Love at Second Sight

It's not always 'love at first sight' but when the shape is right and the bones appear strong, a little work can change a piece of furniture from ho-hum to hot diggity!!

Chair hanging out at the ScreenDoor in Asheville

This was the reproduction French bergere chair I found at the ScreenDoor in Asheville, NC a few weeks ago. A few hours in the garden armed with a paint brush and sandpaper after the upholsterer had removed it's dowdy, modern clothing..................................

..................then back again to be dressed in a French gown of natural linen. A small ottoman I already had was also reupholstered in the same linen. I'm really thrilled with this chair now.

The French Bergere Chair

............and what were you doing yesterday? If the sun was shining, the golden colors of Autumn glowing in your back garden, the air warm but not too hot, what better than starting a painting project!

Dark wood frame getting a paint job.

When in Asheville visiting the ScreenDoor, I found 'the chair'. She was old, but sturdy. Upholstered, but ugly green. Dark wood needed a touch of grayed white paint. Her lines were pure French bergere. Her seat was comfy with the perfect removable/reversible thick cushion.

I insisted that DH open the door of the Camry, we were taking that baby home with us - even if he had to sit on the roof!! He didn't - it slid in easily - those nice ScreenDoor gals I told you about allowed us to try fitting it in the back seat before we even bought it.

The chair at the ScreenDoor, Asheville, NC

The chair at home and the fabric decision.

I took the chair to the upholsterer, had them strip it of the mod green fabric (guess what, another even greener fabric underneath!), and brought it home to paint and distress the frame. I had planned using the antique French linen grain sack above on the chair - too narrow - so have decided on the natural color linen on the bolt above.

It's coming along. Some distressing tomorrow, return it to the upholsterer on Monday, then hopefully a 'new' chair - the one I've been searching for - in about a week.