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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    + SHOW US YOUR PAD/ FLAT/ CAVE/ PENT-HOUSE/ CARDBOARD BOX/… +

    General Chat
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    • GraemeG
      Graeme
      啓蒙家
      Joined:

      I visited The Original Sofa Company in Newcastle Gateshead yesterday. They manufacture and restore Chesterfields in the way that they used to.

      Originally sofas were built on a heavy wooden frame, with springs hand-sewn onto webbing, the cushions would have been stuffed with hair from a horses' tails, and all the fixings would have been held in place by hand tacks, which are evil looking nails.

      Since tanneries couldn't dye entire hides, the pieces were hand dyed by having the colour painted on, which gives a fantastic character.

      Over time the production process was streamlined as it became industrialised: Staples replaced hand tacks, as these are much faster to apply; coil sprung seats were dropped in favour of separate cushions, as these are cheaper and easier to make; and foam took over from natural fibres.

      The OSC can build a sofa in various historically accurate manners, depending on your budget, with the top end being around £20,000. However, I was more interested in their antiques for restoration.

      The stand-out was this 1830s sofa, which would have been one of the first fully upholstered pieces of furniture. It's not much to look at now, due to being recovered in a poor DIY job, but when restored in leather it'll be spectacular.

      There was a mid-century piece by Howard and Sons, which looked a bit like something your Granny would own. However it was possibly the most comfortable sofa I've ever sat on. Incidentally, the green fabric on the cushions is actually their lining, and would be covered up in restoration.

      I think that I'd probably get this Art Deco sofa. It's a bit different, comfortable, and dates from a period when staples had taken over from hand-tacks, so would be significantly cheaper to restore.

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      • S
        Snowy
        Joined:

        The desk/screen that I read you all from;

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        • FOXYF
          FOXY
          Joined:

          ^^ while living near HK we ran into this little shop that did Art Deco chairs and sofas in textile or leather using old methods and materials - we had two buy 2 club chairs that we plan to grow old with…best investment ever.

          http://www.bfelix.com

          Not unlike your example.

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          • BluegrassB
            Bluegrass
            Joined:

            @Bob and other forum members, here are some snaps of our house - 120 yr old Victorian/Craftsman mashup.  This house was rode hard/abused while it was rented as apartments back in the 70s - the last owner converted it back to a single family home, and we've been here ~15 years and done complete remodel, incl. kitchen, baths, paint, lighting, fireplaces, closets, deck/yard, and restoration of original features when possible and appropriate.  Best part is great central city neighborhood, we can walk to Olmsted parks, shopping and entertainment…

            Foyer & living room

            Dining room

            Living room looking out to back screen porch & deck

            Sitting room and wet bar - "adult kitchen"  😉

            Kitchen and master

            View to sitting room with closets

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            • trail and arrowT
              trail and arrow
              Joined:

              wow!

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              • GilesG
                Giles
                IHUK Crew
                Joined:

                A beaut…..

                "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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                • JCMx800J
                  JCMx800
                  Raw and Unwashed
                  Joined:

                  Speechless.

                  Les Paul -> ProCo Rat -> Super HardOn -> JCM800 Low Input
                  XXX

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                  • FOXYF
                    FOXY
                    Joined:

                    Nice!

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                    • AnesthetistA
                      Anesthetist
                      見習いボス
                      Joined:

                      Fantastic!

                      IG: bluehandsslim

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                      • mclaincauseyM
                        mclaincausey
                        見習いボス
                        Joined:

                        And then there's my palace…

                        I look forward to my shit arriving next Monday. 🙂

                        Think it, be it.

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                        • S
                          Snowy
                          Joined:

                          Think they call that glamping. Well done 🙂

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                          • BobB
                            Bob
                            Banned
                            Joined:

                            @Bluegrass Where do I begin? Yours is the style and era of house we have always wanted to live in. You have impeccable taste and style in furnishing and finishing it in the manner you have! An American classic, full marks.  Frohe Weihnachten!

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                            • mclaincauseyM
                              mclaincausey
                              見習いボス
                              Joined:

                              The funny thing is that those are my furnishings and this is my coffee corner, to give a sense of my priorities.

                              Think it, be it.

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                              • BluegrassB
                                Bluegrass
                                Joined:

                                @mclaincausey you will be up and running in no time - we've all been there, new place, new adventure, settling in… very exciting, good times.

                                Thanks to all for the comments/compliments - our place has evolved over the years and it's been fun - we've been fortunate to inherit some beautiful antiques from loved ones who cherished and enjoyed them as we do now - and it's been fun collecting the rest of the furnishings, including the art, little by little over the years.

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                                • GraemeG
                                  Graeme
                                  啓蒙家
                                  Joined:

                                  It could be worse @mclaincausey - this is my current pad…

                                  Currently somewhere between Kent and Australia.

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                                  • BluegrassB
                                    Bluegrass
                                    Joined:

                                    OMG  😢

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                                    • SeulS
                                      Seul
                                      Joined:

                                      Looks comfy!..

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                                      • BobB
                                        Bob
                                        Banned
                                        Joined:

                                        @Graeme If you can fit everything you own into that one shipping container, cheers. That is a real achievement.

                                        As a late-in-life, professional nomad I had to conduct a "living estate sale", to pare down. Still a ways to go.

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                                        • GraemeG
                                          Graeme
                                          啓蒙家
                                          Joined:

                                          Everything went into a box that's about 2 x 1.5 x 2 metres. The exception is my mattress, which I'm going to have to send separately.

                                          It was back getting some repair work done.

                                          I did get rid of some stuff to fit into that space though.

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                                          • madmondayM
                                            madmonday
                                            Raw and Unwashed
                                            Joined:

                                            @Bluegrass & @TrickHell gr8 stuff. I appreciate your time & sharing

                                            head high, middle finger higher

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