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.
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.
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.
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 They weren’t really too outdated looking but the cats shredded the backs.
Love these chairs!!
Thanks Karolyn!
Wow, Cindy, they look amazing! Adore slipcovers and the scallops are so charming! Happy Sunday ~
Thanks Kristy…same to you!
brilliant you!! now i desperately want to go thrifting
xx
debra
Debra I bet you have more chairs than I?!!
OMG!! I can't believe your blog topic today, as I have a very similar post tomorrow. I transformed a bunch of furniture for my son's 1st apartment. Love what you've done over the years to resurrect old chairs!
I am going to hop over and read your post Celia!!
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
We have lived in our home over 30 years trust me there are many areas that still need "freshening"!!
I love them all!! The slipcovers are so unique and have such a flair for detail!!! Great job!
Leslie thanks so much for joining us…loved all your transformations.
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!
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:)
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
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!!
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
It is hard to pass up a great chair isn't it Karen? I have several in various stages of disrepair in my garage!
I can't pick a favorite! I really love the little details on each chair. Great job as usual my friend!
Thanks so much Leslie…your fireplace transformation is incredible!!
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!
Thanks Mary Ann! If I can just get the rest of the room finished! I need your expertise!
Go for it Lisa! Can you sew?
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 🙂