I'd get it done commercially and consider these something you will keep and love for a long time. I did a similar project (on the recliner I'm sitting in right now) for about that same cost and I'm very pleased with the results. I too first thought I could do it myself, then I considered loose slipcovers, then I bit the bullet and went for a professional job when my prototype loose cover for the ottoman looked utterly craptacular. I can email you before & after pics of mine if you'd like.

Fabric doesn't have to cost a fortune if you can find what you like at Interior Fabrics or somewhere like Jo-Ann's and Hobby Lobby where there are good sales and 40% off coupons all the time.

They appear to be unique and interesting. If you love them, it’s worth it, though I would shop around. You can get something similar online, new but not with the wood base that these have.

I agree...these look worth spending the money to get them professionally upholstered. Just be sure that you choose a reputable person/company to do them because there are some upholstery hacks out there!

Couple of things:
1) Live with them for about 6 months. If you are still in love with them, go get them done.
2) If they have good bones, have them done professionally and YOU buy the fabric on sale if possible. That will save you some.
3) Seek your local adult school or your hardware supply store and see if they have classes in re-upholstering. At the hardware stores, they are usually free because they hope you will buy your supplies from them.
Best of luck.

These are beautiful mid century modern chairs, stylish and well made, and well worth the cost to upholster. But what is wrong with the original upholstery? It looks great with the wood and appears to be in great condition. Maybe you should leave it alone and tackle an easier project whose existing upholstery is ugly or ruined. Try a little ottoman or a dining chair.

You only got one quote? I see that as a problem. Get some more prices, maybe you'll find someplace cheaper, or can go back and say their prices aren't competitive enough and be able to haggle it down.

Shop around for an upholsterer. Cost and estimates can vary wildly. And yes, as others have said, keep costs down by getting fabric on sale.

Don't forget the tip from here on AT about considering shower curtains for upholstery fabric.

Throw some blankets over them and call it a day.

"..due to the thick foam quilted top portion of the slipcover, I would need a commercial machine to do the job properly."

Sheryl, are you confident enough in your skills to do this yourself? Could you get your hands on a commercial machine? A family member is rebuilding a sail boat. He bought a used heavy duty sewing machine. He has used it on everything from sails to sewing leather onto a rope. You could even resell it after this reupholstery job.

Definitely worth a professional job. You can save some money by sourcing your own fabric. Look for a local Home Fabrics store or other factory remnant reseller. Or order swatches from a place like House Fabric (I have found Pottery Barn's upholstery remnants here for 1/4 of the price), or

Whatever you do, don't put slipcovers on them.

Want to see how new upholstery can transform a chair with great form? Check out this site: http://www.modernchairrestoration.com/

You might try living with them for a bit as some of the previous posters mentioned, but if you decide you like them, they could be made fantastic with some new fabric.

You could also look for an upholstery class in your area. Sometimes you can bring your piece and fabric and use their equipment, receiving help along the way.

No that's a terrible idea. I'll take them off your hands for you. :) Seriously though I took an upholstery class through my local community college and it did take a lot longer to get them recovered than just paying, but they look awesome plus I have a new skill and bragging rights. Those chairs could really anchor a room but the foam has gotten misshapen and the stretched fabric has allowed it. Those chairs are worth the $$.

Or, you could do a slipcover for now and do the upholstery later.

That seems a fair price. Get iit done professionally -- you won't regret it. Just go out and get the fabric yourself, first. I did that with a pair of Dux recliners and the turned out great.

Those chairs are great -- can I have them?
; - )

here is a fabulous blog resource:
http://www.modhomeec.com/

and another reupholstered success story:
http://goldentouchhome.blogspot.com/2011/11/from-that-to-this.html

I echo what others said. Get it done professionally, but get quotes from several people first. Don't just choose the first one you go to. And don't just throw a blanket on top and call it a day or just slipcover them - they're interesting to look at, why would you just cover it up to live with it? Live with what you want, not what is just "good enough." These are good pieces to keep for a long time.

Here is a blog post where the exact chair (minus the arms) was redone. So you can see how lovely it turned out :) http://www.thevintagecabin.com/2011/10/peefore-after.html

I tend to overestimate my abilities and would probably attempt to do them myself anyways, they really don't look that difficult. Jenny at Littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com has some really good tutorials for tufting and it is not as difficult as it seems. If you do decide to get it done professionally, definitely shop around. Find someone who can furnish examples of their work, and definitely don't settle on the first place you ask. Don't live with slipcovers! You will ultimately just be frustrated that your room's never look finished or quite right, if you decide to live with temporary fixes(they always seem to last longer than temporarily at my house:)).

PS what in the world is Kijiji?

As someone who's done a couple of years of upholstery training, I cannot say strongly enough: get it done professionally - the method of doing those buttons is not simple and (no offense) it sounds like you have no idea where to start.

i have the same issue with vintage chairs with ugly fabrics but i would totally say to look around first if u have a budget and dont wanna go over but if u really wanna splurge then make a project plan for it.

I think they look just a bit complicated to DIY - not so much the tufting but the shaping of the seat and back edges. And please don't consider buying anything but the best quality fabric to do them; something inexpensive like a shower curtain is not meant to be sat on, walked on, or rubbed constantly. Look online - there are many dealers out there who sell the higher quality contract grade upholstery fabric remnants for about the same as Joanne's that will last a lifetime and have the style these beautiful chairs deserve! I wouldn't even get anything but the very best for a DIY job - why spend all that time and effort with fabric that just doesn't last?

I'd get a quote from a couple of different places and see who comes up with the best price. Why not? It's a big job. And durable, long lasting fabric is a must, nothing light to show stains you can't get out.

Where are you located? I do upholstery (located in Minnesota) you can contact me at heather "at" theluxurycollectionusa "dot" com. If you'd like another quote.