Chair Therapy 2: The Follow Up & Wow…Those Floral Arrangements

This is a combo effort post.  Elizabeth is writing it, but I, Liza, am opening it up. Why?  It’s hard to gush about your own home and thus I don’t think Elizabeth will give herself enough credit.  OH MY GOODNESS!  Her house is so over-the-top-absolutely-beautiful-beyond-compare.  I think I’m going to have to do a separate post at a later date just about my favorite parts of her home.  However, for today, she is talking about the refurbish to her chairs that she wrote about in Chair Therapy, and we have the after pictures.  She’ll also show us the GORGEOUS arrangements by Jessica Gainey of Eastland Floral Works, located in Caldwell Collection.  But, let me tell you all, Elizabeth is a source book herself on all areas related to the home.  If you EVER have the chance to go over for cocktails, dinner, or another home tour, say YES and GO.  Her decorator, Roger Higgins, has collaborated with her to bring together a home that truly is one of the most comfortable yet stunning homes in Nashville.  This home belongs in magazines: Nashville Lifestyles?  The Old House?  Southern Living?  Truly a welcoming home where family can be.  OK, now I’ll let Elizabeth talk!

Liza, we may be on to something – a back and forth dialogue – kind of like our own chat room blog!  When I got the email from Liza saying she was starting the post on Chair Therapy, all I could think was “thank goodness”  because between states of exhaustion and euphoria, I wasn’t quite sure where to begin.  Admittedly, I became a little obsessed with the home tour project because I truly wanted to get my house de-cluttered and finally finished.  After a large renovation three years ago, I hit the wall unable to spend one more dollar or make one more decision.  The home tour gave me an excuse to move forward.  I love the creative process of finding and then doing (as you can witness by this blog).  However, if I  have to choose between aesthetics and practicality, the former wins every time.  Sometimes beauty over sensibility really can get in the way.  But, when you commit to your neighborhood home tour with three small kiddos underfoot, you better have some darn good organizational skills along with tons of loving, supportive friends and family members.  And, as I found over the last couple of months, I have both.

I jokingly said, ”If I could put my kids in Ziplock bags, this home tour may have been a lot easier!”  Hopefully, some of the ideas below will inspire you to re-invent some areas of  your own homes.

But, on to Chair Therapy 2 and gorgeous blooms by Jessica Gainey.  Before pictures are found at Chair Therapy, the original post.

Chair # 1

The beautiful carved rosewood chair was upholstered in a simple linen fabric with my initials.  Karen Bone did the initials and Stan Paul (one of the best upholsterers in town) re-glued and upholstered the chair.  He added a double row of welting to give detail and definition to the chair.  And to give credit where credit is due, Roger Higgins gave me the original notion to initial the chair.  Thanks, Rog.  The end result is stunning.  Don’t you think?

simple, yet beautiful in a small space

a closer view of the monogram

Chair # 2

Purchased from a back barn at the Nashville Flea Market for $15 per chair.  I also found the fabric at the Flea Market and loved the William Morris era feel of the design- understated and uniform.  The chairs were lovingly painted by my husband and upholstered by Stan.  He added the studded nail heads, called turtlebacks, to complete the look.  The chairs work with my large Arts and Crafts style table and complement the large sideboard.

I love anything that says Arts and Crafts..

A closer view of the nailhead detail

Chair # 3

A great chair with a folk art influence and as a neighbor said, “It reminds me of a croquet set.”   The chair is all of that, BUT, it is not finished.  It was upholstered in Sunbrella fabric for durability since it works on my front porch or can go in the downstairs playroom where hordes of children reside.  By the way, you can pour motor oil on Sunbrella fabric and it WILL come out.  The chair needs detail so I will haul it over to my neighbor Linda Gore and get her opinion.  With a couple slaps of paint, this chair will come to life-PROMISE.

a great addition to the playroom downstairs

The Blooms

Jessica Gainey arrived at my house in the pouring rain with a car full of flowers and two rambunctious boys.  I love the female species as we juggle, cajole and multi-task through this world to get our needs met.  After a couple of Oreos, the boys were good to go and couldn’t wait to see the house where their Mommy did the flowers.  Isn’t she adorable next to that FABULOUS arrangement?

One arrangement was displayed between my dining room and new family room.  It stood tall and beautiful and added a drama to an otherwise mundane space.  The colors she selected worked perfectly with the umber colored roses and unusual crocismia on the dining room table .  The smaller arrangement she created was sweet, simple and complimented Granny’s gorgeous silver heirloom vase.

perfect!

Once again, Jessica’s cool, collective nature and artistic talents won my absolute approval!  Jessica is available by appointment or can be reached at the Caldwell Collection.

In the upcoming months, I will write a couple more posts with some great ideas to improve and spruce up your home.  Happy Fall from the StyleBlueprint team!

Resources:

R.Higgins Designs

Karen Bone Embroidery

Stan Paul/Davis Upholstery - Phone: 615.883.8984

Jessica Gainey/Eastland Flowers

Trace Skin Care, click to find out more about achieving beautiful skin

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