Craigslist Chinoiserie

Better Homes & Gardens

Beautifully redone Craigslist finds add Chinoiserie Chic style to this living room.

In Love With Rope

I have aways had a bit of a thing for faux rope chairs, also known as rope and tassel chairs, but it has become more of an obsession after seeing these on The Pink Pagoda the other day in a room by Leslie Pritchard. The gold and the pink velvet are perfection. Below are the before and after. Maybe Linda at Calling It Home can cure me of my Craigslist phobia by finding me some vintage faux rope chairs. Please click over and read this post of mine on Craigslist - you will get a chuckle out of it.

The chairs reminded of the wonderful rope dining room (rope dining table and chairs) below by Elizabeth Bauer. I have shown some other great examples below of these chairs, but I personally like them best gilded and with velvet upholstery.

I think these classic yet whimsical chairs work beautifully with Chinoiserie as this Leslie Pritchard room demonstrates.

Remember there is till time to enter more boards for The Pink Pagoda's Polyvore contest - Art-Filled & Feminine that ends this Sunday.

Leslie Pritchard

Leslie Pritchard

Elizabeth Bauer

Lonny

Italian rope chair

Painted green with Brunschwig & Fils fabric

One Kings Lane

1st dibs

1st dibs

1st dibs

1st dibs

One Kings Lane

A Fab DIY Chinoiserie Dining Room

Self taught designer and TV guru Brian Patrick Flynn did such a wonderful job with this condo dining room, I wanted to share it with you. First off, he loves color. "Beige makes me want to stab myself in the face with a dull fork." A man after my own heart. He painted the walls teal and the ceiling in seafoam.

FLOR tiles were used for the beautiful flame stitch carpet. The table is a Craigslist find that was lacquered in coral. Antique dining chairs were painted gold. Perhaps my favorite is the art - he took Chinoiserie wallpaper samples and framed them. You can read more about this wonderful makeover here.

BTW, that tin bucket with a fern might be the worst centerpiece/table styling ever.

Amazing Craigslist Chinoiserie Find & Giveaway Winner

 I hope that Linda from Calling It Home, the Queen of Craigslist, is not reading this, but I have never done Craigslist. Ever. It has honestly never appealed to me. The idea of hopping into my car, cash in hand, and traipsing to some God forsaken spot where who knows what I will encounter does not sound like my idea of shopping fun.

Then yesterday I received an email from a follower and interior designer who found these Chinese Chippendale chairs for $20 a piece on Craigslist and turned them into this!

This may have changed my mind about Craigslist. But frankly, I have read too may articles on the dangers of Craigslist to be tempted. Here are common Craigslist safety tips -

1. Don't go to the person's home or allow anyone in your home.
2. Never disclose your home address.
3. Use only a cell phone, not your home phone, so that your address can't be traced back to rob you.
4. Meet in a busy public place.
5. Don't meet in a parking lot.
6. Make sure the place is well lit.
7. Meet in a busy restaurant, bank or police station. (Huh?) (Very handy for furniture especially.)
8. Bring cash. (Who carries cash?)
9. Never go alone.
10. Don't even let your husband go alone. (Mine couldn't, he'd get hopelessly lost). (But then again, he wouldn't agree to go in the first place).
11. Go in pairs.
12. Tell your family/friends where you are going. Give them the time, location, etc. (To collect your dead body, I guess).
13. Bring your cell phone.
14. Be especially careful buying or selling high value items. See if law enforcement will oversee the transaction. (Seriously?)
15. Trust your instincts.
16. Be on your guard if "Chinoiserie" is spelled Sheenwowsiree and if the "Chippendale" looks this this -

A "joke" I found about Craigslist -

Guy 1: Hey have you seen Bill around anywhere lately?
Guy 2: Nope, guess he made a deal on Craigslist.

Sorry Craigslist, this is seriously not for me. My idea of risky shopping is getting on the escalator at Bloomingdales in high heels. Sorry, Linda. ;-)

And the winner of the gorgeous Dana Gibson Pink Canton Lumbar Pillow is Dotti. Congratulations!

The Elephant That Got Away

Ruthie Sommers

Linda from My Crafty Home Life emailed me a couple days ago that ever since seeing this elephant console above on Chinoiserie Chic, she has been trying to find one and had spotted this one just below on Craigslist. It is located near her in Woodland Park, New Jersey for $225 or best reasonable offer.

My advice was that I would inflict bodily harm on her if she didn't get it. Linda has decided to pass and I would love to see somebody grab this. I wish it were closer to me - between my house, my daughter's apartment, and interior design clients, I can usually figure out a home for things.

Here is some inspiration. BTW, the tusks need some work, but this could be restored professionally or by a clever DIYer. Speaking of DIY, I never ever do DIY projects and am starting one soon. I will keep you posted on the likely debacle.

This one is currently available on 1st dibs for $3500 and I don't like it as much!

;-)

Chinoiserie Search Terms

If you are interested in searching on eBay or Craigslist for Chinoiserie items, here is a little Chinoiserie primer on search terms you might use. Have fun and enjoy the hunt!

1. Hollywood Regency
2. Blanc de Chine
3. Ming
4. Oriental
5. Asian
6. Bamboo
7. Faux Bamboo
8. Foo Dog or Fu Dog
9. Chinese Chippendale
10. Tony Duquette
11. Billy Haines
12. Pagoda
13. Garden Stool
14. Temple Jars
15. Ginger Jars
16. Blue and White Porcelain/China
17. Lacquer
18. Mandarin
19. Singerie
20. Fretwork
21. Elephant
22. Monkey
23. Celadon
24. Rose Medallion
25. Imari
26. Dragon
27. Chinoiserie