14 July 2009

What.Were.You.Thinking?

My own Uncle Mame offered to pick up my latest impulse auction buy on his way out East and this was the bone-chilling message that brought me his verdict. And the death knell - don't wince - the black leather upholstery turned out to be Naugahyde.

I always impress the importance of inspecting items firsthand to clients and friends, but when it comes to my own buying at auction, I throw the dice a bit too wantonly - but, c'mon, am I really going to fly out to Detroit or East Dennis (where? you ask, proving my point exactly). Like a guest on Oprah, if my example helps but one person....

Yet I'm still hopeful the fender will work out (naugahyde replaced, of course). Even though my uncle's taste is pretty much flawless, perhaps in situ it will metamorphose into a swan. Stay tuned....

9 comments:

balsamfir said...

I have a matching plant stand pushed on me by an auction happy father recently. Oh well.

home before dark said...

Left thinking about your fender bender and came back to say, while I have never done this, since there is so very little nonleather here, perhaps there abounds in some flea market/used clothing shop an antique leather coat to provide enough fabric to replace the offender fender. I think new leather would scream REDO. I think it could be a mission of forgiveness. The lines are beautiful. Love the wreath and then the simple elegance of the lines. My husband was a lawyer/trust officer and we didn't have a will for over 25 years. We couldn't decide on whom would care for minor child. Time did. The things we do...

MaryBeth said...

I think the rest of it is lovely, just replace it. MB

Blog Author(s) said...

Raise your hand if you've never made a mistake.

Emily Evans Eerdmans said...

Balsam, Your father sounds like my kind of guy!

Home, "fender bender" - why didn't I think of that?! We have a leather source here in NY and they are very adept at glazing leather and making it look old. That said, it would be nice to salvage - and there is nothing yummier than the surface of old, well-cared for leather. As for wills, perhaps I should leave the fender to Balsam - it is en suite with that plant stand after all!

Sydney said...

Hey, trust your expert eye, it's great ! The naug is trivial, so easy to replace.

Things That Inspire said...

Virtually every time I have purchased something without seeing it firsthand, I have been disappointed. However, this looks like a great piece and it sounds like you have a solution to the naugahyde issue!

soodie :: said...

EEE, I've done the same with a set of great chairs! I just don't get why naugahyde/pleather/platic was ever a good idea -- unless to save a cow. The back of my legs always stick to it in warm weather and it reminds me of the 70s when it was a good idea to have around kids -- quick clean-up of mushed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Your fender will look suburb! I can't wait to see the results.

Emily Evans Eerdmans said...

Soodie, as you say, what circumstances could there possibly be that one would opt for naugahyde? So if the owner was someone who could make such an egregious choice, then the taste level of the entire fender must get called into question. Thank you for your vote of confidence - it's reassuring to hear that I'm not the only one who thinks it has potential. EEE