Another Frenchy Chair...and...A Look Inside My Antique Plantation Desk

I am sooo excited about my latest find…another frenchy chair! In fact, I think I will call this my favorite find ever! Isn’t it so delicate and feminine? Just perfect for my Parisian master bedroom redo! However…


…it didn’t start out life looking like that! Here is how it looked after I had  removed one layer of fabric…and there were still more underneath!  I had to strip the cushion down to the bare bones and reconstruct it, too! But can you see its wonderful cane back? Sigh!


Here it is with its new  cushion…covered in drop cloth! I love it! It looks like homespun linen with wonderful variations in color and texture! And here’s the best part…I found the chair at my favorite flea/antique market for only $36! Can you believe it? It is in absolutely perfect condition. It was originally paired with a roll top desk…also very feminine…which sold separately. The dealer identified it as a Stickley & Brandt chair, which would date it to the late 1800s to early 1900s.


However, we are not thorough yet! Isabella has a suggestion…how about giving it a sassy, flirty skirt? Here she is checking out my progress! Now here I must add that I am very proud of myself because with advice from my friend Linda at Nina’s Nest, I managed to add piping to my slip cover…a first for me! Woo hoo! I used more of the drop cloth to make it.


And here is the final result! I had originally planned to paint the chair white and distress it to create my version of the Shabby Chic Darcy chair that I have been wanting, but I think I love it as is! And besides, the antique walnut finish matches my great-grandfather’s plantation desk to a tee…which reminds me…


Last time, I showed you the outside of my plantation desk, so this week, I decided to show you the inside…after  sprucing up and organizing it, that is! lol Believe me, you do not want to see the before! Let me take you for a little tour!


First, I want to show you this wonderful frenchy votive holder that I found at Goodwill for $4.00…so Parisian! I love the mirrored sides! It can be used for paper clips and stamps, too!


I have also added my bouillotte lamps that was previously on my hutch. It looks more at home here, don’t you think? Click here for my post on the history of the bouillotte lamp.


If you have followed my blog for very long, this ink well should look familiar! This is a reproduction of the one I found for my neighbor Joyce! I found this one on eBay.


And finally, I love the many wonderful cubbies and spaces in my desk, but no modern desk organizers will fit it, so I have to create my own. I raided the pantry for all sorts of boxes and found some that fit. Thank goodness for grandchildren and their cereal assortments! lol I simply cut the boxes to fit, covered them with pretty wrapping paper and added these wonderful tags from the scrapbooking store!


One interesting note…the top opens to reveal a secret hiding place for important papers! Fun, huh? And there you have it…my great-grandfather’s plantation desk! Isn’t it a real treasure? I am so very fortunate to be the family member who is its keeper!


And here’s one last look at my new frenchy chair! I have been searching for the perfect chair to go with my desk ever since it came to live at my house eight years ago…and I think I have found it at last! What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my finds!  Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special...Old
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for Today’s Thrifty Treasures
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Kathleen at Faded Charm for White Wednesday
Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage for Transformation Thursday
Marian at Miss Mustard Seed for Furniture Feature Fridays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Artie at Color Outside the Lines for Vignette Fridays
Laurie at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie for A Few of My Favorite Things Saturday
Kristin at My Uncommon Slice of Surburbia for the Drop Cloth Linky Party
See you next time! A la prochaine!