Maryann Roy’s fashion doll den is provides some decorating inspiration, although you must be no taller than 12″ to actually sit on one of those bolstered benches. I like the acrylic panels set into the paneling. On sale for $150.  Suitable for 12″ fashion dolls. www.maryannroy.com

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Reader Lara spotted this amazing green brocade mid-century sectional, available from Etsy seller RedEyeVintage. The sofa is in Portland, Maine, and it’s $4,600. To be sure, that is a lot of money — but I have never seen a sectional this beautiful. And apparently it’s in phenomenal shape – kept under the proverbial plastic slip covers for years. Note the variation in the tufting on the sofa back. It also has side table built in at one end, and the ottoman converts to a coffee table. This one – pure lust. Update: Seller Marnie is thrilled I’m featuring this. If you are really interested – mention this site and she will take $250 off the purchase price.

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This vintage auto upholstery for 50s and 60s Fords, Chevys and Chryslers would be good for any number of upholstery projects – and each design appears to be available in multiple yardages, at a reasonable price. There is certainly nothing more durable than auto upholstery. I love the colors and textures, too.

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Someone in my house collects both new and vintage souvenir spoons. Someday, I think we must have them all transformed into a chandelier like this one by Australian artist Suzy Stanford. Ms. Stanford also upholsters vintage club chairs by patching together vintage tea towels. Love love love these big cozy hugs of chair. We have a nice little collection of tea towels going, too — but I actually use them to dry dishes, they are the best.

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I RECENTLY STUMBLED upon this company, C.F. Stinson, which seems to carry upholstery weight vinyl in about 2000 styles and colors. I am not kidding. For example, this very classic, retro-style “Avant” line, which reminds me of vintage naugahyde, comes in 110 colors alone. Surely one is just right to reupholster your vintage Daystrom or Arvin dinette? In addition, there are many other more ‘decorative’ styles.

Interestingly, I also seem to get questions from folks renovating their canned hams (trailers) about where to find vinyl or naugahyde. The catch, however, is that this C.F. Stinson supply is all “contract” – that is, sold only to designers, “the trade.” And I fear you may need to order 30 yards or something. To check this out, I suggest you work directly with an upholstery shop. The website is pretty terrific – lots of fun to browse around. There’s also an outlet store with smaller yardages available (contract only).

If you’re looking for vinyl and want to try other routes… Well, I have not done any more research on this question, but I think that you can have some luck at very large upholstery stores. Every region seems to have at least one. There’s a really big one an hour from me in Springfield, Mass. Osgoods. Blinding inventory. Be sure to eat protein beforehand or you will pass out from the exhaustion of it all. We also used to have a big Waverly outlet about 45 minutes north. They had GREAT stuff. It went out of business but I think that the chain still exists. If you’re looking for a specific fabric – vinyl, or vinyl in a specific color, best to call first before driving an hour. I’ve generally found the folks who work at these stores very nice and helpful – but alas, quite overworked. So, sometimes, you just gotta get in the car and drive and see what the retro decorating gods want to send you.

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DO YOU HAVE FURNITURE that needs new legs? Or maybe you want to build an off-the-floor TV stand or bookshelf or…?

Well, reader Noah sent in this great find: Tapered legs…and Angled Mounting Plates…that can be found at Lowe’s and then used to update any piece of furniture. Inexpensive – stylish – and fun. You should see the TV stand he built in no time at all – terrific!

Noah writes:

Hey! So for an upcoming project, I am looking to use hairpin legs, but I also like the angled tapered circular legs on pieces of retro furniture that are extremely hard to find (paul mccobb desk, and many more)…

So I went to Lowe’s where they totally have those legs, in 5.5″, 4″, and something like 1.5′! They even have angled mounting plates that install into wood with ease! Maybe everyone already knew about these and I’m just overcoming some naive first stage of crafting, which could be understandable, but I was so into them that I had to tell you. Anyways, here’s a link to how I used them!:

Thanks, Noah – if you’re naive then I am, too, because I’d have never thunk to look for this.  You are super handy, and I love your blog and have added it to the blogroll!

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Today is Woodard patio furniture day – with this feature on current styles still made. My local furniture store has sets of new Woodard in stock, and I really liked the quality and the look. And to be sure, it’s nice to get the new enamel finish. My only nit with the new stock is that I believe the scale is significantly larger than vintage Woodard. The smaller scale seems better, in my view. But either way, new or vintage, these are great picks for your patio, deck, or porch.

Take a look at their Briarwood collection… and Windflower Mesh collection. And, see the Café Collection, Dining Tables and Tables & Accessories links on these pages for tables and other pieces in the same mesh wrought iron – without the decorative flowers that differentiate the two collections above.

Link to Woodard site.

This post was originally published on Oct. 15, 2007

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Shelly found a wonderful Danish Modern side chair and wants some ideas for upholstery. She writes:

Hey there!
Just wanted to share my $8.50 Goodwill find….the original upholstery was still in tact on the seat, but unfortunately gone from the top…it’s marked Dux, original import made in Sweden…I would love to know more about it, and what fabric you think would be appropriate for reupholstering???  Thanks so much! Shelly

Shelly, as far as the “Dux” goes – I did a little online research and immediately turned up this example of what looks like your chair. It is a Scandinavian Modern design design in teak by Folke Ohlsson, who started the company Dux in 1953. This short biography here indicates that he is also credited with creating the concept of knock down, or KD furniture — pieces that can be flattened for shipment then reassembled at their final destination. Looks like you have acquired a little piece of mid century modern furniture history at a bargain price!

As far as upholstery goes, I think you have many options. But how about this for a start: Reader Femme1 gets points for advising that she has found Maraham upholstery on ebay for cheap. I checked recently – and found the two styles shown here on sale. These particular lots did not sell (there was a lot of yardage involved), but the starting price was totally reasonable given the top-notch quality of this stuff.

Another option:  Estate sales. If you put your retro vibe out there, and give it some time, you should be able to find fabric that works for you. One note: I tend to prefer woven designs for upholstery – they stand up to much more wear and tear. Printed designs (such as barkcloths) are not as durable. Good luck and let us know how it turns

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You can now see the entire  Drexel Profile furniture line – including five pages of upholstered furniture from 1959 and more than 20 pages of case goods from 1960 – available in our growing Furniture Favorites section. Thank to Femme1 for nabbing the additional images of the upholstered pieces from the nice folks at Drexel Heritage. And readers – keep letting me know of your favorite brands. I want to keep building the furniture history wonderland this year. Click thru here if you want a quick look at the upholstered pieces – I promise, they are delicious – absolute classics that everyone is mimicking today! Upholstered pieces from the 1959,  Drexel Profile catalog now added to the Drexel Profile history page:

 

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Thanks to Femme1 for obtaining a first solid dose of info and history on the Drexel Profile line – including this complete 1960 catalog, courtesy of the excellent customer service at Drexel Heritage.  I’ve now started a stand-alone page on the line, which you can check out anytime.

Click thru here for info on the designer John Van Koert and a 23-photo catalog from 1960…and check back on the Profile Page anytime for future updates.Drexel Profile:

The Drexel Profile furniture collection was designed by John Van Koert, and it was in production from 1955 to 1961. Van Koert started out as a jewelry designer for Harry Winston after WWII and later branched into industrial design. He also is well known for designing silver for Towle, particularly the Contour design; his particular attention to the drawer pulls and other hardware on Profile pieces is noted in the catalog.  Femme1 owns the walnut dining table and chairs #K40, and the round extension table, with #K62, the side chairs.

Tip: Click on an actual thumbnail – it will open quite large, and you can continue the slide show from there.

1960 catalog – complete:

 

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