Tuesday, May 6, 2014

A Wing and a Prayer...Chair


If I've ever told you that I'm praying for you,  I really do pray, 
and here's the chair where I sit to do it.


 It's a worn old wing back in the corner of my living room. I call it my prayer chair.  Actually, it's one of two chairs because Sir Lotsa Hair has one to match.  I pray in mine; he prays in his. Most of the time, though, we pray there together.

I know they're outdated. We've had them for nearly twenty years now, and they weren't even new when we got them. My father had them in his den way back in the 20th century.

Old things have a history, though. They've seen stuff. Ours have watched us raise our family, one prayer at a time. They've run the gamut from the highest highs to the lowest lows.

From praise and thanksgiving
to petition and confession. 

From job's lost
to job's found
. (and lost again... and found.again.)

From college scholarships
to college graduation.


You can see why the choice of  a replacement for them posed a bit of a problem. It wasn't just the sentimentality of it, either. There was another reason why I was having trouble deciding on a replacement.  It's about the style.

Here's the thing: I don't really care what's in and trendy anymore. Two and a half years ago, I decided that I was too 50  for that.  I just want to surround myself with stuff that I love, and I love wing back chairs.  I love the lines of them... and the height of them... and the historical look of them that works and plays so well with my old family pieces.

They still sell wing backs, of course. You just don't see them all that much in the showrooms 'cause they're not really hip. The newer ones are larger and more overstuffed. They tend to come with a grumpy little price tag, too, at least all the ones that I liked.

And then, there's the head thing.

I had a notion stuck in my Debbie head of  exactly what I wanted  them to look like. Unfortunately, it's a well known fact that random Debbie- head notions simply do not exist in the physical realm

Never. 
Ever, ever. ever, ever... 

Between all of that and the unfortunate carpet incident, I finally decided to shuck the new chair idea and reupholster my trusty old prayer chairs instead.  I had a notion in my head about fabric, too. What I wanted was the look of cotton ticking without the fabric actually being cotton ticking. I wanted something more upholster-y and a teeny bit dressier.

 Something like this:




Thankfully,  it's easier to find a piece of fabric living in your head than it is to find a piece of furniture. I found mine at  Peachtree Fabrics Direct. for ten bucks a yard.  It compliments the sofa swatch exactly the way I want it to, and the fabric was here in two days.

Want to see my prayer chair now?


Please ignore the wall color. It's going to be painted.
The saga of Debbie and the Paint Chips is a post all it's own.

And there's this  pillow fabric to consider...


Sure, I haven't actually made the pillows yet,
 but...



 One  living room decorating decision down,
 4,728 to go...


43 comments:

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

LOVE it - and especially that it is your prayer chair - that's soooo awesome.

Don't be too hard on yourself - each change is a blessing, just know it is the journey and not the end result that makes life worth living.

Keep prayin - we all sure need it!

Hugs and God's blessings to you!

Elizabeth Edwards said...

neat change. i'm loving it!! ( :

i think the world needs more prayer ... you might never get up. ha. ha!! i can't wait to see what you do next, you are super crafty. love it!!

Denise at Forest Manor said...

Oh, I LOVE the new chair, Debbie!! It's just perfect in every way. I love the "pillow" too. :) I know exactly what you mean about wing-back chairs; there is a certain timelessness about them that is just classic. No more trends for me either, unless it's just some small, inexpensive thing. In that case, I like to think of it as whimsy, rather than trendy. :) With your newly painted corner cabinet and "new" chairs and sofa, your room is going to be beautiful. I'm excited for you!

It's nice to see the chair where you pray; as Beth said, the world needs a lot of prayer. Thanks for sharing Debbie, and have a great day!

Hugs,

Denise

Vee said...

That looks fabulous. A great solution all around. Looking forward to all the other solutions you'll find.

Catherine said...

I would not let that chair go either!!:too many memories and too many prayers. I feel the way you do, I like my old things. They have character and personality and have gone through all with you.
The chairs look real nice and classy.
Blessings, Catherine

Maryann said...

The chair looks great. I'm the same way about a lot of the furniture in our home. My stuff doesn't necessarily "go together" and the style of some of the stuff is pretty out dated but there is a history with with so much of our furniture (like your chair) that I 'll probably hang onto them for a long while to come. Can't wait to see what else you've got in store

Debbie said...

Let me start by saying I too LOVE LOVE LOVE a wing back chair. What does that say about me? I am NOT hip or trendy either. But when you add on that this chair has served such a purpose,you just couldn't get rid of it. Soo glad you didn't! And then...the new chair is just a stun!! I am soo impressed that you could do such a thing. Was it hard? And the pillow fabric is just perfect. You could make the ribbing of the pillow out of the fabric from the chair (if there is any left and you are going to do ribbing, lol) and tie it all together even more. Just a thought cuz you sure wouldn't need to. looking forward to the rest of your changes...

Lynn said...

I've never been one for fad or fashion, I just like things that make me happy and feel good! Your chairs turned out great-enjoy:@)

Sue said...

I am speechless, well not quite, What a beautiful job you have done, just stop by my place any day, and you will find a few projects that new redoing. I bet you could not have bought any that compare with yours. Great JOB!!!!
BTW This freedom that comes with age just gets better, just ask the Duchess, I bet she will agree!!! ~smile~

Denise said...

WOW! I just love your chair. The fact that I'm also crazy about wing back chairs is just icing on the cake. I think the pillows will be just beautiful. Maybe the not-so-newlywed niece could help make your pillows for you. She will have a little extra time on her hands starting next week and she does ever love to sew.

I already knew those were your prayer chairs but hearing you talk about all they've prayed you through was so very nice. This world could certainly use a few more prayer warriors out there.

Can't wait to see the rest of the room as it unfolds!!

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

We don't want to buy new anymore, we have had our lazy boys for 20 years....need to upholster them. If you had not told me, I thought that was a pillow:) beautiful colors

Francie...The Scented Cottage Studio said...

Well I love wingbacks too ...esp. recliners.
Love the new look and that you are keeping your prayer chairs (())

Janet Martin said...

I've been looking for a nice wing-back chair and they are hard to find! Your new-old prayer chair turned out so well and this post just warmed my heart! you are a gifted writer.

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

I'm so happy to hear you and all the other young girls say you are not going the trendy route! Your chair looks wonderful and you did a great job on it! I never tried upholstery, looks too hard!!

This is so fun seeing the gradual changes you are making, thanks for sharing them with us!

BTW, I used to have two wing back chairs that I loved. They were mauve/pink, back in my mauve and blue decorating days. I still miss them, but sold them to a (young) lady and I think she still has them.

I am also "over" keeping up with the new trendy stuff. I love antiques, vintage, and all that good stuff. It brings comfort to me and has lots of good memories as well. You are on the right track!!

Katherine

The Polka Dot Closet said...

OMG, What a great upholstery job....You are amazing! Lot the fabric wad....Pillow lol! I love that style chair, did it got out of fashion? News to me!

Carol

Mevely317 said...

This chair is almost achingly perfect in so many ways.

Sometimes I want to slap those furniture or fashion designers who feel compelled to change their craft -- for the sake of change.

Silly perhaps, but I love having this visual when I 'picture' you in prayer.



Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

That is really wonderful! I love a well loved and comfy chair and that you could just reupolster it is great!

Have fun on all your other projects!

Deanna

Sue said...

I love your prayer chairs, and that sounds ever so much better than a prayer kitchen table! {that's what I have}
I love wing back chairs and I have a pair that has had many a life. They are currently residing at the little house in the big woods but may be returning to TX.. In their latest redo, I had them skirted and added a swivel rocker to them. I think a chair that swivels and rocks is just about perfect.
Love your fabric and your pillow fabric.

{and hooray for doing your own thing ~ that's the definition of HOME}

elizabeth said...

The chairs look AWESOME! Did you reupholster them yourself? If so, then you are sooooo amazing! ( Heck, you're soooo amazing even if you didn't!) My daughter wanted my mama's old "dusty rose" wing back chairs, hoping to reupholster them someday.

Barbara Neubeck said...

... lovely post Debbie......
Your prayer chair is beautiful.
It's special having furniture pieces with history... and being a prayer chair makes it even more special...
Hugs and Blessings..
Barb xx

Mrs. Kelley Dibble said...

Love x 18. Leave it to The Lord to be faithful in the big decisions for those faithful in the little decisions. Everything looks sooooo nice. I'm sure you smile when you walk in.

Hugs and happy prayer chairs,
Kelley~

Miss Kathy said...

Best line in the post - "I don't really care what's in and trendy anymore. Two and a half years ago, I decided that I was too 50 for that. I just want to surround myself with stuff that I love," YES!!!

Thank you for giving me permission to do just that! Life is too short to be trendy.

I have two wing back chair recliners and one of them is my prayer chair (I call it my "Quiet Time Corner) but I must say, my spot is surrounded by bookcases and books and a hatstand directly behind it with vintage hats on it. Not the clean and tidy look you've got going here. Sigh.

But - I love it. Now, did you take upholstery lessons somewhere? My chairs have been destroyed by my cats of 6 years because my daughter insisted that with these new cats we wouldn't de-claw them as the ones in the past. Big mistake. I hope my book clutter distracts the casual observer visiting from noticing how awful the upholstery really looks. Love your new clean and white approach. Looking forward to more facelift photos!

Joy!
Kathy

Amy Kinser said...

I love your prayer chair and i love that my family has been lifted up from there. So glad you didn't replace it.

Angel said...

Oh Debbie, I love how you turn a phrase. And also how you turn older things into brand new looking things. (Maybe you can do a makeover on me one of these days!)

I have to admit, I too am a fan of the wing back chair. Probably due to my appreciation of history and nostalgia just like yourself.

You did an amazing re-upholstery job and that pillow fabric is a great compliment. (Maybe you could makeover my decor one of these days too!)

I think one of my new nicknames for you is going to be Makeover Maven. Hope you're okay with that. :)

Ann said...

LOVE!

Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

It looks brand new but still has the history and the lines that you love. See how smart you are? And the pillow fabric is perfection.

What I love most, though, is the prayers associated with this chair. Priceless.

Gaby said...

My what a difference fabric can make! Love it! Please pray for us in your nice chair. We are moving towns, changing jobs, downsizing homes, trying to sell house and car all in the next month. Prayers coveted :)

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Awesome...and I have wing back chairs, and chairs I have reupholstered, but I think you did a better job. It looks great and the pillow to be just finishes it off. Now why don't you live near me so we can do business together?

Alycia Nichols said...

You must have prayed for great design inspiration while sittin' in that chair, lady, because the new fabric is the hot diggity bomb! And who says wing chairs aren't trendy? I'm all for the "if it works for me, it's trendy" way of thinking. I didn't even have to wait until I turned 50 to think that way! I'm just a rebel at heart!

That pillow fabric is perfect! It really complements the chair fabric.

Good luck on the remaining 4,728 decisions, and have a wonderful Mother's Day weekend!

Lorrie said...

I LOVE the chair and couldn't imagine why anyone would want to change the style. It's a classic. With the new fabric it will last another 20 years! Great job. Did you do it yourself?
Can I interest you in a 37 year-old Lazy Boy rocking chair that my husband is currently sitting in?

Creations By Cindy said...

Oh I love your prayer chair. So sweet! I have a little place of my own too! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

Gayle said...

I love this post. If that chair could talk... It looks lovely, and I'm wishing you many more years of prayers going up.

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

Ooh la la,I love your newly recovered prayer chair. It is beautiful and I love picturing you there saying those heartfelt prayers. The pillow fabric is gorgeous and compliments the fabric so nicely. Those chairs are treasures to keep, Debbie, as I know there are so many memories to them. What a wonderful post. Blessings to you, always.

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

I LOVE it! It's amazing what new fabric can do - looks totally new and modern. Love the fabric you'll use for a pillow too.

Starla J. said...

wow! Great job!

Starla J. said...

wow! Great job!

Anonymous said...
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Decor To Adore said...

The prayer chair! I love it and can picture you there.

Have a beautiful weekend.

Chatty Crone said...

You have wonderful taste! I love your prayer chair and it is beautiful and so will you be sitting in it praying.

Debbiedoos said...

Oh that looks gorgeous Debbie! I just saw this morning a gal painting her chair. I can't wait to see how it turns out. You picked the perfect fabric and I love the the pillow. Keep praying, that is the perfect praying chair. XO

Sharlotte said...

Oh my gosh, your chair is gorgeous! I love the neutral fabric. What a special, comfy place!

Shanee said...

Since I have been AWOL from Blogland I am a little late to the party but I must tell you....
I LOVE THE CHAIRS! I have a thing for them as well, Wonder Hubby really has a thing for Wingbacks. Love your fabric choice and they look fantastic but I love their story most of all!

MotoGP Anzug said...

Beautiful post!

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