Today I thought I would share additional information about the Slipcovered French Settee And Other Bits of Fall Decor that didn’t make the recent home tour cut.
Slipcovered French Settee And Other Bits of Fall Decor
I originally purchased this settee in the dark ages before blogging. It was won on an eBay auction for $20. The caning was in need of repair, as was the upholstery and wood finish. Approximately $300 was invested in the piece to repair it. As it has now been enjoyed for almost 15 years I think this was a good investment.
A velour damask taupe upholstery was selected and it has held up well over the years. You can see the fabric below when the settee was last shared on the blog at Christmas time.
Wanting to create a second look for the settee I decided to have a slipcover made. The work was done by August Blues Slipcover Studio. Sherri and her team had previously slip-covered the antique French chairs I shared earlier this summer.
Once again I used an antique métis (cotton/linen) sheet found in France. I’ve been waiting to use this particular sheet on a special piece as it features a beautiful monogram of my initials. The settee was a perfect choice.
Sherri and I discussed how I wanted the slipcover designed. I was seeking box pleats and narrow piping. She executed my vision and specifications perfectly.
Even down to the darling tabs with covered buttons.
Moving on to other bits of fall decor.
I was asked by several readers about the coral red pillows featured in the family room in the recent early fall home tour.
Wanting to match the coral red found in the Schumacher Chiang Mai Dragon fabric I searched high and low at several stores and came up empty-handed. So necessity led me to break out the Rit dye and play color chemist until I achieved the shade I was looking for. The covers themselves were found at Hobby Lobby for just $4.99 each. Using a coupon makes them an incredible deal.
Vignettes That Didn’t Make The Cut
In preparing for a fall tour almost every little corner of the downstairs of Storybook Cottage is decorated and photographed. But for one reason or another, not all of the areas are always shared in the final home tour post.
In this case, I took several images of this grouping at various times in the day but ultimately just wasn’t happy with the glare on the glass of the cloche and decided not to share this vignette on the tour.
But the contents inside are so worth sharing. This collection of miniature ledgers and diaries were originally kept in the 1920s and ’30s by Mr. Decor’s grandmother, Margery Wilson Wescott. Margery’s mother was named Laura and she also named her youngest daughter, Mr. Decor’s aunt, Laura. I just love living with family history. These particular gems make me wonder though, will future generations read my online musings documented here on Decor To Adore? It somehow is missing some of the charms I think.
Did you ever keep a diary?
Laura
The slipcovers in antique métis are beautiful and give the items a completely different look. Keeping family items from past generations, particularly those which are personal, give a sense of continuity. They way in which you have displayed these family gems is fabulous. xxx
A slipcover with pleats is always lovely, but it is absolutely gorgeous on your settee. Thank you for sharing those little ledgers. What a great piece of family history to have and display. Love everything you’ve done for your fall tour.
Love the look you’ve accomplished! The settee cover really sets the piece off and modernizes it yet glorifies it. Looks like you could’ve bought the piece right out of a store today. I guess that’s why buying classic pieces is such a good idea because they really never do go out of style.
Oh Laura, those Paris prints above the settee. SWOON! I’ve rarely seen any I liked so much.
Beautiful job on the settee. In my house we’re talking that staying nice all of about 45 minutes, assuming no one sat on it (not the least of which is a largely black cat with claws). But lovely indeed. And like you, I really find living with family history almost essential. I love how you used the small journals under the cloche. Beautiful.
These are beautiful memories form and of your husband’s great grandmother! I love how her diary is her checkbook listing incoming credits and the debits going out for milk, bread, stockings. <3 Thank you for sharing these photographs with us! And, I have to say your settee is amazingly beautiful now with its new slipcover. I pinned several photographs to my boards on Pinterest but especially to my Drop Cloths one. It fits! <3 The embroidery is stunning!
Have a lovely weekend and I like your new blog look {and you cut your hair! cute!!!},
Barb 🙂
The slipcover for the settee is stunning, what a fabulous fabric find too. I love those little journals, what a wonderful family keepsake.
The settee is beautiful in its new Metis linen cover. I really admire those box pleats. I do keep a journal, but it’s not a diary of events, more my musings from time to time. I write in it less now than I did before blogging, but I find writing very helpful in sorting through knotty issues in my mind.
Laura,
Your slipcover on the settee is beautiful. I love the pleats , the piping, and how your initials are centered low close to the edge.
Judith
What a great idea to use the dye to achieve just that perfect color. I have been thinking of doing this for some slip covers, I may try it. Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful post!
Miz Helen
I adore your slip covered settee and chair. Just gorgeous.