Good morning, friends! Today I'm linking up with Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Friday I've been wanting to share with you the vintage French settee I revamped a few months ago. I picked it up for a song almost a year and a half ago. And while there are people who could have built an entire house in that time, I needed to live with it for a while and work up the guts to tackle it. I think it sat in almost every room of my house before I had a clue what I wanted to do with it.
The very first thing I did was apply gold leaf to the entire frame. It was a very long process that left my kitchen littered with gold specks. I think the cracks in the wood floor still have some glistening gold in them.... This seems to be the only photo I can find right now of how it came home with me in it's very raw and deconstructed state. It's a very old piece. The burlap of the seat was torn in numerous spots which meant the slightest bump sent excelsior; the grassy, straw-like stuffing used in very old furniture falling all over the floor. Someone had painted it this chalky blue; which wasn't all bad, to a large portion of the frame but the original gold leaf still remained on all the legs and back of the frame. If you're a regular reader, you may have seen bits of the settee in pictures from past posts.
Here's a close up of some of the floral detail. You can still see a bit of the blue of it's past life peeking through.
I found this amazing cut velvet pink damask fabric. Now, because I am not an expert on upholstery and the fact that the fabric was not wide enough to cover the seat and would need to be stitched, also, that the excelsior would need to be replaced with foam, I brought it to a upholstery shop. A girl knows when she's in over her head.
It came back to me looking luxe and feminine. I rearranged some furniture in the house and the settee is now happily residing in our bedroom.
March 30, 2012
Your settee came out beautifully!
Posted by: Jean | March 30, 2012 at 10:32 AM
I am about to PASS OUT, Gabrielle. I cannot believe you found a piece like that so cheap, I've been scouring Craig's list for one of these for years. AND THAT FABRIC is unbelievable. WHAT is the name of it and who made it? Maybe they have something similar still available. HOLY smokes, girl. Where did you purchase the fabric? Just amazing.
Posted by: holly abston | March 30, 2012 at 11:45 AM
So sweet and pretty!
Posted by: Julie @ Inspired by You | March 30, 2012 at 05:21 PM
This sete takes my breath away. Of course the fabric is gorgeous and all together it is perfect. Have a wonderful weekend Grace
Posted by: Grace P | March 30, 2012 at 08:23 PM
Gabrielle, that settee is gorgeous!!! I love the gold leafing, and I can't believe what you paid for that beautiful damask! *gasp* I would want that piece sitting out where everyone could see it.
Posted by: debi | March 31, 2012 at 03:48 AM
It's beautiful! You did a great job.
Posted by: Maureen | March 31, 2012 at 08:04 PM
It is absolutely gorgeous!! I love the fabric! What a treasure..
Posted by: Heather~ Pretty Petals | April 01, 2012 at 06:40 PM
You must be absolutely swooning over how fantastic the settee turned out - it definitely was worth the wait!!! The fabric was a total score - simply beautiful!!!
Posted by: liz | April 03, 2012 at 10:22 PM
SO So So So pretty! You did a great job! The carvings are incredible.... Such a great find.
Posted by: Andrea | April 09, 2012 at 12:45 PM
just beautiful. you did so well, the end result is perfect. perfect I tell you.
x
Posted by: sadie | April 26, 2012 at 01:38 AM