DEAL ALERT! Louis ghost chair style chairs on HauteLook

Today's deal over on HauteLook are these Louis ghost chair style armchairs in clear, smoke and black. They're sure to go fast at $119. I'm SOOOO tempted.


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Latest Score: Louis style dining chairs

I really shouldn't be calling this a "latest score" because these chairs have literally been sitting in my dining room awaiting my attention for 6 months. I know it's been six months because I got them right after Knox was born (6 months ago today!!!). Which is also perhaps why they've sat, and sat, and sat! But since the dressing room project is in a bit of a holding pattern, I decided it was finally time to tackle them.

Louis style chairs were on my Craig's List/flea market stalking list for a long time. I talked about my love of this style here. And I didn't let having a then 2 week old baby stop me from finding them. I know...I'm crazy. For $50 a piece, they were mine. I loved the shape of course but they were very banquet hall-esque when I got them.

This past weekend me and Mr. H+F ripped off the old upholstery, pulled staples (this has to be the worst task EVER but is made marginally easier with this tool), sanded and primed.

Here they are sanded, upholstery and staples pulled, ready to be primed!

Primed with Zinnser Cover Stain. Note that Daisy can never miss a photo opp.

Next up - paint, practical upholstery on the front and back, fun and colorful on the back.

I'm pretty well settled on using a faux leather with an ostrich texture for the seat and back of these chairs. Since getting the bench for Knox's nursery, I've discovered Your Auto Trim Store. They carry all kinds of amazing and exotic vinyls but I particularly like their ostrich because it has texture but isn't intensely dimpled. Plus this stuff is virtually indestructible which is definitely a consideration when I know little shoes and dirty hands are going to be climbing all over them. Debating between white and vanilla but I think I'm leaning toward white.

All these paint swatches look pretty much the same on the computer but I swear there are some subtle differences between them. I'm not so concerned with matching the frame color to the ostrich leather exactly. Just sort of want something that will compliment it. Currently I'm leaning toward "Seapearl" (middle card, 2nd from the top).

While the front will be practical, I've decided that the back will be a little more colorful. I've had a couple of yards of Schumacher's Chiang Mai dragon sitting around, never quite sure what project would be worthy of using it. But I'm taking the plunge and putting it on the back of these chairs. I figure you see the back of chairs much more than the front and seeing these pretty colors and pattern every day will make me happy. Plus it truly is a versatile fabric. There are loads of colors in there to build a room off of.

What do you think?! I'm hoping they turn out as great in real life as I am seeing them in my mind! I'm planning to prime and paint them all and then possibly (this is a big "possibly") tackle the re-upholstery myself. I guess it will depend on the quote I get to have them done professionally.

Mexican Otomi Textiles

{Image via Absolutely Beautiful Things}

I've seen theses striking patterns around the blog world a lot recently, but I had no idea what they were. Finally a post on Absolutely Beautiful Things revealed that these are a hand-embroidered textiles created by the Otomi Indians from the mountains of Mexico.

A little Googling turned up some great resources and colors. Look at the amazing color on this raspberry one!

{ebay seller laviva3}


{image via Jacaranda}


{ebay seller Mexican Textiles}

{ebay seller Mexican Textiles}

{ebay seller Mexican Textiles}





{Image via Jacaranda}

These are place mats but I can totally see them re-invented as throw pillows. And the larger pieces are perfect to use as tablecloths or coverlets, but I also like the idea of using them in upholstery projects (like in the Louis armchair above). An ottoman? A bench at the foot of a bed? A headboard?

{Image via Wisteria}

Or what about a whole settee? Imagine this Wisteria one in an Otomi print!

The larger pieces seem to run about $255. Not cheap but I think pretty well in line with the 3 months it takes an artisan to create a single piece. Colors available seem unpredictable so if you see one you just have to have, there's no guarantee it will always be available.

I WANT: Louis Side Chairs

Very high on my want list at the moment - Louis side chairs. I only need 4 of them for my dining room because I've also got it in my head that some more substantial wing chairs in a fab upholstery job would look good on the ends of the table. Stalking of my local Craig's List has turned up exactly ZERO chairs.

The closest I've come so far was finding 2 contenders at an antique shop in Frederick, MD but sadly there was no room in the car for them to come home with us. This still haunts me.

I think I'd like them in either an unfinished/stripped wood (see PB version below) or a smooth off-white color. Also love the idea of having such a regal looking chair in kid/dog friendly fabric, though in my heart I really want them in some fabulous peacock blue velvet with a contrasting but coordinating fabric on the back panel.

The PB version below...certainly the most accessible, is $349/chair. Um...ouch. I don't know if I'll be able to do much better going the vintage route but I have to try. I don't even need them all to match! I just need the same general shape and of course height.

Hmm...sheild back, square back or round?




{Image: Pottery Barn}



{Image: Absolutely Beautiful Things}




{Image: Laissez Faire Design}


{Image: Mady by Girl}


{Image: Style Court}