I was featured on the front page of HOUZZ.COM

WOW I was featured on the front page of HOUZZ.COM . A wonderful design website for designers.
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/1772190/list/Art-Rises-to-Staircase-Challenge
It was a feature on staircases. It featured my home picture of my own staircase.
I have uploaded pics of my home first, them pics of my store and items I have made for sale in my store. I have gotten many clients from these pictures and uploads.
I am so proud of my accomplishments and all I have done. My hard work has paid off and it shows in what I have done all these years. My business has steadily grown and I am so incredibly happy. Here is the pic of the HOUZZ.COM staircase pic of my home and new pics of my store. enjoy :-)

New Store expansion Vintage Chic Furniture Schenectady NY Bigger Better

Hi , so happy to share with you some pictures of my new store expansion. I was lucky enough to get the store next door, which i secretly prayed for for almost 2 years.
These pictures from February 1st. my grand opening party. Taken by Thea Coughlin- A FABULOUS child photographer specializing in newborns. I collaborate with her using my furniture for photo shoots.
My store is 1100 sq ft. however the store showroom is only 600 sq ft
Too small for selling furniture.
The rest is taken up by my office/ sewing area, then my workshop in the back- "where all the magic happens" LOL
I have had so many more customers in since I reopened. Its amazing how that big window gives me so much more exposure. Sooooo happy.
See my online store www.vintagechicfurniture.etsy.com
Much health, wealth and happiness to all :-)

Does Furniture Have a Soul ?

Ive seen books about haunted antiques. I wondered....Have I or will I ever come across one? There's also a question I have heard "does furniture have a soul?"
If i had come across a haunted piece, one that is unhappy, would it still be that way after I loved it, took care of it, and then found it a good loving home?
Imagine the piece of furniture as a person....it was homeless, dirty, need a shower, didn't care much for life anymore....hopeless.... :-( so sad....
Imagine someone picked them up, dusted them off, showed them love and care... gave them some fresh new clothes....a chance to hold you head high again....then finally, the ultimate happiness, to find someone to love you. a new home , a new family?? WHAT JOY !!!
I loved the idea, that as a by product of my creations, I am also recycling. Saving beautiful old pieces that others discarded, saw no worth or value. I love them, each and every piece. I have the joy of making people happy and furniture happy, all while being a responsible human that is helping the planet....what JOY :-)

Here are few of my latest creations...
First, a wonderful vintage sofa. Great lines, good bones. I have made a slipcover from a vintage white chenille bedspread. Mixed it up with some lovely rose fabrics and new pillows, Its just heavenly :-)
Next a wonderful old antique dresser circa 1910-1930. I painted 3 different layers of yummy aqua blues and distressed it heavier to bring out all those different shades. It is one on my most favorites lately...finally I added some lovely rose knobs found on etsy. I have started carrying her whole line of rose knobs. Her website is http://www.etsy.com/shop/DaRosa?ref=seller_info
I love the contrast of the distressed finish with the polished pretty rose knobs....so pretty. I have found my calling. I am truly Blessed :-)

NEW SHOWROOM adding 600 sq foot totalling 1200 sg ft

OMG!! It's been a lot of work but we are quickly transforming this new addition. We will open up a doorway to the next door space adding another 600 square feet of showroom totalling 1200 sq foot to display all my wonderful shabby chic cottage furniture creations. I am so excited!! Here are some pics of the renovation / transformation. More to come :-) yay!!! hugs Donna

Merry Christmas From Jeffrey the store kitty and Vintage Chic Furniture

My store kitty, Jeffrey is the best. i bought him this kitty size Santa hat and beard and i got this one pic but then He posed for this Christmas picture inside this silver Christmas wreath. it was just there sitting inside the store window- and there he was, just looking cute inside it. He always gives us the best pics :-) He's a kitty model and He's just the most awesome kitty I have ever had. So glad he is in my life. He is the talk of the town here on Union Street and everybody loves him :-) hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday

A Princess Bedroom For Hanna in Florida Shabby Chic

This is a bedroom that i designed. i made almost everything you see including all the furniture, bedding, curtains, Ice cream parlor table and chairs and chaise lounge. I was contacted by Hanna's mom to create for her, a dream princess bedroom for her christmas present. Her mom found me on the website www.houzz.com . and on etsy.com . All the painted distressed furniture are my creations. They include a canopy bed, vanity and chair, dresser, all white distressed. the antique display cabinet was painted a blush pink and I added glass shelves and a light. The side table by the chaise was an antique plant stand that i shortened and painted a pretty lavender. The vintage chaise lounge was covered in vintage chenille bedspreads with pretty floral fabrics. I transformed a vintage ice cream parlor bistro set by painting the metal in a lavender the top in a white and made lovely cushions with lavender fringe trim and long bows- so pretty! I made the curtains with a blush pink opaque fabric including all the canopy bed curtains, huge bow ties and bed skirt. The curtain toppers are the white shabby floral fabric with vintage lavender pom pom trim. Here are a bunch of pics, some when the pieces were in my shop, some when the room was being set up, and finally when her mom finished added all the final touches. hope you enjoy. Please contact me to create your dream room. www.vintagechicfurniture.com happy holidays, hugs, donna :-)

Fab Furniture I found and transformed Shabby Chic Style

OMG!!! I have been very lucky lately. I have been able to find and buy some super pretty antique furniture pieces. Here are two fabulous finds that are incredible wonderful and rare. More to come as I transform them....
First is a low antique buffet that is perfect for a flat screen tv stand. I searched for 2 whole years to find the first one for my own home, i still have it, this is the second. I have to say, this one is nicer ! I have painted it a french gray or gray with white accents and an antique glaze. This is one of my secret paint finishes that makes it look as though it had been painted 100 years ago.
Second is a GORGEOUS antique wrought iron bed frame. It is full size, solid cast iron, super heavy and by far one of the nicest ones I have ever seen. It is Very tall at over 5 ft. Very grand.Has a wonderful medallion on the head and footboard. When i got it, There was so much rust and chipping paint. My 2 interns and I scraped all the old paint off then painted it in a wonderful light pink color. OMG, it seemed to suck up the paint!!! i had to use 6 cans for this project. but it looks FABULOUS!!! SO YUMMY !!!! I WISH I HAD THE ROOM !! I WOULD DEFINITELY KEEP IT!!! see it in my Etsy shop www.vintagechicfurniture.com

Bradley Cooper was my neighbor "The Place Beyond The Pines" schenectady ny

So, can you believe that Bradley Cooper was my neighbor??!! That's right!! He lived 3 doors down from me for 7 weeks during his filming of the movie The Land Beyond The Pines. Shot right here in Schenectady NY . In fact my neighbors also saw Ryan Gosling walking Bradley Coopers dog Charlotte. I live in the Historic Stockade section of Schenectady and this is by far, one of the prettiest areas in town. So many people knew he was here, yet we ALL kept it a secret and respected his privacy. During his stay here, He was blessed with NO PAPARAZZI, No teenage girls, and no crowds of people at his door- CAN YOU IMAGINE??? I am shocked that all of us were able to keep him a secret. I hope he enjoyed the solice and peace that he most likely doesn't get in Hollywood. I just wish I would have had the opportunity to have a glass of wine with him in my friends garden, which was right next door to where he was staying. YOU ARE HOT BRADLEY !!! and to think, i got to live next door to a movie star, one of the hottest ones as well. I am so lucky :-)

Counting My Blessings

First I want to say that I have the pleasure of creating beautiful things every day. I am surrounded by beauty. For that I am truly blessed. My friends and customers remind me of this often. Their comments of my shop and creations are heart warming. I am so humble in my success and I guess I don't realize Just how fabulous I am ( they keep telling me so) These things I make are for others to enjoy and surround themselves with beautiful things that warm THEIR heart. It is a way of giving back, making people happy, people I don't even know. I recycle and help the planet. Just a by product of what I do. I am truly blessed and feel grateful every day for where I am and what do. Thanks to all :-)
here are a few of my latest creations.
a pink shabby chic daybed
and and aqua chenille bedspread slipcovered sofa and chair set

Chenille bedspread slipcovered sofa in my customers home

How wonderful it is for me to see my fabulous creations in their new homes. This is my second ruffle slipcovered sofa made with vintage chenille bedspreads in white with an all over rose pattern. the ruffle takes one whole bedspread. I calculated aprox 600 linear feet of ruffle. Then i have covered the cushions and back pillows with the most yummiest shabby chic fabrics in shades of white, pink and blue. I have them shipped from half way around the world, coming all the way from Asia. My customer was a dream to work with and I was able to get it shipped to her in time for her big party, where she was so proud to show it off to all her friends and family. She was proud, I was prouder. I wish I could have been there to hear all the oohs and aaahs and comments on the beautiful new addition to her livingroom. I shipped it across the country to her residence in California.
I know when I had it in my shop, I heard many gasps and sighs, as well as my own. Every time I walked by it I was so amazed at what I made. It was just sooooo pretty. Then I sat in it.....ahhhhhh, it was so cozy.... Was it cozy because it was a really comfortable piece of furniture?....or was it extra cozy because it was so beautiful??? I have to say, I remembered having it in my shop after purchasing it and sitting in it with its original tan muslin upholstered cover and not really thinking much of its coziness. Once i finished the covers, I sank into it and it felt so dreamy, like one of the most comfortable things I've ever sat in before. I think it was more cozy now that it is beautiful :-)
I look forward to the next pieces I create and I am as excited as my followers to see what I make next. Each piece gets better and better. I look forward to making more wonderful slipcovered pieces using cozy and heartwarming vintage chenille bedspreads. Find more of my pieces at www.vintagechicfurniture.com and contact me if you would like me to make a special creation just for you. big hugs, donna :-)

Pink Chairs with Vintage Chenille Bedspread Slipcovers

Hi to all, here's is my newest creations. I have made these pair of wing back chairs for a new pajama store in Indianapolis Indiana. Amys pjs. How fitting of these to be featured in a pajama store ??!! So wonderful to have warm and cozy bedspread covered chairs to evoke ultimate feelings of a restful, cozy, comfortable slumber. I look forward to seeing them all set up in her new shop, Surrounded by wonderful cozy items that help you rest and unwind from your hectic day. Helping you to ease into your restful night while you recharge and wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the next day...
I have many more orders for these wonderful chenille bedspread slipcovered pieces and I will be sharing all of them with you.
get your at www.vintagechicfurniture.com
much happiness to all, hugs donna :-)

antique baby crib daybed with wonderful chenille and rose fabrics

Here is yet another new creation I finished yesterday. This wonderful antique wrought iron baby crib was found at my first ever trip to the famous Brimfield Antique Show in Massachusetts in July 2011. There I was in heaven. So many wonderful things as far as the eye can see....block after block, wonderful antiques just waiting to be discovered, looking for their new home. This was discovered amongst wonderful flowers and plants and other terrific rusty weathered goodies. I fell in love! The old white original paint..a little rusty and chippy....just a little, not too much. Perfect. I too one look and knew exactly what i was going to do with it. I couldn't wait to get it back to my shop, order a new foam cushion and down pillows, then get to creating something wonderful.
I started by taking a vintage chenille bedspread in pink with a ruffled edge. It had a few spots of missing chenille on the top and was too thin (summer weight) to be used for slipcovers. Perfect for the skirt. The new block of custom cut foam was covered with batting, then I fashioned the cushion using some of my most favorite fabrics in pink and aqua with big beautiful cabbage roses. One side is pink with roses, the other side aqua with roses. I love to be able to change a look in a minute. I had some wonderful wedding ring chenille fabric that matched the skirt perfectly, that became my cushion front. I have finally collected enough vintage chenille bedspreads in a variety of colors and patterns to make all the pillows from chenille. SOOOO COZY !!! See this listing www.vintagechicfurnitire.etsy.com . big hugs to all

Shabby Chic Slipcovered Sofa With Vintage Chenille Bedspreads and Rose Fabrics

WOW!! i just love this sofa. It is the second one i have done for a lovely customer in California. Once I finished, I stepped back and just sighed. How beautiful I thought....aaahhhh. I have another one I will be doing soon in aquas and whites with a matching chair. I cant wait...Also I just finished a wonderful chaise lounge. I covered it with a vintage chenille bedspread in pink and white with an all over rose pattern and a wonderful ruffle bottom. Oh so pretty. That one is listed in my etsy shop www.vintagechicfurniture.etsy.com . I hope you enjoy seeing them...big hugs, Donna

antique chair in hot pink with pink damask fabric

I made a chair similar to this a few years back. the internet is a wonderful network of storage and ideas. My client found an old etsy ad for that chair and thought it was perfect for her home office alongside her grandmas hot pink antique shawl. Grandma must have been an awesome lady. My kinda gal for sure.
I was lucky enough to have the same fabric and trim in stock, but even luckier to find this awesome antique chair on wheels, like the last. It was perfect !!
I just received pictures from her and was excited to share it with you all. It's rare to see my items in their new home and love to get pictures from my customers. I love the bursts or hot pink colors of Grandmas shawl and the chair looks against her charcoal painted built ins. I was happy to make this for her and to help her showcase a family heirloom. Just lovely.

new mint and aqua chenille slipcovered chair and footstools

OMG!! been so busy making many slipcovered pieces with vintage chenille bedspreads and the most yummy fabrics and trims. each one is unique and wonderful. I have to share them with the world. I hope you enjoy seeing them. see more at www.vintagechicfurniture.com or contact me to make a one of a kind piece just for you. Big hugs to all, Donna