Can a stripe be used on this chair? (long)

14 years ago

We just finished a long and difficult kitchen remodel that spilled into the dining room and living room. I'm so burnt out, tired of hemorrhaging money and making decisions that I have to live with for a long time that it's just not fun anymore. But...I really need to get this done before DH totally loses it. I know I don't contribute here since I don't have much experience or confidence as a decorator so I feel badly for asking but I could sure use some advice right now.

Our living room used to have 3 zones, the piano, the seating area and the library. We got rid of the piano and decided the library table is too big for the space so that's going too and instead we'll have three seating areas. One in the center of the room, one in the library and one at the other end. To do this I have to buy three new chairs and a new smaller table. It's shocking how fast things are adding up so I'm trying to keep upholstery fabrics reasonable while I splurge on pillows. OK, so now I'm rambling. I have many questions but the one that is most pressing is this...

The two chairs I want are gorgeous and comfortable, and will go opposite the sofa. They're expensive but I found a great, cheap and fun fabric for them. The problem is that the fabric is a bold stripe and the chair has a diamond shape wood pattern on the back and I'm worried this will look too busy as it cuts through the stripe. This matters because the backs of the chairs face the hall and the dining room. I have a back up fabric but it's expensive even with a 40% discount. Also, it's very plain and safe (but still quite nice) however, it fits in well with the style we've always chosen. I'm trying to break the mold and get a little funky but am terrified I'll get it all wrong. I'd really appreciate whatever opinions/advice offered on this. TIA.

The chair

The fabrics: the green fabric in the middle is for pillows. The top left is the expensive B Berger, the bottom left is a possibility and the stripe is right. You can't tell from the pic but the texture is like a gross grain ribbon and the narrow green stripe is satin so it's can be dressy. The background gold is the sofa.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

justgotabme
14 years ago
Oh this is easy Cheri. Go with the stripe for the chair but use a coordinating solid for the back.
And don't feel like you don't know enough to contribute here. We'd love to have you join in. The chair and fabric shows you have lovely taste. Don't count yourself short dear.
cheri127
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks Justgotabeme. You are very kind. A plain fabric on the back is a great idea. Any thoughts on what will coordinate? I could probably find a gold that matches, but I'm not sure about the texture. Maybe a plain, really smooth silk or cotton? If I can't find something that works, do you think I can get away with the stripe on the back?
Related Discussions
Something that really helped us (kinda long)
Q
Comments (6)
Absolutely! While a taped-to-the-floor template may be OK for some projects, there's nothing like 'real-height' templates left in place over a few days to really get a feel for things. We had to do that to get our island overhang placed properly. Our island backs to the open family room on one side and open dining area on the other, with a 'pinch point' where the outside corner of the island comes close to the outside corner of the wall. We had no idea how wide that 'pinch point' needed to be to accommodate the busy foot-traffic patterns that pass through that area. So we mocked it up the actual bar stools and a cardboard 'top' on boxes that we moved back and forth a little bit each day until we found the 'maximum' kitchen space that didn't pinch at the corner. Then we simply backed out the overhang we needed and taped that spot on the floor for our cabinets - which then drove the details on cabinet sizes. When compared to the 'tape-on-the-floor' version, we were surprised to find that we needed about 6" LESS aisle space than we thought, since overhangs do not feel the same as 'walls'. We did the same thing with our vent-hood, so now when DH blames me for putting the hood 'too low' (he's much taller than I am and it's at the maximum recommended height above the cooktop), I can tell him that he tested it out himself and approved the design...
...See More
paint how long to dry in between stripes
Q
Comments (1)
This is too funny! We'll be doing some stripes within a month in our 16 yr.-old DD's bedroom! She's getting the works I guess...New furniture, C2 paint, Carpet/pad, Mattress, Linens,....dear Lord...I can feel the $$'s slipping away...! >>> If you have the time, I'd give it a couple days to be safe. A decent "skin" takes that long to harden-off enough. * I'm gonna do it on two different weekends though. * Regardless...Use the BLUE Scotch delicate-surface tape. * ALSO; IF your walls are textured (orange-peel), get some cheap painters'-caulk, put a pea-sized drop on your finger, and lighlty apply to the stripe-side of tape. * You only need a "barely visible" whisper of caulk against the tape. Now, use a lint-free cloth to wipe off what little you see. * This will leave just enough to "seal" against any bleed-under. It works! FINALLY...Stripe away! Faron
...See More
Please help with soft & chair fabrics (LONG)
Q
Comments (12)
Thanks, everyone, for your responses! Haven't quite nailed down which chair it might be. One possibility is the Quinn chair - I like the rounded shape with the very squared-off sofa, and it's pretty comfortable. Or I might go for a more substantial comfy chair, even the York chair that goes with the sofa. I guess knowing exactly which chair would help. Sigh. Les, I agree that the abstract print isn't ideal. It seems that my taste in fabrics is slightly out of date - a few years ago, there were all sorts of great abstract prints in the stores (as well as sage green sofas), and now that seems to be going out. Amy, I think what bothers me about the patterns on the right is the limited palette. The neutrals and reds together are too, uh, spicy. They feel like they need the green to make them calmer and more soothing. OTOH, a green-only palette would feel like it needed red to liven it up. (Plus more colors so it doesn't end up looking like Christmas decorations!) I liked the combinations of colors in the rug because they all balance each other. And yes, it is Mask Earth on the left! Mask Sun felt too bright, though maybe I should take another look at it. I do tend to like more muted colors... though a lot of them. ;-) The Moon fabrics are pretty, but the colors didn't really work with the sofa. Mirror, too - I looked at Mirror Crimson & Mirror Mink, but they weren't right. And, no, I don't have the art yet. It's just a concept. I feel like if I can't find the right painting, I'm just going to buy a big canvas and a bunch of acrylics and paint it myself! Here are some pix of the sofa & possible chairs: Room & Board York Sofa Room & Board Quinn Chair Room & Board Eugene Chair And here's a chair from Macy's that I think is too large (it's going in front of a window), but that I like the fabric a lot:
...See More
Photos~ What you can do in 6 Long.. Long Days- My progress
Q
Comments (19)
Thank you everyone.. The floor is concrete stamping and hardwood around that. When my dh built the house himself and no his isn't a builder. I met him when the house was just finishing up. He actually instead of flowing the hardwood through the kitchen in his mind it was here is the kitchen let's outline it.. LOL He laid tile in it. But due to the fact we are a concrete company - he decided last year the broken tile had ton come up. Beleive me I begged for the hardwood to go throughout. But then we decided what the heck let's try the stamp able overlay in the kitchen. Kinda a testi..we always do stamp able overlays on slabs, lets test it on plywood. Its held uo good for the past year. Iam just tickled pink I got to paint the cabinets and do my thing. Again thank you everyone fornyour kind words. Carol
...See More
vampiressrn
14 years ago
I agree...use the stripe on all the chair except the back...use a matching color with no pattern as the design of the chair makes its own design statement. Really gorgeous chair!!!
nicole__
14 years ago
I agree. A solid on the back. LOVE that chair!!! From your pic the solid center fabric is a match.
cheri127
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks. We"ll be out of town for a few days for spring break but when I get back I'll start going through the books looking for something that matches the gold. The easiest color to match would be the little green satin stripe since it's so small but this is another of those instances where I'm not sure if it would be really good or really bad. The ottoman between the chairs and sofa will be green and the rug is deep green with a pattern containing light green, burgundy, gold and lavender (it's tea washed so none of these colors are very bright). Do you think a green back would be too jarring?

The center fabric is the ottoman, the narrow stripe is for sofa pillows and the coral danask is for the drapes. (The chairs are in the center of the room, opposite all of the windows so the orange isn't overpowering).
Arapaho-Rd
14 years ago
Your home sounds beautiful and the chairs are gorgeous! I have a thing for diamond patterns and I tend to repeat that pattern in my own home.

I'd love to see a pic of the room itself with a little distance from the fabrics and sofa so that the rug would show too. Your selections are very pretty and a pic might help in giving you some ideas. You're off to a great start.
cheri127
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks Arapaho. I'm out of town till Wednesday but will take pics when I get back. I"ll see if I can dig up some before shots too. Right now the room is in disarray so I hope it won't look too bad.
RNmomof2 zone 5
14 years ago
I would not use green on the back of that chair. When you squint your eyes and look at the fabrics, green doesn't appear to be present. I think most people would see the chair from afar and wonder why there is green on the back.

HTH
dee42
14 years ago
Would you be willing the share the manufacturer of the chair?? It looks like one I could use in my living room. Thank you. Dee
cheri127
Original Author
14 years ago
Dee, the chair is a Lewis Mittman chair called Dolcetto Bergere. I went to our local design center and sat in every chair in the Baker showroom and not one was comfortable to me (I have a bad back). We have a wonderful Edward Ferrell chair so I visited that showroom and when I sat in this chair I had to have it. Of course its to the trade only but you can find suppliers online. If you're not in a hurry, I can let you know how I make out with the supplier I found. The chair has a 4-6 week lead time.

Rnmomof2, you're probably right about the green back though the green stripe is more obvious IRL. I'm thinking a very smooth cotton or silk that matches the gold should work if I can find it.

Can a stripe be used on this chair? (long)

Comments (10)

justgotabme

cheri127
Original Author

Related Discussions

vampiressrn

nicole__

cheri127
Original Author

Arapaho-Rd

cheri127
Original Author

RNmomof2 zone 5

dee42

cheri127
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Can a stripe be used on this chair? (long)

Comments (10)

justgotabme

cheri127Original Author

Related Discussions

vampiressrn

nicole__

cheri127Original Author

Arapaho-Rd

cheri127Original Author

RNmomof2 zone 5

dee42

cheri127Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

cheri127
Original Author

cheri127
Original Author

cheri127
Original Author

cheri127
Original Author