I kind of have a thing for certain chairs. There are styles and colors I gravitate towards, but always I require that they blend well into my favorite cottage look.
Here is one I acquired this year from the estate of one of the residents at the senior community where I work – she was one of my favorite people there. In her honor I’ve named this lovely Frenchy side chair Marlene… because that’s easier and shorter than always saying, “…that chair I got from Marlene’s estate.”
Here is another chair I adore:
This chair was painted in this color scheme on purpose by my Great-Aunt Hazel. I’m not sure exactly when she painted it, but I remember it being in her “utility room” when I was growing up, so let’s call it 1970’s – but it certainly could have been before that. Anyway, it’s a great old chair, still sturdy and very lively. I’m actually not that crazy over the multi-colored palette, but this is my aunt’s chair so it’s staying this way.
I found another one very similar recently at a flea market, and although I again didn’t like the color, I thought I might paint it because I just love this style and knew I was planning to keep it.
Did I mention I did not like the color? I was indeed thinking about painting it, but one day I was sitting at my kitchen table in my usual spot and I happened to glance over at it:
It looked pretty cute, sitting there just barely peeking over the tabletop. A bit later, I had gone outside with my pink long-sleeve corduroy shirt as a jacket, and when I came in I placed it over the chair, and then a bit later still I looked again and saw this:
And at that moment I thought, well now that color isn’t so bad next to the pink. So I pulled the chair away from the table and did just a teensy bit of styling.
And the more I played with this, the more I began to really like that taupey color and all its imperfections.
So by the time I was done “styling,” the little chair had completely won me over, odd taupe color and all.
Together, the chairs make me think of the Dashwood sisters in Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. One seems a bit bland at first, but dependable and steady… and the other is flighty, a bit over-dramatic, attention-seeking. So I guess that means they are to be called Elinor and Marianne.
I suppose I am the only one who names her chairs…?
I don’t name my furniture but I’ve always named my cars and motorcycles. I love the taupe chair. What if you stenciled on it?
That would be a great idea – a welcome message on the seat… or one of those fancy scripted words you see on pillows and such these days would be pretty neat!