We’re back with this week’s installment of Take 3. Today we’re working with an actual thrift store treasure that I’m fixing up to sell at a local show in November. More on that to come shortly!
I found this mid-century, Eames-era dining chair at one of my favorite thrift stores at the beginning of the summer and now that the air is dry and the temperatures are cool, it’s time to get outside and tackle this beauty.
Here we go…
Stephanie’s Take: Juicy
I love to add life to old pieces of furniture and this chair is a great piece to have a little fun with. I would strip down and paint this light shade of pink called Juice by Serena & Lily. To complement that, I would recover the seat in a fabric from Amy Butlers new Soul collection for some spunkiness! I have a been lo0king for a small desk , and I think this tiny piece from Ikea would work well to hold my laptop and these couple of accessories: a bright vase and retro- looking wood clock.
Rachel’s Take: Dressing Up
This bedroom by Lee Kleinhelter was the inspiration for the color palette for a sophisticated dressing table. First, I would paint Juliet’s great find a white lacquer and upholster the chair in brown linen from Designer Fabrics. I would cover an inexpensive table in a tailored skirt made out of this graphic yellow fabric, also from Designer Fabrics, and add a piece of glass to the top to keep things clean. I would hang this Queen Anne mirror over the table for getting dolled up. The last touches, pineapple canisters from Lee Kleinhelter’s amazing collection at Pieces – the perfect place to stash some jewelry and lip gloss.
Juliet’s Take: Center Stage
I’m tempted to leave the wood stained and give it a good scrub and polish to bring out the natural brown tones. I love the grooved detail around the openings in the back. What I would change, besides the upholstery of course, is the depth of the cushion — I’d really like something a little fuller and more inviting as a side chair.
As for the upholstery, normally I would lean toward a bold pattern with lots of color for a single piece like this, but for some reason the lines of the chair give me enough character to settle on rich velvet solid instead.
Set in front of this Lucite writing desk topped with an antique brass lamp and some fresh flowers, this vintage chair takes center stage.
What would you do? Seriously, I’d love to know! Since I’m making over this chair to resell, anything goes.
{all images linked to sources above}
Tags: before & after, danish modern, dining chair, mid-century
Love the chair!
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Great chair! I say keep the natural wood color and go with a fabric with texture, corduroy? The purchaser (might be me…) can add a throw pillow to make it more inviting.
Juliet, check out my facebook mobile upload of the living room in the new house. It is same style of our Danish-modern coffee table. (And since I live with with a half-Dane, it would be appreciated around our house! But it would probably have to go in the Dining Room)
Emily, your living room looks fantastic! And I love the coffee table. This chair could, indeed, be the perfect nod to your Danes! I’ll keep you posted on my progress.
Wow, what a beautiful chair! I want it!
I would go with a textile from the time period it is from. It almost reminds me of an Art Nouveau or a Beaux Arts piece.
While I like all “Take 3′s” in context of their corresponding living spaces, if you’re going to remake this chair to sell on it’s own, then it really needs to shine. I love the lines on the back of this chair, and my first reaction would be to keep the natural wood and recover the seat in an Orla Kiely fabric to compliment the Danish Modern theme.
Target-Addict — I love the Orla Kiely suggestion! Thank you.
Oh my goodness!! Most favorite house crash you’ve ever done ever!!!! Thank you guys for reminding us that a house doesn’t have to be big and grand to be absolutely incredible. I just adore every inch of this home. Think she’ll pack it up and ship it across the country?!?!!? Cause I’ll take it!