A Chair Reborn

Sorry I haven't been around in awhile.  I've been taking a sort of "hiatus" while I helped my elderly in-law's pack up their house to move.  Living on four levels made life very difficult for them, especially since my father-in-law just had a knee replaced.  They are moving to a lovely, one level, retirement condo.  But all that is for another post.

Fitting very nicely into my motto of "Recycle, reuse, re-purpose!", I want to show you how you can extend the life of a beloved piece of furniture or make over "that hideous piece Aunt Zelda gave us."  (We all have one of those!)

My favorite client, Karen, had an old chair that had great bones, but it had either been seriously abused or spontaneously combusted!  We called it the "Green Chair", mostly because it was green, or had been in a previous life!

Green Chair - What pain!  What misery!

As you can see, "Green Chair" needed some serious help!  First step - have the upholsterers take off the current fabric.

Stripped and awaiting a new coat!

Next, take the chair frame to the refinisher.  The legs were pretty chewed up, so they had to be sanded down and restained.

"All better!"

While all this was going on, Karen and I were on the hunt for fabric.  We found this wonderfully soft velvety fabric from Pindler and Pindler - Sorrento in Sugarcane.  It made a nice, neutral backdrop for all the animal prints we were using in the room!  Remember my previous post "It's A Jungle Out There!"  http://thefocusondesign.blogspot.com/search/label/Animal%20Prints.  Same room!

We also needed a fabric for a pillow, and out came another animal - Osborne & Little's Serengeti!

Osborne & Little fabric - Serengeti

Once Green Chair had a fresh coat of stain and revitalized legs, it was back to the upholsterer for its final makeover.  This chair has traveled more in a few weeks then I have in my whole life!

                                                  And now the final unveiling.....ta da!!!

The Chair...reborn!

                                               
                                                  All new and stylin' !!  And Just to recap.....

Before

After

What a difference some love and attention (and having good workrooms) makes!  Instead of clogging up the landfills, this chair now sits proudly in the living room for many years to come!


Stay tuned!  This project is almost done!  Final pictures to come!


"No animal should ever jump up on the dining room furniture unless absolutely certain that he can hold his own in the conversation."  Fran Lebowitz