Saturday, March 2, 2013

Favorite Chairs





Welcome to 
Favorites on the First!
(on the 2nd!!!)
My bad.



This month,
for three days 
starting right now ---
 we are sharing
our 
favorite chairs.





And before I even get started...
I want to thank 
 my sweet blogging friend 

My Photo

Ron at Uptown Acorn
for dropping me a kind email
to remind me that it was in fact....
the 2nd!

When did THAT happen?

Life sometimes just 
gets in the way, you know?





Anyway,
I thought a lot about what 
my "favorite chair"
was to share with you today, 
but I don't really have
one in the same way that 
my husband, or my dad,
or grandfather might consider their
favorite chair.

You know the kind ...
something big and comfy 
that you sink into at night 
to watch your favorite game
or take a nap in after Thanksgiving?

A chair with "history".

No, that's not the kind 
I am sharing with you today, 
though the first one does have history. 
It's an English antique  
 and the needlepoint 
on the back is original.




My favorite kinds of chairs 
fall more into the 
design category, 
so I would call it a
"form over function" 
selection for me.

Love the details.


This chair is in the living room next to a writing desk.






Sharing a couple with you
from my house
and cannot wait to see what 
your favorite
chair or chairs might be.






On to the kitchen.
These are our everyday dining chairs.
Normally I would have searched for 
an old antique set, 
 but when I found these
with oil paintings on the backs 
depicting pastoral farm scenes...
they just seemed perfect 
for a kitchen in a barn!
There are two sets of them.


Seats are caned. Carved detailing.



The paintings were rumpled and aged a bit
before they applied them to the backs.

The seat back fronts are padded and upholstered in
a soft woven straw raffia fabric.

They were one of those things that you see and you say,
"Now why didn't I think of that!?" 

Oil paintings for upholstery usage.
Who would have thought it?




And finally, 
there are my two estate sale finds.
Vintage French style side chairs
that I had reupholstered.



(Photo taken last summer!)



This one was taken today.



They are Max's favorite chairs to nap on.
They sit in the sunshine in the bay window
of the living room. 



Front entry hall chairs




Scalamandre' paisley chair in the sitting area
outside the powder room.

 Now it's your turn 
to pick a seat!


Hope you will share a post
this month with us.


23 comments:

Calypso In The Country said...

Alison, you certainly have some gorgeous chairs! And Max sure is cute! Thanks for hosting! I always love your "Favorites on the 1st"...or "2nd"! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
-Shelley

Sarah said...

Alison, I knew you would have something incredible to share. Love the needlepoint of course, but the oil painting upholstered chairs are so unique. Love that idea! The front entry hall chairs are gorgeous, but then so are each one of these you shared.
I forgot about Favorites too. I'll try to get something photographed to share, but I'll be tardy. '-)

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

You have beautiful chairs, I can't pick a favorite!! I just realized that aside from our kitchen and dining chairs, we have ONE chair in this house and it is my son's and I am just holding it for him. XO, Pinky

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

You have such beautiful chairs! Thank you for hosting!
Penny

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

I really couldn't pick a favorite, but I do love how unusual the dining chairs are with the paintings on the back. Gorgeous. Hugs, Marty

The enchanted home said...

Oh. My. Word. You certainly have a swoonworthy collection of chairs....amaizngly beautiful. I loooove all your fabric, leopard, Edwins Covey, doesn't get better! GORGEOUS!!

Cindy @ Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home said...

I couldn't pick ... they are all gorgeous!!!
Have a GREAT weekend...
Cindy

Pamela Gordon said...

You have some really beautiful chairs Alison but I especially like your kitchen chairs with the painted backs and caned seats. They are very unique. Pamela

Unknown said...

Love love love the fabric on your front entry hall chairs with the quail (I think it's a quail anyway). I've been looking for that fabric! Can you tell me what the name of the fabric is? I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

Jacki
jacki_ste@msn.com

Karen said...

Alison,
No surprise, I love all of your chairs...and your darling cat. I really like the Scalamandre paisley chair but I like the chair with the quail on it as well. No worries about being a day late...your favorites on the first keep giving me such great ideas of topics to post on...for some reason its been a bit of a dry spell, idea wise, for me.
Karen

Elizabeth@ Pine Cones and Acorns said...

Hello Allison, I love all of your chairs! Especially those with the painted backs. I hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Tartan Terrace said...

Alison - As usual, your photos are amazing. I love all of your chairs, but I especially love the Scalamandre paisley. Just gorgeous!

Ron said...

Swoon! Your chairs are gorgeous. I want them all. Thanks for the shout out, Alison! The 2nd is fine with me. Thanks for hosting. xo

Ann@A Sentimental Life said...

The time sneaks up fast, that is why I am always saying "darn I missed the party" I never can seem to post in time. So I am so glad you were late.
My, you have a wonderful collection of gorgeous chairs!

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

GORGEOUS chairs Alison!! I can't pick a favorite because I love them all! Thanks so much for hosting!!

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Oh lovely Alyson; it seems we have the same love for chairs and I have a small collection of ornamental chairs, that I love, even my real leopard skin one, but today I'm showing a real antique one you will like. Hope I'm not late for the party. Thanks hon for hosting, it's such fun meme once a month. Big hugs,
FABBY

FABBY'S LIVING said...

I went to look again and each and every chair is gorgeous..I love them all, along with each apholstery in the painted ones, the cross stitch and ALL..are fabulous!! Hugs,
FABBY

Terri~terrileeauthor said...

You have me at the word: Chair. Hello? Those dining chairs are to die for Perfect in every way and simply perfect in your home. You have such an easy but gorgeous!! style.
xo
Terri

Sarah said...

Alison, I tried to pull something together to share today. We do love chairs here! I took some photos but lighting wasn't good, just didn't get anything worth sharing. ;-( Hope to be better prepared next time. Thanks for hosting this interesting topic though. It's fun to read about different chairs. The ones you shared are gorgeous!

The French Hutch said...

Hi Alison, Love your chairs with the oil painted backs. They were the right choice for your home. You have so many lovely styles and fabrics, all beautiful!

~Emily
The French Hutch

Pura Vida said...

as a chair lover I am a lover of this post!

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

You have some beautiful chairs, Alison! I love the look of all of them. Love your dining chairs. I don't think I've ever seen anything like that with a painting on the back. Very unique and beautiful.

Kathleen said...

Beautiful post. You have some gorgeous chairs. Very one of a kind. I was too late to join the party but I did my own post referring back to your beautiful blog.

Kathy