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Project Design -Exceptionally Clever Chair Makeovers

Until we decided to do this post I had forgotten how many Thrift Store Chairs I have rescued over the years.  I have always had a hard time passing up a great looking chair. The more pathetic the chair the bigger the challenge.  I remember one wing chair had cat barf all over it (my kids were mortified when I rescued that one).  It still resides in my guest room. Another wing (I have a thing for wing chairs) was covered in Pink Velvet and came from a ravenous smokers home.  I had to leave it outside for a week before I could even take it to Fred (my upholsterer).I found this chair in a consignment shop many years ago.  It was a well made chair, it still has it’s original down cushion. It has had a couple of incarnations. It once was covered in a salmon woven fabric. During my tuscan faze it was covered in this. It was a lovely  fabric at the time.  Luckily you can’t see the back.  It was completely shredded courtesy of the cats.

 


Tip #1 Recover a dated chair in a modern fabric and add a graphic pillow

I wanted something fresh and light for our bedroom refresher.  I found the Peter Dunham Raj fabric on Etsy for a great price.  I only had enough for the front.  Fred covered the front with the Peter Dunham and the back is covered in a more practical Sunbrella Trax.  The Sunbrella is fade resistant and hopefully more cat proof.

wingback chair

I have an early desk  (that we found on a trip to Savannah) next to my bed.  Our master bedroom is large and has high ceilings. It really needs large scaled furniture.  Here is a before pic of this beauty.  Don’t you love the fabric? It’s kind of liberace meets old florida.

 

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Tip #2 No Chair is too ugly for a redo, and the back should be as pretty as the front

The owner of the junk shop had two of these beauties. He so desperately wanted to get rid of them; he practically bribed me to take them both.  One was all I could handle. This chair will be seen from the back most of the time so why not make the back just as pretty as the front? My slipcover guru Katie Baker made the beautiful slip with scraps we had left over from other slipcovers in the room.

slipcovered chairslipcovered chair

 

Tip #3 Add a comfy cushion and dressmaker details

I have had two wingchairs next to my armoire since we have lived in this house (over 30 years).  I originally ordered them from a company in the East.  They were covered in a coral and cream buffalo check.  Several years later Katie worked her magic on them.  We ordered a nicer more comfy cushion and she slipped them like this.  They weren’t really too outdated looking but the cats shredded the backs.

I found a really reasonable ticking stripe in biscuit and cream. When you enter the room one of the chair backs is visible.  Once again we wanted to make the back as interesting as the front.  I found the cute buttons on Etsy.
slipcovered wing back chairslipcovered wing back chair
Here is another look at the before and afters

 

 

I can’t wait to see what the rest of our Project Design participants have come up with.  Stop by their blogs to see their transformations. You are in for a treat.

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Splendid Market says

    I think the last one in cream and biscuit stripes is my favorite, love the back too. I need to find those great upholsters. I had a team when I first moved to this house, but it would be nice to freshen things up a little, thanks for the inspiration. ~ebh

  2. Leslie says

    Cindy, I wish I had your perseverance and patients with these kinds of tasks! I like your comment .. the more needing to be done/greater challenge, the more you like it:) Great work and I certainly agree that the back of the chair needs to be just as pretty as the front!

    • Leslie says

      Haha .. I just reallized I wrote "patients" rather than patience! I just returned from work and I guess I'm still thinking of my patients!! Have a nice day:)

  3. Kelley says

    Hey Cindy. Wonderful little details always make simple things amazing! Consignment stores are probably the best spot for chairs and small furniture like end tables. Also they can usually fit in my car ; )))

    Loved your comment Liberace meets Florida

    xo kelley

    • Cindy says

      Thanks Kelley! I will be glad to share that lovely liberace meets old Florida fabric with you…should you need it for one of your projects!!

  4. Karen says

    Cindy,
    These all look great. I too love consignment, thrift shop finds, especially chairs. One of my favorite chairs was a well made chair that has been recovered twice. Like you, we have lived in our home 30+ years and there's always something brewing where furniture redo's are concerned. So far so good…I'm seeing all kinds of great ideas on this series tour.
    xo,
    Karen

  5. Mary Ann Pickett says

    Wow…truly beautiful details. Love that scalloped edge and the stripe down the center of the Parson's chair. Brilliant using the Peter Dunham on the front. It is very "Luxe" and current but timeless. SO clever. Glad you did this Project Design with me… it was ALL your idea!

  6. Lisa @ Shine Your Light says

    Cindy I just love that parsons chair with the back detail on the slipcover and the stripe!!! So pretty and I just saw a whole set of those upholstered chairs at the Restore yesterday. Hmmmmmmmmmm 🙂

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