A Hollywood Legend's Furniture Gets The Star Treatment

Among the most revered actresses of Hollywood’s Golden Age was Joan Leslie, who starred in over 50 feature films on the silver screen, including ‘This Is The Army’ alongside future president Ronald Reagan, and the American classic ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy.’ Joan’s personal style - sophisticated with the perfect measure of glitz - has stood the test of time as well as her films. Currently offered by Handled, the well-revered estate company in Los Angeles, are five beautiful pieces of furniture from Joan’s very own collection. We’ve partnered with Handled to offer design guidance of how these pieces might be re-envisioned for the modern age, using patterned fabrics from our newly launched Textile Library. See our Hollywood-inspired revitalization recommendations below!

1. Reupholster channeled club chair

This versatile and vintage beauty is the perfect piece to have fun with: it’s large enough to carry a bold pattern, but small enough that it won’t overwhelm a room. We envision this as the perfect little chair in a dressing room, or as an accent chair in a formal living room. We’d love to see this chair in Dedar’s ‘Margaritas’ in Multicolor colorway and glossy black lacquered legs to give it just the right amount of sheen.

2. Chippendale Loveseat reupholstery

The proportions and clean lines of this piece make it super versatile. We’d love to give it a modern update while still honoring its heritage. A fresh-toile like pattern like Manuel Canovas ‘Hazara’ in Turquoise colorway would give it just the right hint of uniqueness and modernity while highlighting its classic curves, and leaving the legs as-is would keep it classic.

3. reupholster Channel Tufted Sofa

This stunning sofa is the definition of good bones. While it could easily be considered the leading role in a living room, we feel it could fit in across many different styles of decor. To give it a modern look, we’d revitalize it in House of Hackney for Liberty London Fabrics ‘Artemis’ in Pink colorway and lighten the legs to a warm walnut. We’d also suggest removing the buttons on the back and widening the channels to highlight the bold patterned fabric.

4. Square Back Love Seat upholstery

The boxier lines of this love seat give it a more masculine feel. We’d want to bring it out of the boy’s club and into the modern world by revitalizing it in a bold, strong and global print like Zak & Fox’s ‘Tulu’ in Indigo colorway.

5. Channel Tufted Armchair upholstery

The lines on this piece are exquisite: we especially love the channeling and high back on this chair. We’d revitalize this armchair in Neisha Crosland 'Hollywood Grape’ in Platinum colorway, a metallic Art Deco-inspired patterned fabric, and an ebony wood stain on the legs.

Feeling inspired by these Hollywood glam furniture makeovers?

Let us give your furniture the star treatment with custom upholstery! Request a furniture restoration quote HERE.