September 30, 2009

Rockin'.

Our lovely neighbor across the street is moving. She assured me it had nothing to do with us. (We seem to be losing neighbors like leaves off an autumn tree! I'm starting to get a complex...)

The one and only good thing about her moving was the sale of her house's contents. In addition to scoring a shelving unit for our basement and a much-needed dehumidifier, I bought this purple velvet rocking chair for $100:



I didn't buy it right away, but after seeing this Victorian glider at a local auction earlier this month...


...and falling for it but not for the $275 it sold for, I had vintage purple velvet rockers on the brain. So when the neighbor's rocker didn't sell the first weekend of her sale, I went back in the second.

The woodwork is in great shape, and has lovely detail:


And while at first I wasn't 100 percent sure where I'd put it (oops), after some shifting around it found a perfect home in our almost-completed master bedroom next to the
dresser that is still one of my favorite thrifts:


This makes the MBR almost ready for prime time. The one "situation" that still needs to be addressed is the closet doors:


When we moved in the room was what I would describe as Very Dusty Rose, and the metallic lilac-washed (!) closet doors with lavender (!!) curtain panels seemed right at home in the pink palace. Mike's first reaction was to rip the doors off the hinges. But they are old and charming (I could insert "just like him" here but I will resist the temptation. Oops! It slipped out...). Just look at the doorknobs:


The people we bought the house from salvaged the doors and the knobs (separately) and built the closet around them.

I started my long-awaited door improvement project this past weekend by sewing new panels out of inexpensive white faux linen, which definitely softens them a bit:


Now, do I paint the doors white? That was my original intention, but with all the dark woodwork I fear they will stand out like a bad set of over-bleached choppers on a Hollywood starlet.

Any ideas? Stripping the doors is really not an option, I don't think. With all of the layers of paint on them it could take me into 2013 easily. As it is, scraping paint off the glass took me about six (wo)man hours.

22 comments:

s. pearce feldman said...

i LOVE those doors! maybe a french gray is in order? something light, but not pure white?

Jenn said...

Definitely love the doors, and I love that you appreciate them for their old charmingness (I swear we have this convo at our house all the time 'But it's so old and charming...') I remember reading on this blog http://theoldpaintedcottage.blogspot.com/2009/08/cottage8-behind-scenes.html that she used some kind of primer and then did a stain over top and it looks like real walnut woodwork, maybe that would work for those doors?

Good luck!!! I wouldn't be stripping them either. So. Many. (wo)man. Hours.

black eyed susans kitchen said...

I know this is going to sound weird, Laura, but I would try a deep eggplant color for the doors. If that looked out of place, then I would just paint them with a faux wood finish.
♥, Susan

Blondie's Journal said...

I think painting furniture is becoming a bit overrated. Just my opinion. You can try using a glaze over them which is supposed to bring out the different tones of wood. Or you could lightly sand until you reach a level of stain you like and then seal it with a satin gloss. I have a little sander called The Mouse by Black & Decker. It is so cool. It has all sorts of sandpaper types and a small attachment about the size of a finger to get in small place...I love it.

The velvet chair is awesome. How could you wait a week????? I love it! And it looks fab next to your dresser, which I also love!!

Have a good rest of the week, Laura!

modernemama said...

Please strip them as it would motivate me to do the one window in my house that doesn't match...

Jean Martha said...

It's all staight wood, strip them. It'll be easier than you think since there are no grooves & curves.

The chair is amazing!!

Maureen said...

I love the doors. Love them like they are.

I also love that chair. Great design, and great color.

Joyce said...

The chair is beautiful and full of character. I also love the doors! What about painting them the same color of the walls or painted them a complimentry color? OK just some thoughts. LOL... xoxo

Homes Suite Homes said...

ooo that rockin chair is wonderful! Fabulous blog- would you like to d a blog roll exchange with us?

Maya @ Completely Coastal said...

The knobs are great! That is one thing I love about our old home, all the door hardware (not so much the old windows!) The color for your door? Depends on what else is white. What about the same color as the wall, but with a bit of a gloss!

hopeinbrokelyn said...

I dig the doors! I would just paint the wooden frame around them.

Also, I think it would be cool if you scrapped off the paint in different layers so it had that weathered, "I have been painted many a time because I am worth it" look. I like distress in moderation. Just a thought.

Good luck deciding!

heidi said...

choice 1) strip 'em!
choice 2) take the off the hinges & hire someone ELSE to strip 'em! (elsewhere)
choice 3) Paint the the same blue as the walls.

Anonymous said...

I would paint them black. I love the classic look of black doors in a room. They would look lovely with the blue walls and new purple rocker.

Sylvia

Sue said...

Me...i thik I would paint the door frame the color of the walls....it will contrast with the dark trim and not look like your forgot to paint them....the dark trim inbetween will break it up a tad....Just a sugestion...

Sue said...

another thought....I wuld probably use a stripe or print fabric with the same blue in it for the door panels....Oh I know you just made the ones that are hanging but a print will look better.....but nobody ever listens to mothers!!

Tina said...

totally rockin'
Love the chair and the doors are coming right along. your house is an inspiration as well as you yourself.
T

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I love the chair Laura, and the spot you put it in. I like the closet doors too! Perhaps paint both the trims and the doors the same color or strip and stain them the same shade??

Decor To Adore said...

What a gorgeous rocker! It looks perfect in its new location.

Keetha Broyles said...

Oh my word I LOVE this rocker!!!!!

I wouldn't paint the doors - - - but then I'm old and my vintage were taught NEVER to paint wood.

j.cro said...

You could test out the white paint by using primer, which you might need anyway. If you don't like it, choose another color to paint and if you do, then just get some more white. You can always do a cream color, so as not to be too too bright white.
Keep us posted about the progress!

prashant said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Laura @ Shoot-Scoop said...

Look at those BEAUTIFUL prints on the wall!

I love the chair. LOVE it. So fun and perfect for the space. The doors are awesome.