Ahhh the arm chair...so beautiful yet so functional. Every home deserves a chair like this in the living room, but getting such a customized piece of furniture often requires a designer to order it for you which equates to thousands of dollars. Don't get us wrong, we love stock items from many of our favorite stores. They offer great options at stores like West Elm, Crate and Barrel, and Pottery Barn. But, this one goes to another level of custom. So, if you're looking for that special piece for your living room...here it is.

The Layla Grayce Descanso Chair http://www.laylagrayce.com/Products/Lee-Furniture/Layla-Grayce-Descanso-Chair__LAYGR190501.aspx. This amazing chair is not only beautiful and elegant, but there is a wide variety of fabrics, nail heads, wood finishes and they even do a contrasting fabric, one outside and one inside. We LOVE this! The best part is that it's very environmentally friendly. The frame is constructed with certified kiln dried hardwood from FSC and SFI, the back and throw pillows are made of 100% recycled materials, and 95% of the manufacturing waste is recycled. And because of the high quality of this piece, you will have it for years and years and you can recover it as you please. Here are a few of the fabrics we like below, but be sure to check out the link above to see all of the options. 

We love all things green here at Room Juice, so today’s DIY project is one big recycling moment! Instead of throwing away that old piece of furniture, try your hand at painting it first. Painting your old furniture is a fantastic way to breathe new life into your space for a low cost. Plus, since you were considering getting rid of the piece anyway you don’t have to be afraid to try a pop of color for a change. Typically when investing in a piece of furniture we tend to go with neutrals that will not get old or we won’t get sick of. Most people shy away from buying a bright turquoise console table or a lime green chair. Here’s your chance to try out this trend for just about $50.

Here’s your shopping list:

- Medium to fine sandpapers (about 3 different ones)

- A cloth to clean

- Paint brushes

- Oil based primer

- Oil based paint: a semi-gloss is a nice finish to go with.

- You may need wood filler if there are any dents or dings in the piece

Before you go with a drastic color- establish your spaces color scheme. If you don’t have one, check out the Room Juice blog for ideas or let us design an accessory package for your space. Now, in most color schemes there is an accent, which is a great way to choose your paint color. For instance- if you’re going to use the plum with a dash of apple scheme that we blogged about yesterday, choose a shade of yellow-green for your furniture. It will give a pop and tie the space together.

Ok- now you’re ready…Here’s what to do:

1) First, make sure you cover the area you’re working in! Cover floors with plastic, then a layer of paper to make sure there is no bleed through if paint drips.

2) Wipe down the furniture with the cloth & some mild soap and water.

3) Sand the furniture, starting with the heavy paper and working down to the fine paper. This will ensure a smooth finish. Make sure to remove all gloss and as much paint as possible.

4) After sanding, wipe the piece down with a clean damp cloth to get off all the dust.

5) Apply a coat of primer and let it dry completely

6) After it is dry, sand it lightly with the fine paper.

7) Finally- apply two coats of your paint color- one at a time. Be sure to let them dry in between!

8) If your furniture has knobs or pulls- change them! It will really make it look new.

My FAVORITE find this week is this amazing industrial inspired furniture from Home Decorators Collection www.homedecorators.com. The Holbrook collection has a wonderful rustic / industrial look that will really add something unique to your space. These pieces are crafted from century old reclaimed wood with a sturdy black iron frame.  The best thing about these pieces is that they are affordable. Similar pieces that you would normally find from a vintage industrial furniture store would cost at least 8 times as much!

Who should invest in one of these pieces? We like adding an industrial touch to contemporary decor. So, if you're super modern or traditional, this may not work for you. If you aren't sure if this will work in your home, take a photo of your space and email it to us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We will let you know if it could work.