Any ideas on how i could update this antique chair?
I don't want to try and recover it. I want to keep the wood trim (tiger oak!) Paint it? Stain it? Leave it alone? There is a bumpy pattern on the material so that would show thru if paint/stain. It just isn’t my style. The seat could use some extra fluff cuz you can feel some springs a little. I'm a sewer/crafter so I can probably figure out how to add some more fluff to seat. But what to do with it? I’ve had this chair for years pondering this question cuz i really love the chair! Thanks!
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Hi there, it looks like it would be possible to strip it, sand it and restain the wood in any color you would like. I think a darker stain would make it more modern and really pop.
You can always paint the wood trim (I would paint it with chalk paint) and you can always make a custom seat cushion for more padding. The fabric on the chair could really pop if the wood was painted a fun and bright color... or even black!
Jeanne I think the chair is lovely as is, that said that is my taste and not yours. So if you like the chair and just want to update the wood then you could try stripping it being super careful with the fabric unless you pull the tacks out of the arms so you don't stain the fabric and then staining it a color you like or you could follow the same preliminary steps and then paint the wood so not to jeopardize the fabric
I would recover it. I have a chair too, that is begging for an overhaul. Carefully disassemble so you can use your old fabric as a pattern for new fabric. Seek out a commercial foam store for the cushion. Someone that sells to professional upholstery shops. Quality is much better than what is typically sold at craft and hobby chops.
Thank you for the responses but I think a couple of you missed where I said I wanted to keep the wood. It's tiger oak, in excellent condition and the perfect color match to my other antiques. It's the material I'm not fond of. If it was gray & white it would work, but it's actually a taupey-tan and cream color. Nope...doesn't go with anything in my house! I have upholstered before but never with the tack type edges. So I was thinking of trying to paint it a light-medium gray. Maybe dry brush white lightly to hit those designs a little? They stick out a little from the tan. I guess I could try it, if I fail then break down and reupholster it. Those beautiful tack edges scare me!
Jeanne
The new tacks would go in the spaces between where the old tacks are now. You can buy tacks on paper strips to help get them lined up right. If you use plain upholstery strips, have good ruler handy to measure the distance between tacks. I think i remember that there's a spacer tool. You might find one on Amazon. I always winged it. But that does take a good eye and practice, in my experience.
Sailrite website (below) gives instructions, with good photos, on how to tack.
If you are not feeling confident, maybe you can find a partner to help with the work. It will give you more confidence and two minds can often solve problems better than one. It's the reason we have girlfriends..LOL
If you want to be brave on your first job, you can do the whole nine yards, with fabric you like, new padding, etc. If there are springs they will probably need to be retied. This info is all online. Look for 'upholstery" and search until you find what you need to know. If you are still not confident, practice on a footstool or small chair from a thrift shop, just to get a feel for how it's done.
https://sailrite.wordpress.com/2015/10/27/3-types-of-upholstery-tack-strips-how-to-use-them/
https://www.joann.com/tack-strip-with-nails/11325461.html
Good luck!
Sorry I misunderstood from the paint it stain it comment.
If you love the wood but hate the fabric I would try to reupholster the chair
If the upholstery nail head trim cannot be saved when you pull them out they can be replaced they are available at fabric stores as a sewer I am sure you have seen them.
When you remove the fabric use it as the pattern for the new fabric,
when you have the fabric off it will make adding the extra padding easier also.
I see others have given you links to some step by steps on moving forward.
I am no expert by any means but I have done some simple chairs it seems daunting but as a sewer I am sure that if you take it slow you will be amazed at the results. Good luck and again sorry for the misinterpretation of you question.
Beautiful chair!!!
Hi Jeanne......I'm understanding that you don't want to reupholster the fabric, or paint the wood. I honestly think it's beautiful, but I get that if it doesn't fit in anywhere that you might want to change it up. Everyone has shared some great ideas, but I think it might be as simple as adding a bright colored throw cushion with fabric that will compliment the chair, and tie in colors from whatever room you decide to put it in.
I'm not a fan of painted fabric, and yours does have the issues of the raised design. I personally don't think that would be an option.
Thank y'all again! Great tips & links. Funny...I have no memory of when or where I got the chair! I was an avid antiquer in my younger days so I'm sure it was an auction somewhere here in my area in North Carolina. I can assure you it was pretty cheap cuz thats how i roll! I may reupholster it during the winter in my garage as it's still way too hot now. Hopefully I find some info on it once I start...like a manufacturer or something! Thanks for the push I needed!
Jeanne: keep your tiger oak and do this!
Have fun!!
https://www.anniesloan.com/techniques/how-to-paint-fabric-with-chalk-paint
You have lots of talent would love to see the outcome. Hope you were far from Florence. Have a wonderful day
The Annie Sloan watered down paint method (almost like a light dye) is what I'm going to try first. Big thank you to Nan W. for the idea and link! If that doesn't work I can always reupholster (ugh!). Thank you to everyone who replied!
Hometalk has so many chair redo options!
https://www.hometalk.com/search/posts?filter=chair%20makeover