Hi Jessica -
I have a similar design dilemma. I inherited a red velvet wingback chair from my grandma and like you, could never get rid of it - it's way to precious. Best of luck to you!

Since it is such a special piece, I'd look for an upholstery school (if there's one where you live) or slipcover the chair until you can afford to get it done properly. Just one woman's opinion...

I would shop around, see how much getting it done by a pro is going to cost you. If you take it to a pro, hopefully they will bring it back to its former glory and it will last for many many more years. Not saying that a DIY job is going to fall apart, I just think for something with such sentimental value, it might be worth the extra bucks...

The book you need to look through is Sunset's Simply Upholstery: Step-by-Step, Renewing Your Favorite Furniture. I think my local bookstore had it in stock. It gives a pictoral step-by-step reupholstering for a wing chair (toughest kind of chair, they say, to reupholster) with yardage estimates, how to match the pattern, how to make the welting/cording ... and other very useful techniques. You can do this with the help of that book, I say. But flip through the book, and if it's not what you want to do, then hang around the ReStore until you meet someone who does this kind of thing often. :) Or go on craigslist and find someone with before/after photos and a good history. Be careful, there are "semi-pros" who might think they can do this, but they won't care for the piece as you do. Besides, upholstery is a terrific skill to have and will save you loads of money over time, if you enjoy doing it. Good luck to you.

I don't know if there are any classes where you live, but they are offered at a fabric store local to me. If it were mine, I would sign up for a class and learn to do it myself. You sound willing to learn, so it might be fun.

Go to your main public library, and take a look at their upholstery book collection. Check one or two if you plan to do the job yourself. (Most branch libraries now days have more Internet than Books.)

I took a class and photographed the process. I added comments to the pics explaining what I was doing at each step. If I could do it, anyone can. Found the class through a tip from an upholstery supply store Here's the link to my DIY sofa reupholster. http://www.flickr.com/photos/18054852@N02/sets/72157627466375220/

When I wanted to reupholster a similar chair, I signed up for an evening class. There were 6 or 8 of us, each of us with our own piece, and an experienced teacher who walked us through the process over 10 weeks.

Well worth doing it this way because a chair like yours (and mine) is a bit tricky.

I think this is a really useful set of videos on youtube: he's a professional but does a really good job of explaining it, I think: http://www.diyupholsterysupply.com/how-to-use-staple-gun.html

You might post it on Etsy and have someone bid on doing it for you. I tried that a few years ago. You have the bonus of being able to look at pictures of their other work. Unfortunately, the person with the price I was willing to pay was not close enough to make it worthwhile; but it's worth a shot. Good luck!

Call your local Vo-Tec (vocational training) and see if they have an adult ed upholstery class. You will have access to an expert and all the power equipment needed. You bring the chair in and leave it there and work on it during the classes, take it home when done. My stuff looked great but the main thing I learned was that although I COULD do this, its is a messy job, harder to do without the right tools, and the professional earns his money.

If you take a class at a local vo-tec, they'll have all the supplies and tools you'll need, including sawhorses and industrial sewing machines. Plus, you'll leave your project there and it won't sit unfinished in your living room for 6 weeks.

I've found that the cost of reupholstering is dependant on your location. It's been $800 in Boston and $350 in Memphis for me on similar chairs. And this is with my own fabric. That chair probably needs about 6 yards. Find a bargain fabric on ebay or one of the discount fabric sites and take it to a pro or go the night school route if that's available.

I've been working on my first re-upholstery project. I read a lot of step-by-step tutorials online and got to work. I found that removing the old fabric and stapling on the new fabric was really easy (albeit incredibly tedious). Where I've stalled is sewing the new seat cushion. I have competent sewing skills, but for some reason I just can't get it right so it remains 3/4 finished. Which leads me to my advice on how to save money and still have it done right: do the stapling portion of the project yourself and hire a seamstress or reupholstery specialist to redo the seat cushion for you.

PS an electric stapler will be your new BFF!

I have the exact same dilemma- a vintage chair that I've had for over 15 years and looks the part. My chair is structurally very solid so I've decided to wait until I can afford to pay a professional to reupholster it. Investing a couple hundred dollars seems well worth the cost for a piece that may last a lifetime.

I am an upholsterer and I can tell you that unless you are extremely crafty and patient, to not undertake this chair; best option moneywise is to sign up for a class (local community college or fabric shop) or have someone who knows what their doing upholster it.

Definitely take a class or find a tutorial because from the looks of the picture the basic structure needs some reinforcement. It is going to take more than just replacing the fabric. If you are in the Los Angeles area, there's a cool workshop class at ABC Adult Education in Cerritos. Bring your project and the instructor Victor (or any of the other repeat students) will guide you along the way. I take it every semester (as do most of the students) because all the equipment and supplies are right there. BTW this chair would look fabulous in a bold, bright, large floral or ikat print.

Since your chair has sentimental value and looks like it would look fantastic when it is reupholstered, I would have it professionally reupholstered. Although it will cost a lot, you can look at it as an amortized cost over the many years it will be used. If done by a professional it may be a chair that your own grandchild will be using in years to come.

One thing to consider when thinking about the price of reupholstering the chair is the cost of a replacement chair and footstool. And the fact that while you might be able to find a chair for $250, will it be as comfortable or last as long as this chair?

I've got my grandfather's chair--the cats have scratched it so much that there's stuffing coming out. I'm saving up to reupholster it, because it is incredibly comfortable and I can't find a new chair that even comes close.

In the meantime, I'm making a drop sheet slipcover for it. I'm using the instructions here: http://missmustardseed.com/2011/03/video-slipcover-tutorial-series-part-2/

I agree fully with martiemartie .

This is a complicated piece of furniture, and we have no idea how experienced you are in any of the skills involved. Are you a handy person? Do you sew? Do you have the tools that you would need to do the job (including staple gun, sewing machine, pliers, etc.)?

I like reupholstering things, and have done several chairs and am an extremely seasoned sewer, and would still be approaching such a project with the knowledge that it would tax my skills. Professional upholsterers are skilled tradespeople; it isn't just "super easy" like many folks often seem to be saying.

If you are dreaming about it as a project, there are lots of tutorials all over the internet, books, videos, etc. But I would strongly suggest that you not have your first ever upholstery project be a complicated chair that has all kinds of sentimental value for you. Get a cheapy thrift store chair and bedding (for fabric) second hand, and try that out first.

I remember my Mom doing a class thru the county or state extension service when I was a kid. She had what I believe is called a channel backed chair. She took the whole chair apart, retied the springs, new webbing, stuffing, cushions, fabric. The result was super good. I was really sad when she finally ditched that chair after about 20 years and I had no way to take it.
A long winded way to say that a class might be the way to go, if you are reasonably handy and super patient. Also she was willing to eat the cost and go to the pro if it was a disaster.

Whatever you do, keep it to a classic fabric. There are some fun prints out there, but if you want to keep it an heirloom then please use something a little more understated! (Keep it velvet, if I may suggest!)

Wow, Blueintuit! Fabulous job and documentation.

Reupholstering is the best option, but it's also the most expensive. I definitely recommend taking a class before you even think of attempting it. In the meantime, Miss Mustard Seed's blog has video tutorials for slipcovers. She uses painting dropcloths, which are really cheap for practicing on and look pretty nice until you are able to learn to upholster the chair the way you want it. If you go to her website, go to the tutorials section on the right hand sidebar and the videos are in there.

Having taken an upholstery class before, I have to say it is a LOT of work! And it can be hard and very technical depending on the particular chair.
If this chair means a lot to you, and you will have it for a long time, having it professionally done is well worth the cost.

i live in an urban area where re-upholstery is super expensive. I'm going to pack my beloved chair up and take it to my parents over the holidays, then pick it up next summer. I'll save $300 and its a good excuse to visit :)

Wow- so many great responses!! I sew a little bit, but my skill level leaves a bit to be desired...so having it professionally reupholstered is probably the best option. I think maybe I'll take it back home to KY and see if I can find someone to reupholster it there- probably way cheaper than having it done in Chicago!
Thanks again guys!!!

If you have the time and it's important to you that you do it yourself, I'm sure you'll be up to the task, however time is the critical factor. You know there are still some expert upholsterers around and maybe they might be sympathetic to your situation. Either way it's a great story...