The chair is done, and awaiting delivery...

I can't wait to see how it turned out.  I wasn't able to get over to see it yesterday, and I won't be here when it is delivered on Tuesday.  Sigh.  I will just have to be patient.

Before...

During...

Does it pay...

One of these is $200/yd the other is $20/yd.  I can tell the difference; but I don't know if it is $180/yd different.  Sometimes it is worth spending the extra, sometimes it isn't.  There is a HUGE durability difference between them; but you have to ask yourself, could I reupholster the piece two or three times over for less than buying the more expensive one?  Ultimately my client went with the more expensive one.  Want to see the finished product?

The perfect solution...

I was helping a client today and she asked me what I would use if I were doing the windows for myself.  I took this to mean "If you could do anything you wanted what would it be?"

The room has neutral walls and two oriental rugs on the floor.  Other than that it is dominated by a four posted bed with a German lace canopy.  Dark wood abounds but it is pretty much a blank slate.  We started the day with the intent of doing a dust ruffle and chose a box pleated dust ruffle in an off-white sateen.  The windows were an unexpected addition.

Three colors sprung to my mind the green, pink, and cream.    The client loves pink, and loves embroidered silk. The style has to be a Kingston valance with tails.  Long slender tails.  The fabric?  I would like to use Lady Washington from Fabricut's Mount Vernon collection.  I've used it before. I'll post it as well as a link.

Hope Martha would be proud.

http://www.fabricut.com/search/product_details.php?product_id=2699701&searchtype=single_advanced&return_search=set&page=&nav=&pre=&pos=&pages=2&application_id=F&collection_id=2025&pram=7&searchclass=

Now the real question, which color to use?

I really like how these turned out...

Sometimes you can take a garage sale find and turn it into something really spectacular.  I can't decide which I like better.  The stripe is fantastic, classic and sophisticated.  The floral is unique and makes quite a statement in my opinion.  There was a chair down at the design center that I saw somewhat like it, but this one is mine (well, my work anyway).

The sheers in the background are actually an open weave linen should anyone care.  Try taking a picture of that on a sunny day!

Asian, Oriental, Chinoiserie...

Here is the blog post from one of my other blogs:

http://decbasics.blogspot.com/2011/07/pic-of-day.html

If you like an asian motif then this is relevant to your interests.  That being said why is it so hard to find good Far Eastern stuff?  There is a certain company that has a beautiful $400/yd piece that I like, but other than that there is a need that is not being filled.  Maybe my friends over at Jim Thompson or Fabricut would like to help me out?  As far as that fabric I can't tell you who the company is, but their name rhymes with Deakon Pill...

Patina...

To clean or not to clean, that is the question.  I was given a beautiful bowl by my parents, and we went back and forth over whether or not it should be cleaned.  Normally here (the US) we prefer to preserve the patina.  Overseas the preference varies.  This type of piece is normally cleaned, and as such we decided to clean it.

Original

Extra clean.

One more, this time with lemon scent.

The best part is if we give it a little while then the patina will come right back.  No harm, everyone wins.