The sofa, the Chinese chest, a gorgeous red Turkish carpet (not in the pictures), and those two chairs are the items we will take to our next apartment. They look a bit formal, but we are actually not that formal, and I want to make new additions to our room a little more fun and casual. I would like to maybe paint the lamp stand a funky green or turquoise - or would that be too much? I could leave it wood, but it's all scuffed up anyway, and I'd like to update that old look with funky paint or maybe a neutral base colour and make a funky shade?
And the chair? i'm open to anything! I could sand it all down and keep it as wood, but I get inspired by those AT tours with homes full of colour. This furniture was cheap (free!) and I've got nothing to lose by going bright and funky.
Any ideas? I'm open to anything, and don't want to play it safe - I want colour!
Thanks for your suggestions and for all the inspirations on AT every day
Sent by Brenda
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OOH! good finds!!!
I reckon either strip and re-lacquer the chair and put some funky spotty blue or pink fabric on it. Or paint it silver and go with a dark red or purple for a more oppulant look. And I would spray paint the lamp base white and tape off sections of the carved parts and paint them in a bold different colour. personally i would go blue but you could do whatever you want and the lampshade should reflect the colour used on the lamp base. :)
I'd love the chair a bright, enamel, black or red. Then add a black and white graphic print to a red chair and a bold graphic in red & white to a black chair. Whatever you paint the chair, make it bold and shiny. Same for the lamp. Stained wood should not be these two "finds" destiny. That's for stuff you actually pay for. Yea (!) for rescuing these two pieces.
Ooooh! Too cool! Paint the lamp base high glass white and leave the shade or tie ribbons on the wire. Paint the chair high gloss black or for a total surprise, dark purple (would pop against your red wall) and do a seat cushion in a zebra print or cowhide (my new favorite look!!!). Those were great finds!
I agree - Great finds!
I'd be inclined to paint the lamp and chair the same color - I'm leaning towards red since that seems to be one of your accent colors - perhaps you can find a black and red asian-influenced fabric to use for the seat of your chair?
...and for your lampshade -
Consider using a large ball of natural hemp twine to make a string shade.
Tie one end off on the top ring, and run to the bottom - loop around the bottom twice, and run to the top, loop around the top twice and run to the bottom, etc until you're all the way around the frame and tie off at the beginning. The spaces created between the runs of twine by looping around the ring twice each time will allow light to pass thru.
Honestly, before I even read your question I thought a high-gloss turquoise would look fantastic on the lamp base. With a crisp white shade it would look so clean!
I love the idea of red for the chair (I have a rocker street find that I'm just waiting for good weather to give the red laquer treatment!) with a neutral or black and white pattern seat. I also fully support turquoise for the lamp. And maybe an industrial lamp shade treatment - something metal and weaving looking - with a frosted bulb.
Good luck!
You should check out www.gussychairs.com. They "rescue" similar pieces and transform them beautifully. Their portfolio would be a great place for inspiration.
I would research custom lampshade makers. There's a great shop in Seattle (Laurel Ann Studios) where I've had a few lamps restored and updated. A coat of paint and a fantastic shade would do wonders for your lucky find.
Thank you everyone, thank you so much for your ideas and encouragement! :) I will put an update here with links to Flickr photo of them when I'm done.
hellomelanieb - what a great site that is, thanks!!
I love wild colors, but I'd pull in some of the colors in your gorgeous Turkish carpet. It looks like your chair and pillows on the couch are buttermilk yellow. I would paint the lamp that color and use slubbed black yarn to wrap the shade. I'd put a big round light bulb in the lamp, stand it by the credenza with the big mirror over it. I would try to put a cool geometric patterned wallpaper with lots of red on the wall behind it. Or you could paint the lamp a green or blue from the carpet with a patterend fabric shade with some of that color in it. Very cool red tapestry wall hanging. I'd move that over beside the couch and give it more prominence, and either ditch the big frame with the little pics in it, or paint the big frame glossy black. Glossy black would be Ok for the chair, but with a funky print for the seat that compliments the carpet. Add a small bolster or other pillow in contrasting print. You've got a nice Asian and geometric feel going, and while you may like strong colors, I'd try to pull everything together that you already have going. Good luck!
Since you are moving in the near future, I would be thinking of something a bit more classic, something you could use almost anywhere..
I don't know what your overall design scheme might be, but this is what first came to my mind:
I'd paint the lamp base black or dark brown (semi-gloss) and transform the shade with capiz shells (or something that would give the same effect)
http://www.craftynest.com/2009/02/faux-capiz-shell-lampshade/
As for the chair, I'd paint it the same black or dark brown, and upholster it using material that resembles old linen, something with typography or a huge black/brown image printed on it.
http://www.yourhome.ca/homes/decor/article/756528--vintage-grain-sacks-are-hot-decor-item
You could likely create your own images and transfer them to unbleached linen or cotton.
Enjoy refreshing your new finds!