One fault that I will admit to having, is once the creative ideas start flowing for a new decorating project- I tend to branch out into the existing areas. So, not only am I managing the lower level project I started changing the main level too!
I just mentioned to my husband in passing I would SOME DAY like to change the paint colors up stairs (I probably should have waited until the lower level was done) You ladies know what I mean, just rearranging the furniture and maybe adding a few new things.......
My poor husband is trying hard to keep up with me.
After picking out a new color pallet- I always start with color. I saw an accent chair on Craig's List, that I just had to have, it matched perfectly!
They called it a "Sleepy Hollow Chair". Here is what I found out about the history of Sleepy Hollow Furniture.
Grand Rapids, Michigan is known as the furniture city and many of the best upholsterers can still be found there. These craftsmen continue to create or recreate many antique and modern pieces of furniture.
One of the more exceptional pieces of leather furniture is the beautiful antique sleepy hollow chair. A chair made famous by the West Michigan based upholsterer Francisco Melendez. He revolutionized the antique upholstery business in the state of Michigan where many leather sleepy hollow chairs grace Grand Rapids homes. This style of chair was introduced by Francisco Melendez to Puerto Rico in the late 1990s; and can be seen in a number of upscale homes. The chair, a beautiful work of art, is tufted with buttons and is usually accompanied by an antique leather ottoman. Still, more than 40 years after his introduction to upholstery, Francisco Melendez continues to create art in the form of upholstered antique and modern furniture.
I bought the chair and matching foot stool on Craig's List, in pristine condition for $75.00. I know mine is a genuine sleepy hollow by the markings. I also was able to call the furniture store on the label of the chair they verified the authenticity of the chair. The color of the leather is a beautiful soft gold. More like a taupe- the photo looks too yellow.
I am totally in love with my new/old chair.
The chair is more like a buckskin color- above photo is too yellow- below photo is too cream: I LOVE the color of it:)
It is in perfect show room condition and a very comfortable chair. I think it is an amazing find.
I am going to redecorate my entire living room around it.
How FUN!!! I'm so excited to see all your creative ideas come to life! I'm also very glad that I'm our daughter and get to enjoy the new look first hand :)
ReplyDeletewow, beautiful chair
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother has one in dark green and I have been begging for it for YEARS!!! Love sleepy hollow chairs! Great find indeed!
ReplyDeleteHi! Good job on the chair, looks amazing. Do you have any clue how I could get one for cheap too? Or was your find an Albatross? Any help would be great thanks
ReplyDeleteYou got a beautiful chair at a beautiful price! The cost to reupholster this in genuine leather would be well over a thousand dollars. These chairs will also be called "Rip Van Lee" and Carl Forslund chairs. They can have either horse hair filling our foam. Very hard to find with the legs and or knuckles still in tacked.
ReplyDeleteI used to be a furniture dealer in Alma Michigan and sold any of these chairs. They came in vinyl, leather and fabric. If you have one today KEEP IT. If you can't find a old one Fairfield Chair company makes a very nice copy it today.
ReplyDeleteI too have one of these chairs that was purchased for my 16th birthday in 1966. [telling my age] I have loved this chair and lived with it through college, marriage, raising of my son, becoming a widow,and now grandchildren [TMI]
ReplyDeleteIt too was made in Grand Rapids, MI. You said that you contacted the manufacturer and they are still making the chair?
I have 2 questions I hope you can help me with:
1. I have had cats throughout my life and the arms of my chair have claw marks all over them. My chair is a high grade Naugahyde. I know it came with a repair kit of another piece of Naugahyde of the same color that one would put them face to face on the chair and somehow heat it so it would 'melt' smooth again. I would like to contact the company/upholsterer to find out if this is possible to do.
2. My sister would like one of these chairs. You said they still make them?
Could you let me know if this is true and where I could find such a chair?
Thanks ahead of time for sharing this information. It was fun reading about something that is so near and dear to my hear.
PS. we did find the chair in Portland, Oregon and it was $7500 for both chair and ottoman!!! It was made with leather, but the grade of Naugahyde I have was the same price, but they knew nothing of a repair kit. [We could buy the chair for the low, low price of $4700] Any information you could deem on these queries would be appreciated. [$75. was a great buy :>)
I too have one of these chairs that was purchased for my 16th birthday in 1966. [telling my age] I have loved this chair and lived with it through college, marriage, raising of my son, becoming a widow,and now grandchildren [TMI]
ReplyDeleteIt too was made in Grand Rapids, MI. You said that you contacted the manufacturer and they are still making the chair?
I have 2 questions I hope you can help me with:
1. I have had cats throughout my life and the arms of my chair have claw marks all over them. My chair is a high grade Naugahyde. I know it came with a repair kit of another piece of Naugahyde of the same color that one would put them face to face on the chair and somehow heat it so it would 'melt' smooth again. I would like to contact the company/upholsterer to find out if this is possible to do.
2. My sister would like one of these chairs. You said they still make them?
Could you let me know if this is true and where I could find such a chair?
Thanks ahead of time for sharing this information. It was fun reading about something that is so near and dear to my hear.
PS. we did find the chair in Portland, Oregon and it was $7500 for both chair and ottoman!!! It was made with leather, but the grade of Naugahyde I have was the same price, but they knew nothing of a repair kit. [We could buy the chair for the low, low price of $4700] Any information you could deem on these queries would be appreciated. [$75. was a great buy :>)
I paid 200.00 for orginal leather with ottoman.
DeleteIt seems to me all of them are really brilliant!
ReplyDeletewhite leather sofa
During my 40 years of upholstering furniture I have done many sleepy hollow chairs.
ReplyDeleteI live near Grand Rapids so there are a lot of sleepy hollow around. I see them at estate sales on occasion.I bought mine at a yard sale and I reupholstered it in leather.I think they are very interesting chairs. I hope you enjoy yours!