After painting the walls and updating the office furniture, the dining section of this room could use some help. The settee fabric has got to go.
Thanksgiving, 2008In November, I bought a few yards of a Paul Kaufmann floral upholstery fabric (see above) at a fabric store closing liquidation. I used it to reupholster a settee I bought for cheap on Craig’s List. I didn’t pay much at all for the yardage (I think around $10 total), so I’m not feeling guilty now that I hate it.
Even though I’m not happy with the way the fabric looks in my dining room, we’ve still been using the settee at the table for a few months and we really like that arrangement. My kids love (LOVE) sitting there for meals and crafting. Which is fun, but also is sort of bad news for the very light colored fabric.
Now that the holidays are behind us and I have more time, I am ready to reupholster the settee again in something else. I have three requirements:
1. Must be a fun print.
2. Must be indoor/outdoor fabric to hold up to the kids.
3. Must coordinate with my beloved Chiang Mai Dragon upholstered chair. (I even think I’ll have enough Chiang Mai fabric left over to make a long lumbar pillow for the settee)
After an extensive search of outdoor fabrics (there aren’t many), I’ve narrowed my decision down to three:
1. Duralee’s Pavillion in Basil (this is a nice, big print – the repeat is almost 14″)
2. Waverly’s Lovely Lattice in Lagoon (sort of a Kelly Wearstler vibe, right?
3. Robert Allen’s Isle Damask in Dune (prob. my least favorite)
What’s your vote? I’ve ordered samples of all three so that I can really see how they look next to the Schumacher Dragon fabric.
Also in the dining room is this pale blue china hutch (pictured below, behind the chairs), where I store some white china (in the shelves) and my glassware (on top). I keep my craft supplies organized in the drawers.
I am fine with the hutch as it is (plus, it’s not in the budget to buy something different right now), but I still would like to do a little cosmetic update. For the six large main drawers, I like these antique brass bin pulls.
And for the two small drawers at the top, I’m liking the idea of brass ring pulls. I like that these are so thick and solid. Maybe I could oxidize these on my own to give them a dark finish to match the bin pulls??
I have some ideas for art and window treatment updates that I’ll post on soon. In the meantime (and once I get the swatches of all my outdoor fabrics and of the Chiang Mai Dragon), I can make a final decision on the paint color and get out my roller and brush.
I hope you have a fantastic weekend!!
i vote for the schumacher. i used the wallpaper behind my bookcases in my family room & it is stunning. i'm completing *the look* with pillows on the adjacent breakfast nook on my NEW banquette. yah! love love love.
thanks for your note. i love your blog as well. you have beautiful taste. so fun to know design oriented souls!
i'll keep checkin' in on ya
jade
I love the pattern on the blue and white and I think the color combo will look nice with the Schumacher Dragon fabric and the hutch.
Where do you find them online? I was looking last summer for fabric similar to this to make some slipcovers for our outdoor chairs, but I finally gave up.
THANKS!
my favorite is the Robert Allen for sure! and – why not make a tailored skirt for the desk out of it too? also a seagrass rug would look great in there! you could hide all your work stuff under the slip on the desk. and put two tall lamps on it and make it a buffet during dinner parties. i love your style!
thanks so much for your comment today,don’t worry – there will be carrara again, you may like the way it looks now anyway! but there is always calacutta – its beautiful too.
JOni
Jade – I’m so excited to see how your family room and breakfast nook turns out! I love that Schumacher print SO much.
Meg – There are a couple good websites out there for pretty outdoor fabric. In fact if you just google “fabric” most of the websites in the top results will have an outdoor fabric section. If you google “outdoor fabric” you’ll get even more hits. Though those sites are mostly solid sunbrella fabrics. Hope that helps a little! Let me know if you want more specifics.
Joni – I love the Robert Allen, too. I’m excited for all the swatches to get here so I can see how it all looks together in the room. I love all your suggestions – especially the idea of a seagrass rug. I think it would already be there if it weren’t for me CRAZY messy kids! I’m hoping they outgrow this phase soon! :)
Also, carrera and calcutta are equally amazing to me. I am not picky there. As long as one is available by the time we buy a house, I’m happy. Your kitchen is absolutely gorgeous.
Thanks again for stopping by and for the thoughtful comments.
Jenny
I am going Duralee. I like the way that it draws out the greens in the other fabric. I also think that it warms up the grey, and you could totally go a different route if you wanted when you move. (as you said with a can of paint!) I love the way this is looking. Again, you are so talented!
i vote for #2 but i am a big blue fan. also look at trina turks new outdoor fabric line–loving the graphic prints. good luck
I can’t wait to see this room as you progress. I’m in love with your plan so far and your budget sense you’ve used to decorate. I’m keeping my fingers crossed you pick the Brasil fabric for the settee. It will look so good in the room and really coordinate with the chair and hutch.
Can’t wait till the samples arrive.
Stacy
Website: http://www.kidsstuffworld.com