Bergère Chairs

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I just bought a beautiful bergère chair for a master bedroom project, and it got me thinking about how much I love this style. Bergère chairs are characterized by upholstered backs, seat frames, and arm rests, loose upholstered cushions, and exposed wooden frames. This style, which originated in France in the mid-eighteenth century, strikes the perfect balance between elegance and comfort. There are three types of bergère chair: bergère à la reine has a flat back, while bergère en cabriolet has a rounded back. Bergère marquise has a low, coved back which curves uninterrupted into the arms.

Dwell on Design

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Yesterday I visited Dwell on Design, a three-day exhibition of products, furniture, and innovative technologies at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The show floor is nearly 300,000 square feet and brimming with goodies, but I wanted to share some of the items that caught my eye. Sitskie produces a line of benches and chairs made from a flexible network of wood blocks. As they explain on their website, “It appears to be a hard wooden [surface] but when you sit, your entire body sinks in, the blocks softly mold to you.” Above is the Block Bench from the Sitskie booth. Stikwood makes peel-and-stick wood panels in many different styles and finishes. This seems like a great product for creating wood paneled walls or for decorating cabinet fronts. Fringe Studio provides architecture and interior design, but they also fabricate readymade and custom furniture. This piece, The Watermark Cabinet, has a colorful underwater pattern. Ikea hacks are incredibly popular, and Semihandmade makes them so much easier. They sell cabinet fronts, panels, and trim specifically for Ikea wares. …

Oh Hey, George!

Luca Thrifting 1 Comment

I was strolling through Cambridge Antique Market last Saturday, and this handsome devil caught my eye: When I got closer, I realized that it was a painting on velvet of George Washington, modeled on Gilbert Stuart’s famous portrait. It is roughly 6-ft tall. The painting has gorgeous craquelure, but it is still in excellent condition. The velvet is plush, and the color palette is rich; the subtle play of greys and blacks is still apparent. The dealer said he bought the piece at an auction, and unfortunately he lost all the information about its provenance. All he could tell me was that the painting is Victorian. Here is what George looked like when I first spotted him hidden at the back of the booth: I think this is a stunning statement piece, and I can’t wait to find it the right home. Perhaps in a living room against a white brick wall. Or in a library with lacquered black built-in bookshelves. We will have to wait …

The Settee Reveal

Luca Furniture Before and After, Thrifting 2 Comments

My Victorian settee is ready for its final reveal! The original piece was in a sad state, with lopsided springs and worn upholstery. I wanted to give the settee a fresh identity, so I chose an off-white fabric with embroidered black tufts. I love that this fabric is a bit irregular and freeform because it provides a nice contrast to the settee’s formal frame. Here is a close-up of the upholstery: Springs are much higher quality than foam padding, but they are also more expensive to replace. Luckily, loose and lopsided springs can often be repaired; they are simply retied in tight, orderly coils. One more reason to appreciate the excellent craftsmanship of antiques! This settee’s springs were able to be retied, and now it has an even, comfortable seat once again. The high contrast between the new off-white upholstery and the dark wood stain accentuates the frame’s intricate detail. I especially love the serpentine carving along the top edge of the frame back. I hope you all …