Ask Vicente: Vintage Chairs

Name: lori
City: Glasgow
State: Scotland
Country: UK
Comment:

Dear Vicente,

I am scouring online sites for two old Hollywood style arm chairs – something elegant yet a little quirky – that you might see in Aunt Mame’s apartment. So far I have only found one that fits the bill but at £4000, it is way over my budget.

Any inspired ideas for a Scottish girl who dreams of a glamourous 1940′s Hollywood life?

regards, Lori

Vicente Responds:

Marry a rich man? I suggest you try thrift shops and antique shops. Remember if you find only one you can always have it copied. Or if you find some in a rough shape you can have it reupholstered to give it a fresh look. Try checking out theater staging prop houses – maybe they have something leftover from a movie or a show. I’m not sure how big thrift shops are in Scotland? The other thing is to check when people have house sales or auctions. Good luck – I hope you find your glamor!

7 thoughts on “Ask Vicente: Vintage Chairs

  1. melissa

    that’s a crazy amount for a chair!!!!
    i think he is right go to all those places i would add goodwills often have great finds…

    melissa

  2. The Designer Insider

    One of my best chair finds was at a used office furniture store that collected office furniture from defunct businesses. Found two Hickory Chair wing backs for $50 each, $1200 new for each! I had them reupholstered in a great fabric and they were like brand new.
    The Designer Insider

  3. melissa

    i married the rich man and had all the wonderful furniture and an estate and it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be….. a little too, on the material side and few on the feeling side…

    xoo
    melissa

  4. Gary Nelling

    Lori – Finding great furniture at a bargain is a matter of timing and luck. Twenty years ago I bought four Mies van der Rohe ‘Brno Chairs’ by Knoll with the flat stainless steel bar arms and legs for $25 each from my wife’s employer at a time when they cost about $750 each new to the trade. The company had hired me to re-design the human resources department in which my wife was a manager and they wanted all new furniture, so I said “I’d like to buy THOSE from you.” This story also relates to Vicente’s comment about marrying the right person! LOL! – Gary

    PS My stepson, who is now an attorney, worked for a Scottish MP at the Parliment in London while he did a semester abroad in college. He’s been to Glasgow and says it’s fantastic. We still sing some songs by the Scottish band The Proclaimers, including our favorite “Cap In Hand”! Do you know them?

  5. Lori

    Vicente,

    Thank you so much for answering, you just sprinkled me with glamour! I adored that first line!

    Thanks everyone for the great suggestions.
    Gary: yes, I do know The Proclaimers – so funny!

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