Thursday, September 30, 2010

Sitting Pretty


Phew we had quite the day here in Maryland!  Tornadoes, flooding, and high winds...it was crazy and a little frightening to boot!  Our son wasn't able to make it back home from running with our local rescue squad overnight until this afternoon because some of the roads had been flooded and they needed every available person to help out so he stayed on past his shift.

I kept myself busy finishing up a story for Romantic Country Magazine, and hoped that no big tree limbs would come down or that the water would get too high.  Luckily we only had a few limbs fall and the water didn't get precariously high.  Thankfully, I think most people made it through the storm fairly well.

After I finished my story I decided it was time to take a few pictures of my latest project.  A little change up in the living room!

I've been wanting to update our living room for a while now.  Most of the upholstered pieces in this room are almost 15 years old...sheesh I can hardly believe that little factoid!  And although it's in wonderful shape because it hardly saw any use in our last house and rarely gets used in this house, it was time for a change.



The deep jewel tone green of the sectional sofa (now divided into a couch and loveseat) was fine in our last home which was a colonial and had a much more formal feel and not nearly as much natural light as the new house.  I haven't decided what I want to do with it yet, and waver back and forth between slipcovering it in a nice neutral linen, to getting rid of it completely and starting from scratch.

Instead of jumping in with both feet when I really wasn't sure what look I wanted for this room, I decided to start with baby steps.



I knew I wanted something completely different, but because that crazy thing called money always seems to rear its ugly head every time you want to completely change out a room, I decided to try recovering the dark wing chair in the corner that I still liked, except for its dark fabric.

So off I went to see my friend Sheryl of Slipcover Cottage, and seamstress extraordinaire!  She gave me swatches of fabrics to take home and mull over in all sorts of different lighting.



I'm a pretty decisive person, and normally have an image of exactly what I want even before I start looking for fabric, but this time I really hemmed and hawed over what look I was trying to achieve.  I knew I needed something that would still go with my green sofa, but I wanted something a little funky and unexpected.

In the end I chose a fabric in a color way that I would normally walk right past.  Orange mixed with magenta is not something I usually gravitate toward, so I shocked even myself when I picked the fabric above to use for my new slipcover!
And because this chair is has an unusual shape for a wing chair, there is no separate seat cushion and the arms have a strange build to them as well, I wondered just how easy it would be for Sheryl to create something that would stay put and look good!



But I should have known better, her work is always fabulous and once again she came through with flying colors!!!



And speaking of colors, I am loving this new bold print and the bright color combo, it completely changed the whole look of the room!  I love it when a small change has a huge impact!



So instead of boring, tired, and drab...



I am enjoying a little cool, funky, and fab!!  Hmm now all I need is a new seagrass rug, and some Ikea Ektorp sofas...now where are my car keys and GPS....Mr. Tide?!

I don't get compensated for telling you how great Sheryl's work is, but if you're in the market for new slipcovers I can't recommend her highly enough!
To see more transformations head over to Metamorphosis Monday over at Between Naps on the Porch!

and

Be sure to stop by Show and Tell Friday over at My Romantic Home

48 comments:

  1. I love it...that pattern is different and eye catching! ♥O

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  2. What a difference! It brightens the corner.

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  3. That turned out so nice. I love your home, and blog.

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  4. You did take a walk on the wild side didn't you! I just love your new fabric~ and I can't believe that those are slipcovers!!!!! What a beautiful job. The colors are a a unique mix, but really the print reminds me of an update of a Williamsburg floral block. Wonderful!
    You can do so much with that fabric. Just a little bit of whimsy can brighten up the whole room.
    You have made me a little braver!
    Yvonne

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  5. Kat, that looks so good. You are stepping out on the wild side girl. Love it.

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  6. Love your new slipcover fabric. The chair looks fabulous. So bright and cheery. Hugs, Marty

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  7. oooohh ... what might you be doing for romantic country ,,,
    I'm so nose-y

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  8. Thank you everyone!

    And Joy you crack me up! It was a story on a house I found for Fifi. It is so pretty, I can't wait for it to be published!

    Kat :)

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  9. Publishing again? Yay!! Can't wait to read it!

    I really love your chair. The fabric was a beautiful choice and it goes so well with the style of the chair and the whole room. I'm looking forward to what else you do!

    XO,
    Jane

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  10. I love the fabric you selected for your chair - it looks like a William Morris sort of print with stylized flowers and a repeated pattern. I adore William Morris patterns! Too funny that you chose orange and magenta, as I just finished a post on orange and colours that go with it - you certainly are in the bold category. Love it.

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  11. That looks beautiful!! It really does change the whole mood of the room! I love it!! Good for you for stepping outside the box! ;) Oh IKEA how I long for thee!! I am really itching for a trip there!

    I can't wait to see what you are writing for Romantic Country!

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  12. Beautiful!! (I also love the style of the watermark on your photos)

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  13. I love it and truthfully, I wasn't sure I would when I saw your first photo of the fabric. On the chair it is fantastic. I only tried to slipcover something once. I ordered from a famous ready made company and it was horrible, didn't fit and looked like I had covered the furniture to paint the room (or move out for about 100 years). Needless to say, they went back and I bought new sofas! It looks to me as if Sheryl is the way to go for slipcovers.

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  14. Your chair looks FABULOUS, Kat! Sheryl has done such a wonderful job and the fabric you chose is gorgeous!! Enjoy:) ~ Tina xx

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  15. Kat, I just LOVE it~ you're right, it transformed the room!

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  16. Oh my word. I am in love! You couldn't have picked a more perfect fabric.

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  17. Beautiful fabric! You are right it does change your room quite a bit! It looks wonderfully happy now!

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  18. Gorgeous! I have some furniture in the basement that could use a facelift....hope I can get Sheryl to reupholster it for me when I eventually figure out what I want to do with that space.

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  19. WOW!!! I loved your chair before, but the after is WONDERFUL! Step away from the edge, girlfriend ... the wild side is beckoning. It looks like you and I are going to have to make a trip to go see Sheryl, as soon as I decide which of my many project pieces should get slip-covered first.

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  20. What a difference! I love the fabric. Perfect!

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  21. Sending a sweet hello from Frog Hollow Farm. We've been having a few pretty rainy and windy days up here in NJ as well. I always worry about the willow tree next to our pond, but so far, so good! You made me smile when you mentioned how surprised you were to realize how old your furniture is. Our living room furniture is 22 years old, I remember because my daughter Katie was 5 years old when we purchased it. We're finally redoing the room, giving it a more 'grown up look' as I keep telling my husband. I love the new fabric on that chair, it was a great way to go!! Ciao, bella!

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  22. Kat, that chair is fantastic. It looks like something that Sarah Richardson would pick out and oh I love her style. PERFECTION on what Ms. Sheryl did, if I lived closer I'd have her on retainer for sure. I can't wait to see what other changes you make, you sure are off to a great start.

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  23. Beautiful fabric for the slipcover. Great choice. I also like that white cabinet you have in the room. Looks wonderful.

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  24. WOW! she is very talented and the color of the slipcovers certainly makes your table POP! Beautiful....smiles.

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  25. Kat, the chair has wonderful color and enlivens the entire corner. She did a great job on the slipcover (I need one too, hmmm..) but the fabric choice is what puts it over. One funny thing, I have the same table as the one to the right of your chair but smaller and a pair LOL.

    Thanks for stopping by and especially for linking up your giveaway.

    Jane F

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  26. I love the change - love the colours,the print - everything. Let's see what else you've got planned.
    I'm still searching for Romantic Homes - I know I saw it in a store somewhere and I am determined to get it to see your article!

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  27. ADORE the fabric! All I can think of is how perfectly autumnal it is now, but, with a pitcher of red, orange, magenta, and pink zinnias next to it next summer, it'll be equally wonderful--a true year 'round fabric! And Sheryl's work is astounding. I'm going to get my chairs down to her by boat if necessary!?
    Tell me your take on Ikea sofas? I've long wanted to go that route (tres affordable, slipcovered, never going to be discontinued), but worry about durability (hubs is a TV-watching sprawler), manufacturing processes (earth friendly?), off-gassing and all that ugly stuff...

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  28. Love it!! Especially with the little white pumpkin by its side... brightens up the whole space!

    E+J

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  29. Kat, I love the fabric choice and the slip cover looks fantastic. It really brightens up that corner of the room. Your new header is wonderful too!
    Hugs, Sherry

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  30. Kat, it has totally revitalized the entire room.

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  31. You are so smart to bring in such a fun and pretty fabric, it really does make the room.
    I was just going back and forth with a couple different fabrics for a little chair I was working on, one had some orange and red...I chickend out and went a little safer, wish I would have seen this an hour ago!
    Happy you stopped by!
    Londen

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  32. :O the transformation is insane! i love it :D
    great blog!
    loving the posts
    stop by some time xx
    take a peek at my giveaway while you're at it!

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  33. Kat, what a fabulous remake of that wing chair!!! Your friend really transformed that chair!! Have a great weekend! Hope you made it to IKEA!!

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  34. Kat - I absolutely love that chair. The colors are gorgeous. Please take a picture from further back so we can see it in the whole room. It's just gorgeous. Good decision

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  35. Someone once told me that bringing new colors from the palette into your life is very significant and reflects what you choose to bring into your life. They also told me that orange denotes creativity and for some reason I always remembered that. Anyway, I ADORE this new look and I'm loving that white pumpkin too. Sheryl's work is pretty amazing, when I first saw it I did not even realize it was a slipcover. Your home is so beautiful Kat! Oh and I almost forgot to tell you how great your new header looks! ~Lili

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  36. Oh, Kat, it's wonderful! I can't believe it's a slipcover. The new fabric really brightens up the corner. Can't wait to see what else you decide to do.

    Allison
    Atticmag

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  37. Look at you with all these wonderful comments! I'm loving this.
    Loving that chair, as well. It looks happier with its new do.

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  38. Kelly J/Hunters HillOctober 4, 2010 at 12:11 PM

    That chair is beyond awesome !!

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  39. Love, love, love the slipcover!!!! You're right - it makes such a difference in that corner. Looks so bright and airy with just that one change.

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  40. I love your new slipcover Kat! It looks great! I love its bold colors and pattern! I just bought a wing back chair that is some type of orange color that I labeled as marigold but not in a pretty way! I need to find someone like your friend Sheryl to recover the chair and an antique couch.

    ~ Tracy

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  41. Wow great chair cover. Love the material.

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  42. Love how fresh this fabric looks and it really brightens your room. Great job ;) Have a great weekend, fondly, Roberta
    http://con-tain-it.typepad.com

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