It is always a great feeling seeing your work, back where it belongs, looking fabulous.
Alba is happy again with her favourite piece of furniture back.
I always love been involved in bringing a much loved chair back to it’s glory days.
The project was a friend’s favourite chair that desperately needed a facelift – not only did she love it but the dog & cat also fought to get to sleep in it(very spoilt!!!!!)
The fabric arrived – happy days, it didn’t disappoint – fabulous pattern great to work with.
Now to work – cutting and making sure the velvet was going the right way. For some reason my dog Jed also loved the chair although I made sure he didn’t get up on it – he always found the closest spot near it. 
I loved this chair the moment I saw it – once you looked past the stained fabric and very scratched wooden arms, the potential was endless.
The shape was fabulous and after taking off all the old fabric, wadding, hessian, springs etc I new that I had to restore it with integrity, but with a modern twist.
First was getting the wood back to a warm polished look.
The rest of the chair was another matter.
The only part of the initial inners of the chair, that I managed to keep, was the front roll – who doesn’t like a challenge.
Once the springs were in and laced it was time for the coconut fibre.
The padding and calico was next and it all started to come together.
I decided to use beautiful cotton mix fabrics from warwick fabric from their collection ‘anthropology’.
After a few doubts about where to put the striped and plain fabric I finally found the right combination and love the new look of the chair.
Now to find a new home.
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I think everyone has an old ugly office chair lurking somewhere – this one was found in the depths of the garage. So what to do chuck it out or give it a new lease of life. It still worked fine and all the mechanisms worked, so out with that ugly grey material.
Added some new foam to give it a bit more cushioning and some new fabric – this design was from warwick fabrics in the “Anthropology” range.
After my son saw it he decided it would be perfect for his study area – anything to keep them motivated to study must be a win.
An old drop in seat was delivered with some striped fabric. The owner had found an old chair that needed a revamp. They thought that they were up for the challenge but then like most of us it became all too hard and decided to give me the commission – FAB.
Off with all the old material, padding, tacks, webbing etc – nothing could be salvaged except the original frame of the seat which needed some minor repairs.
The owner was very happy with the seat and send a photo of the updated look of the chair.
I found these two old dining chairs that needed a real clean up. All the old material was taken off and the chairs taken apart. Old joints were checked, glued and clamped where necessary. Next it was a matter of cleaning up the old wood and giving it a good polish.
The seats were drop in and I wanted to find a fabric that complimented the beautiful carvings. I found some printed fabric – (nice medium weight cotton mix) with the streets of Paris on it that I think looks great.
I found two very old and neglected TV chairs that needed a new lease of life.
It just happened that I had also been material hunting at Bev’s Remnants and found the perfect material for the chairs.
One a fabulous floral which was offset by a contrasting plain material both in a cotton mix.
The wood needed to be refinished which ended up being more work than I originally thought as it had been done in a polyurethane. After all the old finish had been removed – which yes I had to do with a paint stripper but I used a citrus based one (not as harmful to the environment) and sanded back, the wood came up wonderfully and smooth with a fabulous glow which set off the new fabric perfectly.
Its always a great feeling looking back to what was and what is now, knowing that all that hard work w
as worth it.
FINISHED PRODUCT (flip the cushion & get a new look)
All the old coverings were taken off and chair stripped of the old wood finishing.
Underneath was a beautiful, well constructed chair,
needing some tender loving care.
I have been wanting to use a combination of wool and handprinted fabric by ‘cloth’ for some
time and thought this is my chance.
The rose print looks very blue in the picture but is in fact
a blue black – more black than blue. On the cushion I have done one side in just the ‘cloth’ fabric
and the other in a combination of the wool fabric and the ‘cloth ‘fabric for interest. This piece is up
for sale and looking for a new home. Please send me a note if interested and live in Sydney.(pick up only)
Old Parker Knoll Chair – I managed to come across 4 old Parker Knoll Chairs. The frames are in fantastic condition just needing some tender loving care.
I have started the first chair – stripping off the old material and padding. Stay watching for the new look parker knoll chair.
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