Rethink Reupholstery

Being located a block away from an antique mall, and having fabric swatches hanging in the back of the store, we get a lot of people asking if we offer reupholstering services. Also, because of the nature of our design business, we get just as many asking for reupholstering advice (e.g., "How much yardage do you think a chair 'yay' big would need?")

Of course, we don't reupholster here at our retail shop, as this arduous task is clearly best left to the skilled professionals with a workshop and years of experience. However, what I can offer is some insight because it seems that there are many misconceptions about the reupholstering process. There is a great interview of an upholsterer's perspective in this month's issue of Real Simple magazine (February 2012) that got me thinking about the subject.

Here are some quick tips:

1.) Reupholstering furniture probably won't save you money. In fact, it could cost you more when it's all said and done. Buying a "steal of a deal" from the antique store may not always be so great if your goal is to spend less than you would on a new piece. Once you factor in the cost of your piece, the cost of fabric and labor, it may be a wash. Other factors that you should consider are: the need for any new painting/staining, repairs/reinforcements, or new cushioning/springs -- all of which could send you over the edge.

2.) Good quality fabric is expensive. Manufacturing fabric is a labor and resource intense process, especially if it is anything worth putting on a piece of furniture. Buying enough yardage to cover an occasional chair or sofa will be costly.

3.) Reupholstering is not a DIY job. Unless you are looking at something like a little bench seat or a small inset cushion, upholstering should be done by professionals. It is a skilled trade and one can easily tell the difference between a good and bad upholstery job.

That said, there are many great reasons to reupholster antique and vintage furniture. For one, mixing in older furnishings adds character, depth and style to your home. Antique and vintage furniture can possess certain qualities that newer items seem to lack. I myself have had pieces reupholstered for my home, and we occasionally sell refurbished items in the store or have pieces reupholstered for design clients, and the results have always been well worth it. Giving a second life to an older piece is creatively rewarding and inherently eco-conscious. As an added bonus, utilizing antique and vintage furniture will make your interior unique and enviable with one-of-a-kind treasures.

xo, Amanda

Image from House Beautiful magazine. The homeowner chose to leave the backs of the chairs sans upholstery :)

Not Your Average Granny

Riddle for the day: What's pink, orange, and floral all over?.....

Granny Chic of course! And not the typical granny house you've spent countless holidays at, this one is infused with pops of color, quirky accents, and lots of texture. Let's just say, it's not your average Granny, unless your Grandma happens to be Betsey Johnson (a huge influence in this post today). So bust out that afghan and pour yourself some tea, this is going to be a fun read!

My inspiration for this post comes from an amazing handmade gift I received over the holidays.



Adorable right?! It's a cross-stitched, family portrait, that my Mother made of my significant other, our four-legged son, and myself. I'm pretty sure I squealed with delight when I unwrapped this. Immediately I ran home to hang this on the wall, and ever since, I've found myself attracted to anything needlepoint, cross-stitched, bright, or floral.

And really, who can resist the charm that granny-chic can bring to any room?

Needlepoint Heart Pillow by Jonathan Adler. Adorable!

This afghan adds so much pattern, texture, and excitement to this modern bedroom.

Needle point wall decals, love it!

High gloss white floors with granny-chic decor.

While this look is adorable, personally, I find it looks best in small doses. The juxtapostion of the look with modern, sleek, interiors is what makes my heart skip a beat. Little hints of something vintage and feminine can bring warmth and coziness to any space, along with adding a lot of spunk and personality! Don't be afraid to add a little crochet to your space, your Granny would be proud.

-Katie:)

Photo credits:

first image, my own. Second image from jonathanadler.com.Third image, harperkingsley.com. Fourth image, storybookwoods.typepad.com. Fifth image, creativeinfluences.blogspot.com

Spare, But With Purpose

Below is a copy of the article by Jaclyn that ran in this past Sunday's KC Star Magazine. Enjoy!

Photo by Roy Inmann

By JACLYN JOSLIN

Special to The Star

Do you have a guest room that rarely gets used? Or would you like a spare room to be functional for you on a day-to-day basis and accomodate guests when necessary? Many of us only have guests once or twice a year and having a room that is not functional for other purposes for the majority of the time seems like wasted space to me.

Here is another good question to answer: do you use your guest room as storage space for things that you don’t know where else to put? Before moving into my small apartment, I had a guest room that held junk. Honestly, when I went to move I uncovered things I had not looked at in years in the guest bedroom closet. I had to ask myself: what purpose are these things serving me? If I am not using them, not even looking at them for years at a time, it is hard to justify holding on to them.

Now I am a big proponent of editing and an even bigger proponent of not collecting junk. Too many of us hold on to things that were either given to us, or at one time were useful to us, but no longer fit our lifestyle. It is OK to let these items go, in fact it is a good thing. The items could be useful to another person and it is important to not let things stagnate in your life.

I like to move my accessories around every few months. I will take everything off my bookshelves to dust and be sure to not study the arrangement too closely before dismanteling. Then when I go to put it back on the shelf, I purposely try to put items back in a different spot. If pieces end up not fitting back in, I will look for a place elsewhere and if it still has no home, I know I need to evaluate keeping the piece or putting the item back into circulation.

The pictured room is a perfect example of having a beautiful space that is functional and comfortable for guests or for everyday use by the homeowners. There is no clutter, only well selected pieces that serve a purpose, have a timeless appeal to them and most importantly, the homeowners love them!

In this particular home, the owners already had one complete guest room, but there was still another small spare room. It could have been outfitted with another bed that would have taken up most of the floor space, or we could make the room a bit more useful for their everyday living. We chose the latter by putting in a chair and a half with a twin sleeper. A pair of Moroccan poufs in front are great for kicking your feet up on while sitting in the chair reading, and are easily moved to pull the sleeper out.

The room also sports a wood-and-iron side table with a few minimal accessories. That way it is not bare, but also leaves guests a spot to place belongings or a drink. The pharmacy floor lamp is perfect for sitting in the chair reading, or when the bed is pulled out. The small dresser that fills the semi-awkward niche is kept empty so that guests have a spot to put belongings when visiting. This is important! Resist the urge to fill dressers up with clothes that you will never wear or other junk that you do not need. Pillows and bedding for the sleeper are kept in a small closet. Along the other wall there is a bookshelf for holding a few accessories and books, making this room a quiet reading retreat when company is not in town.

I find that most people underestimate the energy that inanimate objects hold. It is easy to operate out of guilt or laziness and think that you should hold on to something because it was a gift or because it is just plain easier to let things sit and not think about the purpose it is serving you. By clearing out your extra rooms or any portion of your home (basement, attic, closets, etc.) and only keeping the functional and decorative items that you love, you will be amazed at the space you create in your life for other good to come in.

Reach Jaclyn Joslin, interior designer and owner of Urban Dwellings Design in the River Market, 412 Delaware St., at info@urbandwellingsdesign.com.

Not A Paperback

I love accessorizing with books. Coffee table books have beautiful covers and images, but some shelves need something a bit smaller and it is nice to have a variety of sizes. I have dealt with many a home where the builder thought it would be nifty to have built in shelves all over the place. I am typically not a fan and have advised more than one client to just tear them out and dry wall over them. But when this is not an option decorative books can provide a good solution, and possibly an opportunity to read a classic such as Jane Eyre or Oliver Twist.

I'm mad for the Hardcover Classics by Penguin, designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith. The details make them so lovely; linen cases, colored endpapers and ribbon markers.

These decorative books we have in the store are recycled old library books. The covers are hand made and come in a variety of colors and designs. It is quite entertaining to browse through the books that have been recovered, there are some very random topics under those pretty cases!

As I am striving to read more lately, I have books on the mind and it is nice that I can justify thinking of them in the design sense as well!

-Jaclyn

DECOrating

You know what they say, 'what goes around comes around' and the world of decor is no exception. I must say, one of the most notable comebacks, originating from the late 1920's mixed with today's clean modernism, is chic, timeless, and lovely.

And the fabulous style that is making an iconic comeback is none other than...(drum roll please)....Art Deco! The style that made its first debut in 1925 with a French art exposition became Amercianized and booming into the 1930's. Characterized by smooth lines, geometric shapes, and graphic images, this style easily blends into modern dwellings of today.

Notice above, the graphic color palette, architectural detailing surrounding the windows, and the simple lines repeating in the upholstery. Love that Zebra dome chair on the left? We have access to a similar style here at Urban Dwellings!

Graphic lines of the headboard paired with a ultra cool pattern makes the Deco bed from Dwell Studio both Art Deco inspired and totally awesome.

The Donnabella Mirror from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams is classic Art Deco with its silver leafed glass and black inlay.

Art Deco is even making a comeback in jewelery. Check out these fabulous earrings from Scarlett Garnet Jewelry.

The Celia sofa from MG+BW plays up the original french Art Deco style with a graceful camel back.

This little beauty is new to the store, and one of my favorites from Regina Andrews. The simplicity and clean lines make it easy to add a little Art Deco to any space.

-Katie

Images: First image, access.decorati.com.

Holiday Decorating...Naturally

This post comes a little late in the game, as I am not known for exceptional holiday decorating skills (however I am working at improving this!). I have never had a real tree before and this year I decided to put one in the store. A 7-8' white pine was just the tree for my first go at this.

Amanda had ordered us some great ornaments that we are selling and mixed with some others I bought at Target a few years ago our tree was coming along. But what for the top? After a few days of brainstorming I had an idea. Remember the lovely Book Wreath we made for the DIFFA auction? That could be done in the fashion of a tree topper! I put my talented assistant, Katie to work on it and within about an hour or so she whipped this beauty up!

I call the style of our tree "Naturally Modern". It is simple and holds its own done sparsely but could also be layered with more for a bigger impact.

A burlap skirt with some shiny gold & silver wrapped presents is pretty.

The hand carved owls, silvery/gold orbs and bells are for sale at the store (click here to see an up close image with pricing or to order). The white balls, pinecones and small mercury glass ornaments are from Target.

The tree topper is made from rolled up and hot glued pages of a book.

Enjoy the season,

Jaclyn

Something BIG

I have been up to something big for a while now. Circumstances arose that made me consider a name change for Urban Dwellings Design. Admittedly in the beginning I was resistant and wanted to stand my ground. Then I had a shift in thought--there is good in this, I just have to find it. Sure enough it hit me on the head one day, after a phone call with a potential client. I had heard it before, but not really HEARD it.

The word "Urban" was not resonating with a portion of potential customers. People were assuming because of the word urban that the selections at Urban Dwellings would be too modern, contemporary or um..urban.

I chose the name Urban Dwellings because I wanted to juxtapose two different concepts--urban being more modern and dwellings being more rustic or old. This was and continues to be my approach to design. And while I still love the name and the concept of it, more than one instance guided me into going forward with a name change.

Coming up with a name is not easy. I thought long and hard the first time around and this second time was no exception. But I could not be happier with the new name--I think it represents the lines and style that we have become know for to a T. It also represents the direction I will continue to take with the store and my design work-chic, sophisticated, coveted and most importantly, livable.

So here it is, the new name, complete with a gorgeous logo and tag line. I could not be more thrilled!

We are currently still operating under Urban Dwellings Design and will gradually make the shift over the next several months into The Coveted Home. Stay in touch to see the full transformation take place!

-Jaclyn