Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Our New, Old Settee

It seems like forever since I've posted anything! Usually I have some time on the weekends to get some ideas out there, but lately I guess other things have taken up all my time.

Today was a Snow Day for me, so I feel like I accomplished a lot! Other than the 3-1/2 hours I spent shoveling today, I did manage to take some photos of this new addition to our home:

Settee 1

This is our "new" settee I found on Craigs List! We picked it up over the weekend. I always wanted something like this, but never found anything I could afford in the antique shops or fairs locally. I've checked eBay, also looking for things I could pick up locally, but there again, most people are asking way more than I could afford.

Settee 2

So I decided to check out Craigs List and, lo and behold, I found this! It's just the color and style I love, at a price I could afford. It's not in perfect condition (the springs are kind of saggy at the bottom), but I can tell it's been loved for generations. The newer upholstery is in perfect condition, and exactly in the color palette that will match the room that will be our future library.

Brocade Fabric

I'm always amazed at how low these old chairs are to the floor. Look at the side-by-side comparison with a modern wing chair! I must say, these two wing chairs of ours are a bit high for my short calves, and I don't like my feet dangling when I sit! But the Victorians must have been really tiny, because I can stretch my legs out and still have them on the floor in this settee.

Comparison

Something you may have noticed in my other posted photos: There is no molding around the windows in this room, and a chair rail and picture rail have been "painted" onto the walls! I did this a couple years ago when I started stripping layers of paint from the old windows. I still need to repair the sash weights, do some more stripping, replace the stop beads, and install new oak molding. The walls in the entire house are white, and in here, I painted them the approximate colors of the Bradbury & Bradbury wallpaper I want to hang in the room, and painted on where I want to install a chair rail and picture molding. Makes sense, right? I just wanted to get a sense of how the room will look eventually.

Missing Woodwork

Meanwhile, Penny gives the new settee her seal of approval! We needed to cover it immediately with blankets because the first thing Penny did was to begin scratching. Bad kitty!

Penny Inspects

My beautiful floral sofa got pushed aside and will have to go. It's in perfect condition because we hardly ever sit in here! I loved it a few years ago when we bought it, but it's really too big for this room, and will not go with my color scheme.

Back of Settee

I have a lot of catching up to do, as I've gotten so far behind in reading all your blogs! Thanks for visiting, and I'll return the visits soon!

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22 Comments:

Blogger Rose ~Victorian Rose ~ said...

Don't we just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to find a bargain...and especially on something that we have been really looking for. GOOD FOR YOU. I never look on Craig's list..I will have to do that I guess.
I really like the shape of this couch/loveseat....and the colors seem perfect for you.

Rose

February 3, 2011 at 6:47 AM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Rose-

Yes, it feels great when I find a bargain! I have heard of Craigs List forever but never gave it much thought. Also, I rarely go out intentionally looking for something so specific. But after years and years of passively looking, I intentionally looked for this settee and it only took about a week to find ths one! I'm very happy with it. :-)

-Pam

February 3, 2011 at 8:04 AM  
Blogger Elizabeth said...

What a wonderful find! I would be jumping with joy to find something like that at a price i could afford,that is exactly what i want for my living room but like you said ,when i find one it is over priced!

February 3, 2011 at 9:04 AM  
Blogger Historical Ken said...

Beautiful! Good for you!!

February 3, 2011 at 9:59 AM  
Blogger Richard Cottrell said...

Pam, I am so happy for you. Some times things just fall in our lap. I am glad you can get this room going. Thanks for sharing. Richard at www.myoldhistorichouse.blogspot.com

February 3, 2011 at 10:54 AM  
Blogger Anyes K. Busby - Studio Vignette Fine Art said...

Hello Pam,
Lovely find! It's very photogenic with its crest like back and I love the colours. I found my daughter's Eastlake bedroom set on craigs list. If one is not in a rush, the right piece at the right price will come along. Bravo!
Anyès
XX

February 3, 2011 at 11:50 AM  
Blogger Sea Witch said...

Oh what wonderful treasure you have found. This settee is spectacular and adore the lines of it. I love the chase of finding just the right pieces and finding them at great prices only addes to the joy. Can't wait to see photos of this finished room. Sea Witch

February 3, 2011 at 3:27 PM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Elizabeth-

I hope you find yours soon! I just wish I had tried Craigs List years ago! :-)

-Pam

February 3, 2011 at 5:30 PM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Ken-

Thank you!

-Pam

February 3, 2011 at 5:31 PM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Richard-

Thank you! I am still amazed at all the wonderful things you have managed to collect for your home!

-Pam

February 3, 2011 at 5:32 PM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Anyes-

Thanks! And I am very picky when it comes to exactly what I want. I usually don't settle for anything less, which has caused me to go for years without!

-Pam

February 3, 2011 at 5:41 PM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Sea Witch-

I love the chase as well, but I have been chasing long enough! As for finishing the room... I should do a post on that to explain why it's taking me forever to get it all done!

-Pam

February 3, 2011 at 5:44 PM  
Blogger victorian parlor II said...

Ooooo...it's beautiful!!! That's one of the prettier ones that I've seen. I can't wait to see your room once you get all of the wallpaper and painting completed:).

Blessings,

Kim

February 4, 2011 at 10:07 PM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Kim-

Thank you, I love it, too! And you know, I can't wait to see the room once it's done as well (LOL)! But the years go by and progress seems SO slow. And I'm no spring chicken, so I'd better get my rear in gear soon! ;-)

-Pam

February 5, 2011 at 1:01 PM  
Blogger Miss Sandra said...

Dear Pam,

I absolutely love your settee...definitely a nice find.
Thanks so much for visiting both my blogs. It's so nice to hear from you. I do hope the weather isn't wreaking havoc in your world. Stay safe, warm, and blissful!
Hugs,
Sandra

February 7, 2011 at 4:48 PM  
Blogger Pam said...

Great find! It would work out fine with short old legs. It's amazing what you can find on Craigslist.

February 7, 2011 at 9:24 PM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Miss Sandra-

I adore your dark green settee and now I finally have one, too! I think much of the nation has seen really bad weather this winter. As long as you take it easy, enjoy what's left of it. I know you're a snow bunny! :-)

-Pam

February 8, 2011 at 8:27 AM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Pam-

Thanks! I do have short old legs (LOL!) I'll have to check out Craigs List more often. :-)

-Pam

February 8, 2011 at 8:29 AM  
Anonymous Tapping World Summit said...

This couch looks definitely lovely!

February 8, 2011 at 9:05 PM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Thank you, Tapping.

February 8, 2011 at 9:13 PM  
Blogger Katie@LeBeauPaonVictorien said...

OOOHHHHHHHH! I am in love!!! Gorgeous settee'!!
What a great find; we found our dining room furniture on CraigsList also.
I never noticed that there was no molding on the windows; but a great idea to paint the colors and where the chair rail etc. will go to get a sense of what the room will look like! And I'm jealous of Bradbury & Bradbury wallpaper! We had a professional wallpaperer who does Victorian homes come in once to estimate what it would cost to do our parlour. Needless to say, we'll never be able to afford it!

February 12, 2011 at 12:13 PM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Katie-

Thank you! I really, really want the Bradbury & Bradbury wallpaper, and since wallpapering is one of the last things to be done in this house, I think it will be a few more years before I will get to the point where I can actually buy it. So hopefully, I can save up enough to afford it. But I was really impressed with the stenciling you did in your home, so much so that I'm seriously thinking of doing that in some of the other rooms! :-)

Pam

February 12, 2011 at 11:55 PM  

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