Home Dec. Ideas

abbadoodles

Love to feather your nest?  Have some home dec. challenges?  Let's talk about it.

abbadoodles

I'll go first. 

My problem is that I live in an historic home (read a quirky Cape circa 1770) with a very narrow staircase leading to the second floor.  I want to get a comfortable armchair up there for a reading nook but most upholstered chairs will not "make the bend" of getting into and up the enclosed staircase.

Short of removing a window and it's casings and hoisting a chair up with a crane, what are my options?  I really want a chair that I can settle into, curl my legs up under me and read on the arm of the chair.  I don't care if it's low to the floor like a boudoir chair but it has to be roomy enough with high-ish arms.

I've heard of some chairs being cut in half and then re-asssembled but I think that sounds like waaayyyyy too much trouble and money.  Did I hear correctly that some recliners come apart for moving? 

JustOne

Hi Tina, I don't know about other brands, but we have a couple of Lazboys that come apart and it's very easy to do. Hope that helps because a reading nook is a must!

I'll have to think about my homes problems for awhile...there are many. ha

~Pam

sahalie

Is it a chair you have already?  Or are you still searching?

Either way it seems the best way would be to disassemble the chair somewhat, get up stairs and then reassemble it. 

Good luck and please let us know how it all turns out. 

Daffodil

On the Design on a Dime and Design to Sell, they are always assembling furniture. I'll snoop around the internet and HGTV.

Anonymous

I have a nice cushy lazy boy rrocker/ecliner and as said above, it came in two pieces.  The bottom (seat) piece and the back piece.  It is very comfy and large enough to curl up in.  I love it.

barbe1958

I sell furniture and with LaZboys that is one of their selling features!

The back is independant of the seat and slides on a channel to lock in place. You can pick almost any chair you want, have it custom upholstered and then take it up! You must have had problems getting your boxspring and/or mattress up as well. Did you know that a queen mattress can get a split boxspring for just a little bit more money? Also both queen and king mattresses have models that can bend up to 30 degrees to make that corner!

Good luck. This is my area of expertise! 

abbadoodles

Thank you, ladies, for all the hints!

Sahalie, I am looking for a chair.  Not a chair I already own.

I looked at the LaZBoys on the net and there are a couple that I am interested in.  One of the furniture stores near here carries the line so I will take a look at what they have.  I used to have a nice LZB until my last cat peed on it.    That was it for both the recliner and the cat.

Is LaZBoy the only recliner brand that comes apart?

Daff, I'd appreciate any leads you could offer.

barbe, you are right about the mattress/box spring.  There is a twin bed in one room and a double in another strictly because a queen would not fit.  I had not heard about the split box spring and that would surely help, but I don't think I could get even a queen mattress up there.  I could barely get the full up there.  Old houses are full of charm...........or something like that.

barbe1958

There are only a very few other chairs that are in 2 pieces. Don't let a salesperson tell you it comes apart if they can't show you!

iodine

I have to say that Laz-e-boy is the best recliner we've ever had.  Last new ones I bought were in 1989, and I just replaced mine.  We get leather and it lasts exceedingly well.  I've had several that we covered and recovered in cloth, but I do like the leather better.  They are now making some that don't look so "puffy" and oversized.  I prefew the smaller, sleeker versions that are still comfortable.

barbe1958

LaZBoy, yah gotta spell it right or it doesn't count!

abbadoodles

LOL, barbe, spoken like a true salesman. 

Okay, while I am chewing on the chair issue, I also want to address a window issue.  I need something to block light/sunlight while I am working on my computer at certain times of day.  I don't want anything on the windows like regular curtains as I don't want anything fussy.  I just need to keep the sun out of my eyes for about 1/2 hour a day depending upon time of year and how many leaves are on the trees.

I've been considering honeycomb shades but I hate that they all seem to be backed in white for outside view.  I would like something much darker like brown or black.  Also, I've been told they tend to collect flying insects in warm weather. 

My other thought is a fabric Roman shade.  I suppose I could make these but do I want to bother?  Anyplace with good prices?  Smith and Noble is on the expensive side.  I need to cover a three-panel French door plus another window.

Thoughts and suggestions, ladies?

Anonymous

I found some Roman shades at Target but that was several years ago.

JustOne

I have a smaller size LaZBoy in my bedroom, salesperson called it Ladies LaZBoy, not as big and bulky as they usually are. Maybe a good size for your area,Tina.

barbe1958~ LOL I'm originally from Monroe, Michigan...THE home of LaZBoy furniture. Hubby even worked there years ago.  Monroe's claim to fame...

~Pam

sahalie

Tina.

Don't forget to check out yard sales and tag sales.  Sometimes you can find just the right cozy most welcome looking items just waiting to be bought, brought to a new home, cleaned up a bit and enjoyed for more years to come.

My favorite chair is a single overstuffed chair with cushy everything and an ottoman.  Home in the home.

Sahalie

sahalie

Regarding the window coverings.

I use plantation shutters which I love.  Tilt to avoid sun when too hot or bright and easy open to let the outside in.

Three Day Blinds are always having sales.  Have you checked them out?

barbe1958

Aha, window treatments. Honeycomb, or any blinds will collect flys as the flys are too stupid to figure out how to get out from behind the blinds!

I really like bamboo blinds. You can get them in any shade, even darker now. The lighter ones filter a gorgous warm glow...

No major hardware to install and very inexpensive so no guilt! You can get them from on-line catalogs or even in hardware stores.

abbadoodles

Ok, will check out the bamboo shades.  I actually have a lined wooden shade in my downstairs bathroom.  Don't know why I didn't think of that.

Oh, the shade has a white backside.  Maybe I could find one with a dark one.

Stopped at the local furniture store on the way home from the market this noon and looked over their LaZBoys.  Nothing small enough for me.  They DID have a few Best recliners, though.  One in particular fit me perfectly.  (5'2" and short legs)  Is this brand any good?

sahalie,  I have shutters in several rooms of the house and I love them esp. at night when I can shut out the cold.  However, I do need something that I can raise b/c I'm dealing with French doors.  Otherwise, they'd be perfect!  Good suggestion.

OLBinNJ

Check Domestications for window converings.  Their prices are great and delivery is quick.

sahalie

Also.  Check Penney's Online.  Great sales.  Free delivery and maybe they will have some solid gold choices.   :  )

JustOne

I have black roman shades at my french doors and throughout my house. JCPenney's is where I got mine...they're always on sale. Around $30. for my 32" windows...great for keeping out the cold or heat.

~Pam

sahalie

AbbaTinaDoodlers.   Any luck finding the right chair?

Ditto:  Window covering?

sahalie

Tina*  How about this one.  We'll come on over and help get it up the stairs.

abbadoodles

Wow, what a perfect chair.  If I could physically FIT it up my stairs I would take you up on it.  Unfortunately, my 250 yo house has one of those narrow, enclosed staircases.  Doorway is less than 30" wide.  So, no luck yet on finding the perfect chair.

Did you hear that lots of house maggies are out of business?  Home, Country Home, O at Home, Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion, etc. 

Raye99

I love that chair! Looks so cozy and soft.  

Home magazine is going out of business?!?!

bluewillow

Thanks, Tina for this great thread and good luck finding a chair that works in your wonderful vintage home.  How about a twin-size daybed with lots of cozy pillows? (and a big strong guy to carry the mattress and bed components up the staircase)

Country Home Magazine is out of business?? OH NO!! I love that mag!  I was just on their website yesterday and found some great ideas...   Why have they all gone under-- same publisher? 

sahalie

Home. Country Home.  Mary E. 

Please say you are kidding *  I love those magazines. 

Mary E. has been around for awhile.  She has such cute things each month.

Country life style magazines are so very popular I can't imagine them not being on the shelves. 

I get so many great ideas out of them.

Country Living is my favorite.

sahalie

To All the Home Dec Girls on February 14th 2009 * * * XOXO.

abbadoodles

The magazines are oob because, in this economic climate, their advertising is WAY, WAY down and they cannot afford to publish.  Their business model is built on advertising revenues.  I think I forgot to mention that Cottage Living is another victim.  They are gone, too.  Some of them are ending with the March issues.  I am so upset.  Some of my best moments have been spent with a cup of tea and a glossy new maggie. 

Well, let's celebrate St. V's Day in spite of it all.   to you all.

sahalie

I can't fruit loop believe this.  My Country Living going oob.  I have saved ALL the issues for a few years.  Thank goodness.  Now what do we do. 

Now more than ever it will be good to share ideas for Home and Hearth.  (wasn't that a mag too?)

Happy Valentine's Day All.  I think I'll go dig out my old magazines and hug them.

I just went to the home page and nothing mentioned about going out of business.  Plus they are having some huge contest for a trip or money. 

Got to go.  Big bike race coming our way and must prepare the half shells of oysters for the festivities. 

Happy Day All !

Sahalie

bluewillow

Ooohh Tina, I was just at the grocery store this morning, saw Cottage Living, and thought, at least that's safe.  Thanks very much for letting us know about CL too-- I'm going to grab all of them up that I can.  One of life's simple pleasures is a new country decorating magazine, especially the ones that come out around Feb. and March to perk everyone up after a long, dull winter.

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!