'Grace'- the redesigned vintage telephone seat

Who says getting sitting down, getting comfy and calling up your friend for a blether is a thing of the past? Social media may have taken the allure away from wondering how someone is getting on, but you just can't beat a good catch up over the telephone (if it's not possible to meet up in person of course!)

Once a practical hallway staple and now a quirky indulgence, telephone seats are wonderful pieces of furniture!

Remember Devon from The Velvet Peach, who had me do up a desk and chair for her? (Click here for the full story!) Well she had been given this vintage telephone seat and didn't know what to do with it, so sent it my way! It was a little scratched and washed out looking, but it had so much potential and I couldn't wait to start work on it!

I came across this image on Pinterest and loved how the antique gold complimented the rich, dusky violet/charcoal fabric... so I decided that this was the look I wanted to channel for the telephone seat!

And after lots of sanding, painting and getting fully reupholstered, here's how she looks!

And with her elegant shape, classic beauty and little gold crown, there was only one retro icon that this piece could be named after.... Princess Grace Kelly!

Now on sale at Lovely Things 

37 Dock Street

Dundee

DD1 3DR

www.lovelythings.org.uk

♥

'Debbie'- 1970s Fur Topped Ottoman

And here's 'Debbie'!... She's definitely got a bit of a wild streak in her!

I decided to go all out and not hold back on the redesign of this 1970s ottoman- white faux-fur, golf leaf + exposed wood triangles and reworked retro legs make this piece sing loud + proud!

Here's the before shot:

I fell in love with the faux-fur top as soon as I set my eyes on it and originally thought that it was in good enough condition to keep it on... but on closer inspection, I realised that it was actually very grubby!

And when I went out and sourced some new fluffy fur, the contrast between the new and the original was quite revolting!!

new vs old... 

So rest assured, 'Debbie' has been fully re-upholstered!

Check out her super glamorous high heels:

 Chalky violet interior:

 and exposed wood + gold leaf triangles!:

And here's a few things which inspired the ottoman's redesign:

pinned here

pinned here

And of course the one and only, Miss Deborah Harry!

With her peroxide top and high-heels, I think the connection is pretty obvious!

Headboard benches

There seems to be hundreds of tutorials and ideas on how to repurpose an old headboard into a bench, but as they are all so different, I'm quite keen on the idea myself!

The great thing about 'how-to' tutorials is that they give you a basic structure and help with the technical aspects of the build, but there is so much scope for you to do it your way. Take this idea as an example- a bench from a headboard sounds like there would be a one-rule-for-all kind of system but, as headboards come in all shapes and sizes, your starting point will be unique and so there is no reason your whole project can't be!

This one is from Mallie + Posh- a clean and delicate structure with fun to be had in choosing fabrics for all the cushions! Interior designer Mallorie Jones has posted a simple set of instructions which are great as guideline. Find them here. 

image found here.

Moving on to The Lettered Cottage for a more in-depth tutorial!

Kevin at The Lettered Cottage has posted a step-by-step account of how he made a rather robust structure for the bench. There is even a little video showing how it was done. Find it all here.

image found here.

 And now for a slightly bolder approach- a lilac garden bench from Pretty Handy Girl. This blog also has a really helpful 'how-to' and pays great attention to detail. Find it here.

image found here.

And just one more link before you are able to construct one of these blindfolded! eHow Home have another list of instructions for construction here. Sadly they don't have any images but I suppose that will allow you to use your imagination!

I'm keeping my eyes peeled for an interesting, abandoned headboard now! Watch this space...