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Staging Real Estate

My Chinese Chippendale Chair with One Kings Lane

Interiors

Oh, the excitement of that Statement Chair. You know what I am talking about. We have all been there. You walk into an estate sale, garage sale or even a flea market and there in the distance you see him. It is as if there is no one else in the room but you and your love. Everything around you turns into a blur as you somehow magically end up right in front of him. It is what you have been waiting for, you have waited for him for months, maybe even years and you weren’t sure how you would fine him, online, in a field, or in someone’s home, but you have and he is yours.
In 2012, I was in my car telling my husband to drive ever so slowly up and down a local neighborhood during a  multi-family garage sale. That is when I saw him, Thomas Chippendale.
“STOP, STOP!” As I jumped out of the moving car.
Thomas was hidden in the way back of the front yard, almost by the front door as if the homeowner had yet not decided if she wanted to part with him or take him by inside.
I noticed the owner notice me push my way through the crowd and tables of knick knacks, heading straight to the chair. She followed me.
“Do you like?” she asked.
“Imagine it already in the trunk of my car….I love it. How much?”
“Yum, how about $15?”
“one five or five zero?” I asked, confused as if I thought I heard her say 15!!!
“oh no,  $15. I have had it in storage forever and, well, what would you do to it? are you handy, would you paint?”
I notice her questions were really questioning herself and her decision to sell it. I could see her mind working, thinking, wait, maybe I can fix it up. Apparently, this girl really wants it….
I quickly picked it up and said, “let me throw it in the car and get your money.”
When I returned with her $15 she asked me again about my intentions.
Not to give her any more time of regrets I answered, “check out my blog!”
Well, who is Thomas Chippendale. If you don’t know yet, One Kings Lane has a great Home Decor Resource Guide. It is a furniture encyclopedia at the hands of your finger tips. Every era or every piece of furniture is located here. So, with the help of One Kings Lane I can always find out more about the loves of my life.
Thomas Chippendale was known as a cabinet maker during the English Rococo period, mid 1700’s. He became more than a furniture designer but a renowned Interior Designer of his time.
Chippendale designs fall into 3 main styles: Rococo, Gothic and Chinese. His signature pieces are of the Rococo period.

One Kings Lane

But, now in our era, he might be well known for his Chinese Chippendale style

There are great variations of this style and also great variations in price point. These chairs begin around $175 upto $1200. You can only imagine how I felt when I scored one for $15!!
SO I am sure you want to finally see him. Here is what he looked liked when I picked him up.

My Thomas was going to become an accent piece to my living room. I created my working desk behind our living room sofa (sofa table of sorts) So, I needed Thomas to be bold yet comfy, stylish yet functional. 
I originally went with the classic lacquered black color with bold geometric fabric. 


Recently, I found that a famous HGTV designer used my chairs in her kitchen. Okay, well, maybe she didn’t exactly copy me, but two great minds do think alike. Here is Sarah Richardson’s kitchen chairs. Do you see any resemblance in style and built.
Sarah Richardson

Sarah Richardson
CAUSE THEY ARE IDENTICAL!!
So, guess what, I am completely inspired by Sarah Richardsons Chairs. First, they are exactly like my Thomas but a lighter color. I have decided to re-do them to match the white desk and lighter color palette in my living room. Stay tune for the transformation this Spring. In the mean time, I am loving my Statement Chair. And don’t forget to check out One Kings Lane Resource Guide to research all your great Estate Sale finds. 

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Comments

  1. CJLeahy says

    LOVE this! I had no idea One Kings Lane had all that info available. And yes, I completely know what you mean about garage sale finds or thrift store finds. I become a madwoman when I see something I know is amazing and literally run to it, looking around furtively, knowing someone else is going to make the same discovery at the same time. LOVE the chair!