Eastlake Settee Reconstructed … Finally!
14April 2, 2015 by Terry
Sooooooo … THIS is what we started with … over 100 years old, filled with horse hair and straw … and less than classy material covering it!
It had it’s inners falling out…
… and just needed new life overall!
So she got new paint, and wax and new insides…
Before…
Now…
I had a little difficulty deciding on what type of dress she would wear, and struggled with the color and whether or not it should have a print or just be a simple plain fabric in one solid color. I even had the back upholstered at one point in what I thought would be best but then ended up ripping it apart and starting over…
1st attempt (before I decided on antiquing wax to enrich the color of the paint)…
I didn’t like how bland and flat the frame looked and I didn’t like that the material sort of had a pinkish hew to it against the Grain sack colored milk paint.
Sooooooo, I found this lovely burlap in a tight weave and it was perfect! Especially after I went over the frame with antiquing wax. It really gave it the class it deserved. I absolutely love how it turned out and once again ended up wishing this piece was mine to keep!
Now…
I had found the tag from the furniture company on the inside of the frame after I had gutted it and discovered that it was made by the Morlock Brothers furniture company in Guelph, Ontario in the early 1900’s. Instead of hiding that tag back inside the piece, I decided that it would make it a little more historic / special for the future owners if they could see it so I adhered it to the outer back of the settee using bonding agent and a few coats of MMS tough coat sealer. I love that it’s origin and date is in plain view now!
All I can hope for is that I have done justice to her in her new form. I know this is not how she was made to be originally, but I do think she is absolutely stunning for 100+ yrs! I hope she goes on for 100 more :)
I also hope she is appreciated and treated well where ever she goes to live!
Smiles!
Terry
Linking up to:
The Curators Collection 
Beautiful! Love the trimming and the distressing. Just beautiful in every aspect. The tag…a perfect touch. My project…well lets just say…hmmm, I better not quit sewing, my day job :-)
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Thank you Linda! I bet your project isn’t so bad at all, we are always harder on ourselves than we need to be :) Plus things always go through a yucky stage before they become pretty again :) and if you can’t reach the pretty stage on your own, then at least you’ve tried!
Happy Easter!
Smiles!
Terry
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Terry, As always, beautifully done! She is still a very classy lady and hopefully she will live on for another 100+ years. I love how you incorporated the tag. To me finding out the history of the piece is half the fun of helping to bring it back to life. Thanks for continuing to inspire and adding your mark on history!
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Thank you so much for your kind compliments! I was so excited to have found the tag, it was barely on and fell off when I touched it. I don’t know how it stayed on for so many years. It was so dry and brittle a little corner of it broke off, but at least it can stay with the settee and everyone will know her history :)
Happy Easter!
Smiles!
Terry
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She has beautiful legs! Nice job missy – never disappointing always classy. Still staring at the chair I need to tackle…..I’ll have to re read all your upholstery posts! Happy Easter to you
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Thank you dearie! You have a Blessed Easter as well :0)
XXX
Smiles!
Terry
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That was an ambitious project, and it turned out beautifully! And I love what you did with the tag :)
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WOW! What an AMAZING job you’ve done! I absolutely love it and putting the tag on the outside was totally inspired. BRILLIANT!
Judi in the UK
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Thank you Judi! I wish I could’ve kept it but it belongs to someone else … :( Thank you for taking the time to comment and for being a faithful reader for over a year now :) I really appreciate your visits!
Happy Easter to you!
Smiles!
Terry
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Wow!!! That is one big transformation. Absolutely stunning!!!
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Thank you Tara! I wish I could have kept it :) Hope you have a great weekend!
Smiles!
Terry
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Came over from Miss Mustard seed…beautiful!! I
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Thank you! & Thanks for stopping in, I hope you come again :)
Smiles!
Terry
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Your settee turned out beautifully!! I’m loving your choice of off white! Now that I know what Eastlake furniture is, I’m enjoying seeing what everyone is doing with their pieces.
I recently acquired an Eastlake Bustle bench. I bought it because I thought it was cute. I had no idea what I had, or how old it was. It took me a little bit of investigating to realize its age! It had the same thing, horse hair and pine straw. It had been covered over once and they had covered over the bottom wood frame. I wanted to bring it back to the original design it was supposed to have. But too many nail holes, etc. After debating on to paint or not to paint it, I stained it a dark Java with gel stain. I’m having it covered in a nice red chenille to add a pop of color to my bedroom. I can’t wait for the upholsterer to finish with it. Thanks for sharing!
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