

Here is what the sofa looked like before. 

The cosmetic changes that were made to the sofa include replacing the three thin cushions with a single long, cushy one and updating the trim styling. Overall, I think that the white fabric highlights the beautiful lines of the sofa, accentuating the contours of the camel back, the arms and the feet.

In doing away with the three separate cushions, we also made the camel back seam-free. I like the streamlined look much better. The cushion cover is removable for washing, and I also had an extra cover made with the leftover fabric. Instead of the original gimp-style trim, we did a double-piping trim that my upholsterer suggested. I think it offers an elegant simplicity. In addition to the above upholstery, the brass feet and wood trim were polished as well.

Originally, I was going to use throw pillows as accents, but ran into a similar predicament as with the upholstery fabric. I couldn't find chemical-free options (within my budget). So after having the sofa home for a week or so, I decided to do bolsters with the leftover organic duck cloth and cotton batting.

RESOURCES: 

ORGANIC FABRIC: 
I used $14.99/yd organic duck cloth from Sell Fabric. I debated between the white and the prepare-for-dye (PFD) color options. Below, you can see the difference in color.

Using my IKEA Parson slipcovers (which look very white on their own) as a backdrop, I was able to see that there are many shades of white...and not so white. After washing, the prepare-for-dye is exactly the same color as the IKEA slipcover. The manufacturer guarantees that this fabric will fade a shade after washing, so definitely pre-wash it before using if you're not going to dye it.

Undecided, I also asked my dear friend and expert on everything design for her advice. That's right, I asked Joan at for the love of a house. She recommended the warmer white (the off white). She's never wrong.

In the end, the prepare-for-dye was chosen for its white, but not too white, essence.

The decision to use the organic duck cloth came after many conversations with fabric manufacturers. I became pretty frustrated by not being able to get definitive answers regarding whether the materials were chemically treated. Many assured me that their lines were probably not treated, but most just didn't know since their fabrics are made by a third party. The duck cloth was the most affordable guaranteed chemical-free fabric, and that made me love it more and more.

ORGANIC BATTING: 

Organic Cotton Plus - 1-inch thick batting
Online Fabric Store - 2-inch thick batting

The 1-inch batting from Organic Cotton Plus was used for the sofa back and arms, while the 2-inch batting was used to wrap the latex cushion, and for the sofa bolsters. The 2-inch batting is a better deal, but its thickness and narrower width make it less useable for upholstering the whole piece.

LATEX CUSHION: 

I found the 100% natural latex cushion at Foam Source. They specialize in custom orders for projects such as this. The latex is third-party certified 100% natural latex, which is great, as finding a true natural source for the cushion was a challenge. Even soy foam is commonly treated with flame retardants apparently.

However, the most critical component to the success in reupholstering my Great Great Grandmother's sofa was finding the right upholsterer. I spoke to a total of five upholsterers before selecting one. This wasn't intentional but I suppose I was looking for someone who saw the value in using organic materials, saw the essential grace and elegance of the piece, and supported my passion for creating a beautiful but non-toxic piece of furniture for our home. Luckily, I did indeed find that upholsterer.

The coffee table is something I found when running into an antique store (while Mike and the sweet peas waited in the car) to look for a dining table. This is a common occurrence these days...me walking out of a store with something entirely different than what I walked in for. But it was $30, and I thought it would go well with the Duncan Phyfe.

Burlap and Horse Hair

I stopped in at the upholsterer the other day and found the Duncan Phyfe sofa stripped down to burlap and horse hair. It was actually quite fascinating. Seeing it in this state was a reminder of the era in which this sofa was built. But also, the tattered burlap, coarse horse hair and brass nails reminded me of the long history of the sofa. Unique among many of my antiques, it is a history that I am quite familiar with. 

After my Great Grandfather passed away, my Great Grandmother decided to sell their house in the Hollywood Hills and bought an apartment in downtown Hollywood. She hired an interior designer to help her redecorate her new home for her new independent life. This sofa was one of the items the decorator purchased on her behalf. 

After removing all of the pink satin fabric and the old cotton batting, the upholsterer assessed that the sofa is in good shape other than some uneven springs on the right side. She suggested that my Great Grandmother was likely prone to sitting on that side over the other, and thought that perhaps the lamp was on that side. 

This insight brought me pause as I thought of my Great Grandmother, who I met only when I was much too young, settling into her favorite side of the sofa. The sofa was telling a bit of her story, a small detail, but nevertheless, a glimpse of a life once lived. 

Before I left, I took one last look at the old burlap and horse hair because I knew I'd probably never see the sofa in that state again. I reveled in this secret glimpse into the bare bones of my Great Grandmother's sofa. After leaving her apartment, its next destination was to be nestled against a wall of green wallpaper in my Grandmother's house. That was my Father's old bedroom, and our playroom growing up. Now it sat laid bare, awaiting its next destination, and the next generation. Which side will we choose to sit on? 

I can't help but feel drawn to sit on her side, the side where the springs are worn a little more. This is the side on which my Great Grandmother sat, night after night, in her glamorous Hollywood apartment. 

The same steel springs that held her, will undoubtedly hold us. 

Catherine 

A Victorian Children's Sofa

I found this antique Victorian children's sofa last year. It was shortly after I had purchased the wicker furniture set for the babies, which was a huge hit. I thought an indoor piece of furniture just their size would also be a lot of fun for them. 

Although in great shape, the sofa needs new batting and fabric. The fabric choice however - a pattern? a solid?, what color?, etc., sort of brought the process to a standstill. Recently however, my friend Kate shared with me the fabric she used to reupholster an antique wing chair for her office. It is a wonderful material, and I am going to replicate her idea for the children's sofa. I'll share it with you when it's completed. 

The Duncan Phyfe sofa project is also moving along. We just dropped it off at the upholsterers yesterday - with three boxes of organic batting, and ten yards of organic fabric. 

It will be done before Thanksgiving, which is very exciting. 

A Duncan Phyfe Sofa

My Grandmother's Duncan Phyfe is about to get a makeover. I grew up with this sofa so it holds many memories, mostly of childhood. It was kept in our playroom at her house. It anchored many forts, and wind-up toys have explored its entirety. 

I had intended to have it reupholstered last year for the guest house. But between upholsterers' schedules, planning for the Country Living shoot, and other plans, we never found the time. 

It's in good shape structurally, but desperately needs new fabric. Also, I am planning all new batting and cushions, mostly due to its extended storage history in our barn. 

For the past few weeks, I have been researching local upholsterers and investigating ways in which I can revive this family heirloom while still using the greenest resources possible. This will require cotton batting, sofa cushions and upholstery fabric free of flame retardants and teflon coatings (for stain resistance). 

Well, this task has been a challenging one and I have learned a lot. There seems to be relatively few resources for sourcing these materials chemical-free. Thankfully, I did find a wonderful company that manufactures and sells everything that I think I'll need. I'll let you know how it goes. 

Catherine  

investment piece: a french pastry table

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I saw one in an antique shop a while back.

The marble top was pitted and worn and it was just beautiful.

I have never forgotten about that piece.

auction obsessions

 

This antique French cabinet would be happily at home at my place,

just under the new flatscreen.

If only I could make it to the auction this weekend.

 

But I can't. 

 

Isn't it great? With it's mellow patina and it's 38 x 94 x 16 self.

Where else in the world am I going to find that perfection?

And I really want these two abstracts.

Badly.

 

 

They are going as a lot of two.

 

I'm just out of luck this go-round.

 

If you're anywhere near western North Carolina, you really should check out

Brunk Auctions in Asheville.

 

We were there for an auction a few months ago.

Awesome stuff.  

 

Andrew Brunk, on the right, often appraises items for

Antiques Roadshow.

 

He ain't so bad either.

gray doors

Source: parishotelboutique.blogspot.com via Stephen on Pinterest

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demilune tables

Source: 1stdibs.com via Stormy on Pinterest

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Call me demi looney. I'm looking for a pair of demilune tables for either side of my living room fireplace. I would love a gray painted pair or a limed wood pair...but I can't break the bank, either.
Isn't that always the problem?