Upholstering with Horsehair Stuffing: The Stately Oak Armchair

Traditional upholstery techniques, using horsehair stuffing and edge-roll hand stitching, make a great foundation for this updated antique oak armchair!

California Karpen Sofas Ride the Waves

What happens when you find a set of vintage sofas with an unforgettable, intriguing shape, but they are shedding foam dust everywhere? And the fabric is too rough to sit on? Well, you put on your big-girl staple gun and reupholster them! Read on…..

UpholsteryLeslie HowardSeptember 23, 2018furniture, vintage, passion, creativity, velvet, chair, upholstery, traditional

City Girl Arts: My Passion is Creativity

I've always craved creativity. My mother taught me how to sew early on, and I added to my interests and skills on my own as life went on. I took up painting canvases and then furniture. Then I discovered upholstery. Not just any upholstery, though…

French Plus Bohemian: A Chair Story in the Traditional Upholstery Manner

What do you get when you mix an old boring chair with new, exciting materials and traditional methods? French Boho, of course...read on!

Widdicomb Dining Chairs: Traditionally Upholstered Bohemian Delights

These vintage Widdicomb dining chairs had quite a makeover! Upholstered using traditional methods, they've got an exciting new look. Check it out...

Painted Furniture, UpholsteryLeslie HowardFebruary 11, 2017black, bohemian, boho, burlap, chair, coil, dining, French, GPJ Baker, horsehair, indigo, painted, springs, traditional, velvet, vintage, widdicombComment

Artisanal Upholstery: Gilded Antique French Settee and Chair in the Traditional Manner

Traditional upholstery methods plus a fabulous designer fabric make these antique French pieces stand out in a crowd. Have a look at some of the steps they took along the way!

Traditionally Upholstered French Dining Chairs: More Horsehair and Burlap!

Upholstering furniture in the traditional way is an adventure not for the faint of heart! Join me as I show you why on these beautiful vintage French chairs...

Horsehair and Burlap: Vintage French Upholstered Chairs

Sad, crumbly old French chairs get a new, fantastic look with traditional techniques. Follow along with me to see what we went through!

Henredon Campaign Dresser and Nightstands: Sapphire Blue Vintage Gems

I picked up these gems more than two years ago, and squirreled them away until I had a vision, and the tools, workspace and ability to carry out that vision.

Vintage Eggplant Henredon Dressers: Spanish Revival Revived

This Henredon Alvarado set, found at a thrift store, was really well treated over the years and functioned just like new. The finish, however, would never see the inside of a modern room.

Painted FurnitureLeslie HowardOctober 2, 2014antique, dresser, eggplant, elegant, glam, Mediterranean, painted, purple, redo, storage, vintage, wood Comments

Art, Furniture and Chocolate: A Vintage French Cabinet Becomes a Delicious Decorative Statement

I have a passion for applying paint. Any paint to anything.

Painted FurnitureLeslie HowardAugust 23, 2014abstract, art, brown, cabinet, cupboard, dresser, elegant, French, glass, gold, hutch, makeover, painted, redo, sale, storage, vintage Comment

Empire Dresser: Meant to Be

The style is well-known. The chunky red mahogany curved massiveness of American Empire style. Always veneered, almost always chipped, sometimes irreparably.

Tur-key to Tur-quoise: Antique Oak Dining Table

This table was part of a package deal. A buffet I spotted on Craigslist that had me salivating came with this non-matching beat-up table.

Mirrored Bar Cart: A Reflection of Hospitality, Beauty, and Time

Picture yourself at a party. There's the hostess, with a smiling bright face, leading you to a cart brimming with luscious cool drinks and adult beverages for you. Picture a big lucite ice bucket with silver tongs. Lemonade in a big pitcher. Then look down at the cart.

Vintage French Serving Cart: Ooh La La!

This is the piece that turned me around to appreciate French style furniture.

Painted FurnitureLeslie HowardMarch 22, 2014bar, blue, bright, French, gold, makeover, painted, vintage Comments

Mediterranean Sea Suite: Banish the Brown

At any one of my favorite thrift shops, I can usually find something great to paint. This particular day, I picked up two items that I had previously passed by on several occasions.