Karen Norberg's Profile

It's a challenge! But built-ins and multi-function furniture might help.

I might not build a new wall at all; instead, convert the current bedroom into baby's room, then treat the rest of the space as if it were a studio apartment, either using a fold-out bed or using a curtain or room-dividing bookcase to give some privacy around the (adults') sleep area.

All about the fabric, I think - inexpensive base lets you afford a beautiful textile

You could do something similar to this, using other kinds of storage items. Eg - I've made an ottoman out of foam, batting, fabric, and a plastic milk crate.

Tweaking the design so that it could be a storage ottoman seems like a great idea.

Hi, Ashley:

Beautiful frame! well worth some loving attention.
Yes, it can be refinished; whatever you do, the first step will be to remove the remains of the existing finish (either just by sanding, or by using a finish-removing product, then sanding). After that, paint, stain, or clear finish depends on your taste & what would work best in your home. The driftwood look is lovely - and this chair comes by it naturally - and if that's what you like, then careful sanding and a clear low-gloss polyurethane might do the trick.

best,
Karen

Such beautiful chairs! I agree with earlier posts that urge you not to stain them. But - I too live with a lot of mixed tones of wood in my dining & living area. I've found two tricks that help in harmonizing a 'mixed chocolate box' of wood furniture:

1) make sure at least one other wood surface in the room matches the tone of the item you're trying to integrate. In your case - it looks as if the floors maybe very similar in tone to your chairs, so you may be good on this point.

2) try using textiles (eg, the chair covers, but could also be pillows or something else in the room) that mirror the mixture of tones in the varied wood. Eg - instead of black and white for the chair covers, try brown/black/white (thus tying into the darker wood of the table), or black/one or more grays/white (tying into the mixed levels of darkness among walls, floor, table).

beautiful find!

aw, c'mon: context is everything. In my own (adult) bedroom, 'before' would be the more charming, but in a kids' room, 'after' is fabulous!

actually, I love all this stuff. but my partner - not so much. I could probably negotiate one chair - at a certain price - but couldn't negotiate a whole sofa....

FYI: if you're into DIY upholstering, another strategy is to have kids decorate the fabric, then choose the best sections for your upholstering project. Of course - this works best for the smallest projects (a dainty but weary antique chair); more challenging when the canvas is larger.

yes on needle book or felt scrap!

another object I've tried is a small wooden cylinder with lid - once owned by my grandmother. It's elegant, fits easily in a purse or travel bag, but alas ... not as good as the needle book(s) I've also inherited from her and also made for myself. One beauty of a needle book is the ease of inspecting for length, eye, & gauge.

Even if your landlords were 'just' landlords, it's not nice to directly defy their preferences ... and I agree that they are not 'just' landlords, unless you are deliberately trying to sabotage the possibility of a long-term family relationship.

Anyway, I fell in love with the guy I've been sharing a household with for the past twenty years :) for many reasons. But one detail clinched it early on: he has very traditional tastes, and he's not a 'maker' or visual designer by training or temperament .... but when we were first dating, he had a gorgeous piece of wallpaper nicely framed and hung on the wall of his otherwise pretty shabby bachelor pad. It was a piece of whimsy - and lovely - and I loved him for it - and it gave me hope that my more adventurous tastes might be fit in with his. So here is a modification of the suggestions about MDF or foam-core or folding screens: if you're allowed to hang pictures, find a large picture frame in a style and color that would complement both the wallpaper and room (or more than one; this might be an occasion for multiple frames of various shapes and sizes); cut wallpaper and foam-core to fit; hang strategically.