my new living room chairs + silk curtains

finally!
introducing....my new silk drapes and chairs!


i have slowly been working on refreshing this room...you can see previous posts about this room here and here. (and see how i transformed my planter here and how i hung my gallery wall here)



first up, my chairs...
i spend a lot of time sourcing items for clients, and, like most of my clients, i am on a budget. i decided that when i was ready to replace the annoying 10 year old leather club chairs, i was going to splurge a little, if necessary. i had been saving for a while, and i wanted to get EXACTLY what i wanted, because i knew it might be another 10 years before i got new ones!

quite honestly, my very favorite chairs were from oly studio, but i don't have 6K to spend on 2 chairs, so it came down to these two chairs from sam moore:
a: the holden wing chair
b: the azriel chair (this chair has several lookalikes, including the larkin chair from bollard designs)

sam moore offers some REALLY nice chair styles, and hundreds of fabric offerings, and, (if you find the right source), really great prices!

i decided to go with the azriel chair...i liked the slender arms and the slightly smaller scale. plus, i plan to eventually have some slipcovers made for the chair, which i will use in the spring and summer. i really like the way these chairs will look with slipcovers:

i decided to go for a simple, nubby fabric, and had narrowed down the options to either "charcoal" or  "mushroom":

i ultimately decided on the mushroom, and for the legs, i took a chance and opted for a finish called "truffle".

i am really happy with the selections i made! i love how the chairs are so monochromatic...the grayish/taupe finish on the legs really makes the chairs feel unique.

the fabric is perfect for disguising dirt and adding additional texture to the room!


and now, onto my drapes!
here is a preliminary sketch that i sent to the village workroom, where the drapes were fabricated:

the banding on the edge is dupioni silk in "celeste", and the body of the drapes is in cream matka silk (a rough or raw silk that looks similar to linen). 

the drapes arrived within 2 weeks of ordering them, but it took us a LONG time to get them hung!

i decided to go for something a little different and opted for a goblet pleat at the top---

i really love how the edge banding is a soft, shimmery, SUBTLE detail.

the room now:

i still have to strip and re-stain the side table in between the chairs and the sofa, install blinds, and get a new sofa, but besides that, this room is almost complete, until we add the coffered ceiling, fireplace, bookcases, and paint everything! 

the right (and wrong) way to hang ikea ritva panels

i am about to change your life.
ok, not really.
but seriously, this is good stuff.

i recently worked with an e-design client who needed some help pulling together a music/ sitting room. she opted for the full room design consultation, and emailed me about 5 hours after receiving the design plan to let me know that she had ordered everything on the plan.
yes, everything.
wow! now THAT is commitment. (LOVE it.)

 since we were sticking to a budget, we decided to go with some ikea ritva panels instead of custom made drapes or more expensive similar options from pottery barn. she has been sending me some updates as things have been arriving, and when she has had any questions.
a few days ago, she sent me a picture to show me the trim that she had added to her ikea ritva panels.

i immediately contacted her to let her know that we needed to make some *ahem....adjustments to her drapes. she agreed to take some pictures so that i could share the before and after with you!


wrong:

most people thread the rod through the pocket that is sewed at the top of the panels, which results in a gathered look, as seen above:
ALSO, the curtains are hanging IN the window, which blocks the light and makes the window look smaller. NO ES BUENO.

right:

i prefer to thread the rod through the loops on the back, which results in a pleated look. (these loops used to be solid fabric, but are now a series of "threads" that form about a 2" wide band.)


SO much prettier!

i also had her extend her rod out a little further from the edge of the window so that the panels hang to the side and don't block as much light.
it looks SO much better, don't you think?
sometimes those little tweaks can be the difference between a "WOW" room and a "MEH." room.

just a reminder:

you are SO welcome!
(*wink, wink!)