THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SALVAGED DOORS

IR: We'd like to highlight the many uses of salvaged vintage and antique doors as a part of our Custom Build Services here at Mignonne, and show you what we can help you to achieve.

Vintage doors are a simple way to add that sought after vintage charm to your home. The plethora of applications makes them not just a one use item, no longer do they simply offer a barrier from one room to the next. Get rid of your flimsy Home Depot quick fix, and get real, with a solid, high quality vintage creation!

With years of in-home interior decorating and restoration experience, Mignonne has collected some of our favorite doors and used them for a variety of projects, we can help you do it too...

Right off the bat: vintage doors can be used in place of drab store bought ones, but that's certainly not the only possibility...doors can be transformed into head boards or room dividers, or more. To customize your own door project, first think of your needs and intentions. Maybe you need a facade to conceal storage?

This sliding horse-stall door transformation was shared by Design Sponge. It demonstrates the space saving quality of a door on a sliding track.

This sliding horse-stall door transformation was shared by Design Sponge. It demonstrates the space saving quality of a door on a sliding track.

This technique can be used for all sorts of places around the house (or apartment).  And Mignonne can install the sliding track or any other door solutions!

We can also customized a headboard with one or more salvaged doors. The more doors the more grand the effect, here we have a pretty substantial headboard of two doors, found on Dreamy Whites Blog.

Dishfunctional Designs has highlighted a number of really awesome ideas to make use of old doors, but that's not the limit, if you can dream it up we can work together to make it happen!

With years of in-home interior decorating experience, owner & lead designer of Mignonne Decor, Johnelle, has collected some of her favorite doors and used them for a variety of projects like her booth dividers when we set up shop at the Alameda Point Antiques Fair.


Salvaged doors can be found in places such as Urban Ore, and Ohmega Salvage.

Have an idea for a project? The possibilities are vast, and here at Mignonne, we can help you achieve them. Start a conversation by emailing us at quotes@mignonnedecor.com, we'd love to hear from you!

xoxo mignonne

Salvaged Chic Of The Week: Kilim Chair

This week's SCOTW is an amazing custom client project Johnelle recently completed. Our client wanted to reupholster a standard chair and make it into a piece of art, something that no one else would exactly have.  The client had a Kilim rug (of which we are huge, huge fans!) that wasn't in perfect condition, which means it's an excellent piece for upholstery!

Kilim rugs, or remnants...perfect for upholstery, are so special!!  The fact that they began as one of the oldest styles of rugs is amazing and because of their lack of pile there aren't many today that are older than a few centuries...which isn't half bad! They're produced from the Balkans to Pakistan.  Newer weavers are now incorporating brighter colors (like purples and turquoise) over the more traditional colors of red, pink, ivory, blue and green.  Unlike other Persian rugs, Kilims were deemed "inferior" in the past because of their low pile, and were under foreign market pressures that have changed their designs. Now that they've become so popular, many are designed to be exported.

The effect is a piece rich with history that fits wonderfully into an eclectic home.  Whether this chair will be in a room with layered rugs, or surrounded by pieces and trinkets that have been collected around the world, it is sure to create a rich style.

Or, if you have a clean and modern space that you wanted to add piece of distinction to, that would break apart the white, this chair would be perfect. It's a chair that can change the entire look of a room. Not to mention pique the interest of inquiring friends who will want to know the story of how you came to have such an amazing piece!

Not only is this chair now a piece of art, but those that look upon it are instantly given wanderlust imagining the places the Kilim could have seen!

I love that this is another one of our great upholstery transformations that so clearly shows you that anything that is special to you can be incorporated into the re-design of your piece! Email us at quotes@mignonnedecor.com for information on your project.

All Kilim Chair photos by Johnelle Mancha. Other images; One: potterybarn.com; Two: countryliving.com; Three: bo-laget.se; Four: nowfly.co.uk; Five: flickr.com; Six: beautifulplacestovisit.com; Seven: trekearth.com

Rebekah is a member of the Mignonne family and former Mignonne assistant. She now freelances and owns the company A & B Creative, read her blog.

Salvaged Chic of the Week: Santa Cruz Chair

This is one of my favorite SCOTW's yet! I am so in love with the bright punch of color this chair has and I love the vintage mustard and gray toned seat that grounds the paint color. It's always a near miracle when you can find an intact vintage fabric to match your soon-to-be revamped vintage chair! When scouting, Johnelle has a sixth sense for finding vintage fabrics that will really complete the look of a revamping.

The color of this chair and the design of the fabric are like salt and pepper--they're great by themselves, but even better together! The cane back of this chair is absolutely perfect for the feel this chair now has. Beachy, bright and surfer-chic, yet another piece I want to sneak home!

A little chair like this is such an amazing value! You only have to pay for the painting of the chair and the reupholstery of only the seat, but what you get is a piece that has the power to change the whole room.

Aptly named Santa Cruz, this chair elicits memories of skin browned all summer in the sun, salty air, and sixties beach bunnies. This is the girl version of this chair:

While it's not required, this piece would lend itself perfectly to a funky California beach bungalow like these:

If you're not lucky enough to live in a surf shack on the beach you can use this chair as your inspiration to infuse your city space with a little beach vibe (and to help you look forward to summer!).

If you're like me, you're already looking around your house to see if you have a lackluster chair that you could transform into an amazing piece like Santa Cruz!

All Santa Cruz photos by Johnelle Mancha. Other photos One: chanelbagsandcigarettedrags.blogspot.com, Two: weheartit.com, Three: coastalliving.com, Four: oraclefox.blogspot.com; Five: marthastewart.com; Six: amberinteriordesign.blogspot.com

Email us at quotes@mignonnedecor to set up a design meeting to talk about your chair!

Rebekah is a member of the Mignonne family and former Mignonne assistant. She now freelances and owns the company A & B Creative, read her blog.

Salvaged Chic of the Week: Beryessa Velveteen Couch

This week's Salvaged Chic Of The Week is Berryessa, a formerly dated and somewhat sad looking couch that now has a new rocking velvet upholstery and a timeless look that will last the ages!

Check out the before shot of Berryessa... frumpy and dated she was screaming for a makeover! We removed the dated skirt, as we wanted a more streamlined look. Part of our consultation process when you bring in a piece, will be to discuss whatever changes you want to make in addition to the new upholstery. This is the clients chance to discuss any areas that they are wanting to change, reinvent, or update. Examples such as adding tufting, buttons, different colored piping, thicker cushioning or the removal of a skirt are all details that we can address. Knowing that upholstery can be an investment, Mignonne strives to create redesigns that can be knockouts in a space!

Our client selected this rich gray velvet fabric to reupholster Beryessa with, as they wanted something durable & kid friendly, but also something that could be adorned by them and their friends. We think it turned out beautifully, and removing that dated skirt also really allows you to see the silhouette and cute feet! Beryessa has gone from blah to WOW with it's make over.

We love how velvet couches can have either a romantic look; with their warm textures and how they can also allow the shape of a piece to really be highlighted:

Or a modern look, accented by art, graphic pillows or area rugs:

Remember, we can also customize pillows with fun vintage or new fabrics that you can switch out with the seasons, or your mood! Pillows are such an easy way to update the look of your space and make sure that your newly reupholstered piece continues to evolve throughout the times and your taste. These are some of our favorite combinations of velvet couches with fun pillows:

We now sell fabrics, so your reupholstery project is even more convenient. Send us a photo of the piece you're hoping to have reupholstered and we can give you a quote. After that we can set up an in-store appointment to look at our selection of fabrics and come up with a cohesive design for your chairs or couch! Email quotes@mignonnedecor.com for more information.

Berryessa photos by Johnelle Mancha, additional images: One: sfgirlbybay.blogspot.com; Two: sweetautumnday.wordpress.com; Three: blog.designsourcect.com; Four: leftoverlemons.wordpress.com; Five: moodboard.typepad.com; Six: tumblr.com;

Rebekah is a member of the Mignonne family and former Mignonne assistant. She now freelances and owns the company A & B Creative, read her blog.

Salvaged Chic of the Week: Isabelle

Such an amazing piece!! Meet: Isabelle.

A fantastic client project we recently completed. I love the hearty shape and weight & how it feels toned down and not as massive because of the fun pop color and slate grey detailing around the drawers and sides. Isabelle (named after her equally stylish owner) is a vintage Federal Style maple chest that turned out gorgeously. This is the one problem we have with custom projects...we fall in love with them and they're not for sale!

This is another fabulous example of how effective our design services can be. Johnelle went over to Isabelle's house for a hour long consultation and helped her client decide what she wanted the look of the room to be... what furniture and decor could stay, what needed to go, and what should be introduced. Immediately Johnelle saw the potential that this chest of drawers had. This dresser had great bones, original and interesting pulls (which isn't always the case), and a sturdy frame and drawers...but the finish was drab and lack luster. She and Isabelle talked about the transformation that the piece would have and how that would help propel the transformation of her space which was screaming for a little color.

Johnelle has a great eye for knowing what a piece could be, which is key when

she does in-home consultations. She can help to see what other furniture, or

art is detracting from the desired feel of the space, what you need that

you don't have, and most importantly--what do you have that could be

used in a different way or revamped to fit with your new

and improved space! Often an outside eye can help

you to better see how something you already

have could be made new again.

Sometimes it's hard to know how to continue to elevate your

space on your own, and that's when a guided buying trip with Johnelle

can be so effective! She can help you to find project pieces that she can revamp

and make to fit perfectly in your space.

We offer several different services that can custom fit to

whatever your needs may be. Our services include: "Design Me:" Johnelle has a knack for finding pieces with tons of potential--come by the store and

pick something that has yet to be redone, and come up with it's new design.

"Build Me:" Brian Hill can build a custom piece

(like the redwood farm table in the first photo below he built for a client)

that fits your space perfectly. "Revamp Me:" You can bring in furniture

you already have and come up with a design for Johnelle

to give it a new look. "Reupholster Me:" Do you have something with

great bones that's looking a little sad and old these days? Bring it in and you

and Johnelle can create a new one-of-a-kind look for your chair or

couch that will fit with your new look more and that will become a unique

conversation piece (like she did with the loveseat below).

Spaces can be beautiful, but we love them even more when there is something like Isabelle in them to give it that POP, we love creating pieces that can be showcased,

like we know this one will be!

Isabelle would also be really fun in a more boho space as well. I think she would

fit in just fine here!

If you want to schedule an in-home consultation yourself or get more info on any of our other design services don't hesitate to write! quotes@mignonnedecor.com

Isabelle and Mignonne furniture photos taken by Johnelle Mancha. Other images: One: littlebluedeer.com; Two: shorttermromance.tumblr.com; Three: designsponge.com; Four: littlebluedeer.com

Rebekah is a member of the Mignonne family and former Mignonne assistant. She now freelances and owns the company A & B Creative, read her blog.

Salvaged Chic Of The Week-The Tiger's Eye

Welcome back to the latest Salvaged Chic Of The Week! We hope you've all recovered from your stuffing and pie food-comas. To help ease the bitter return to work after a long weekend, we'll infuse the end of your week with some glamour, Mignonne style! This week's Chic piece is a gorgeous 1940s waterfall vanity. Johnelle's masterful design of this piece keeps it's integrity, while adding a modern touch with the fun pop of color.

Isn't she stunning? Now tell the truth, do you look at a gorgeous piece like this and find yourself falling into a fantasy spiral envisioning scenes of yourself looking like this??

One of our all time favorite looks on top of vanities is the little vignette of your favorite lipsticks and jewels, so chic!

A vanity like this is perfect for a shared space too. It's feminine in its detailing and soft colors (enough so that you can still have your Harlow moments!), but also masculine with the rustic wood and hearty shape. We love the idea of a his and hers side to a vanity, think the above on the left and this men's selection on the right.

This is a classic art deco era piece, as with any piece that Johnelle designs she takes into account the condition of the piece before she paints it. The wood that was preserved the best were the inlay details. The pulls were also in impeccable condition and Johnelle created a look that pulls out the beautiful tiger's eye wood detailing and the color of the hardware.

If you want a mirror above the vanity you could pair it with a fun French inspired baroque mirror, or go for more of a juxtaposition by pairing this vintage vanity with a modern mirror.

Whatever way you style it, this piece is gorgeous and waiting for someone to appreciate its glam sensibilities and the warmth it will bring to any space. Stop in the shop and let the fantasies begin!

All Tiger's Eye photos taken by Johnelle Mancha. Other images: Images One, Two and Three:loveyourplace.blogspot.com; Image Four: sweetlittlesnippets.tumblr.com; Image Five:alibradshaw.com; Image Six: wanelo.com; Image Seven: sadieandstella.blogspot.com; Image Eight: decorpad.com

Rebekah is a member of the Mignonne family and former Mignonne assistant. She now freelances and owns the company A & B Creative, read her blog.