In this house, I’m aiming for a mix of big-box pieces (the new sideboard, Eleanor’s light) and vintage/antique finds (the striped sofa, the old dresser). It’s a balance between finding what looks best and what’s going to function well with kids around, and there are a lot of empty spots around the place, waiting for just the right mix of furniture. The front parlor, for example, will go back to being fairly empty once the Christmas tree is out of there.
I have a running list of furniture that I would eventually like to add to the house. A pair of chairs opposite the teal sofa. A runner instead of a square rug for the entryway. An armoire or cabinet in the front parlor, and something to fill in that curved window (another small pair of chairs maybe, or a game table with seating?).
I’ve been online window shopping Chairish for vintage and antique finds pretty consistently since I first heard of it. Now that I’ve partnered up with them on a couple of posts since purchasing my sofa there, I have a credit to use that’s calling my name. Some of my favorites that I pulled together for them awhile back are still available, and they’re always adding new things to the site too. And now they have an iPhone app (other platforms are in the works), which is especially dangerous for me now that I have 40 minutes of E’s karate lessons to wait out twice a week. Hello, browsing time!
Ever look for something that you don’t know you’re looking for, and when you find it, you know it’s right? That’s kind of what I’m doing. On my phone. You can buy right through the app, and so far I’ve found a lot of possible contenders. If I didn’t already have that striped sofa from Chairish, I would go for that settee. Heck, maybe I should find a spot for it somewhere else in the house? I’m not sure yet, but I’m kind of looking forward to waiting out E’s lesson later today…
Jenny
December 10, 2013 at 1:29 pmYou are an evil person for introducing this site…I’m now obsessed!
Laurie
December 10, 2013 at 1:41 pmOh dear, that IS dangerous! I think you might be an enabler! Must. resist. until. after. new. year.
Matty
December 10, 2013 at 2:25 pmHello,
I have been a quiet follower of your blog for some time now. One question I have is — how does shipping work with Chairish?
Thanks,
Matty
Making it Lovely
December 10, 2013 at 2:30 pmYou can browse by city and find something local to pick up, but they arrange for shipping with independent companies if you want something that’s across the country. If you add something to your cart and start the checkout process, you’ll see how much it will cost to ship the item.
Ashly
December 11, 2013 at 9:05 amWhile I appreciate all tools available for buying/selling vintage pieces, the prices on Chairish are appalling. It’s 1stdibs prices for common and often mass-produced pieces. While I’m sure there are SOME good deals to be found, if you’re the type of person that doesn’t want to pay inflated prices and are savvy enough to find your own shipping (uship.com), stick to eBay, Craigslist and online auction houses (liveautioneers.com and ebth.com). Chairish is where affluent lazy people or the sponsored go to shop.
Joel
December 11, 2013 at 10:25 amoh BURN!
Ashly
December 11, 2013 at 10:49 amThat’s not really my intention.
Chairish has the ability to be a great tool (I stress this), but let’s be honest here – it’s not where the average person can shop. It blows me away to find mass-produced American-made vintage pieces on Chairish for $2k+, when you can regularly find the same pieces on eBay for < $400, or at your local thrift shop for under $50.
Chairish has been dressed up to be stylish and cater to people who can afford high-end furniture, but want the quirky estate sale items without leaving their home. It brings the best finds to you and you pay a premium for that service. If you can afford it, great, but let's not pretend this is for the Everyman. It's not. It's for affluent people who want to buy antiques and vintage pieces without having to leave their homes, or for the people who wish they were affluent enough to buy antiques on the internet and have them delivered like Pizza Hut.
Making it Lovely
December 11, 2013 at 1:34 pmThanks for clarifying your stance, Ashly. I’ve only had experience with Chairish as a buyer, not a seller, so I’m not sure if the prices are driven solely by the people listing or if they are guided. I agree, some prices are high, but some are reasonable. Not everyone has the ability or inclination to cull the good from massive sites like eBay and Craigslist though, which can take considerable time. I think there’s a need for Charish among all of the other options you mentioned.
Joel
December 11, 2013 at 12:22 pmI don’t retract my burn notice. Considering this blog is supposed to be about attainable style and DIY, it’s pretty telling that all her posts have shifted into “let’s buy expensive furniture for my mansion” and you are more or less pointing it out right here. I say kudos. Chairish sounds like bullshit to me.
Making it Lovely
December 11, 2013 at 1:29 pmI’ve purchased four expensive pieces of furniture for this house: the teal sofa, the striped sofa, a rug, and a media console, adding up to about $5500. Add in all of the furnishings I’ve bought for the house since moving in, and it’s around $7000 total. I’m sorry if it seems unattainable, but I set aside some of the money that would have been folded into our down payment so that I could furnish the house a bit. I did the same thing when I moved into our first house, in 2007. It’s not a pace that can/will be kept up perpetually.
Joel
December 11, 2013 at 7:16 pmi had a long post written about why i don’t feel you are being as forthright and genuine as you suggest but it would involving calling you out on a lot of details about your home and finances that are readily available online, and i don’t feel that would be very fair. i shouldn’t have posted in the first place and would have deleted it if i could.
anyway, as a longtime reader i do feel there is less and less for me at your blog, and i should probably just stop following it. i liked watching you make over your other house. this house seems “done” except for the buying stuff, and that isn’t very interesting to me.
Lori
December 11, 2013 at 2:46 pmListen, if I wanted DIY furnishings I would look to other blogs – I have always seen this site as more about design than DIY, and thankfully so! I don’t know about Chairish, but I probably will check it out when I have time. Earlier Nicole asked readers about doing step-by-step stuff or not – I say, unless it’s reaaally unusual and not commonly found elsewhere, don’t go there for this blog. I don’t want recipes, I want ideas and design sensibility with your great photos!
Making it Lovely
December 11, 2013 at 2:51 pmI feel like there’s a larger conversation to be had here, and I’d be happy to answer any questions/concerns you have over on Facebook.
Aushlee
December 12, 2013 at 11:36 amYou’re the culprit! Haha. I was stalking that striped sofa for two weeks trying to decide if I should pull the trigger. Looks amazing!
Molly Stones
February 25, 2014 at 6:56 amIf I were you I would choose the settee as well. It is adorable. I like it so much. And I read an article recenlty that the settees are fashionable. See for yourself http://www.fashionforhome.co.uk/settee/