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Good Questions: Keep or Sell These Chairs?
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032609atlagoodquest01.jpgDear AT: This is one of a pair of chairs I own that I have a love/hate relationship with. I love looking at them and love how dirt cheap they were via Craigslist a few years back. I hate that they're becoming rickety and that I have to navigate only skinny friends to sit in them. I like my furniture to be of use, so if I'm going to keep them, I need to bring them to a furniture repair shop for some TLC. Does AT and the AT readership think these chairs are worth keeping and/or putting money into? If I were to resell them, what would be a good asking price? Thanks! Dhyana

Got a good question you'd like answered? Send your queries and a photo or two illustrating your question, and we'll see if the ATLA team or our readers can help you out.

 
 

Personally we love this vintage chair design and think they'd be worth reupholstering, refinishing and refurbing to a sturdy finish. Not because we think you should resell them, but because they're handsome, classic pieces that you've admitted evoked a sense of "love" in your life (minus their structural condition), something that tells us you should make an effort to bring these back to full glory. We recommend you contact a local furniture repair shop and get an estimate for repair and reupholstering.

What does everyone else out there think? Keep or sell?

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Comments (32)

if you don't LOVE them, get rid of them and put the $ toward something you do love

posted by tabithacat on March 26th 2009 at 12:41pm
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keep, the joints might just need some glue.

posted by SoSue on March 26th 2009 at 12:43pm
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I quite like them. If you don't want to pay for a full repair, you might be able to get away with using a joint swelling compound to make things a little more solid. Otherwise, I'd get a quote on how much it would cost to fix them.

Also think about how much it would cost to replace them with something you find similarly appealing aesthetically. If it costs less to fix them, then definitely do so. Remember, it's not how much you can sell the item for that determines it's worth to you, it's how much it would cost to replace it.

posted by Tiamat_the_Red on March 26th 2009 at 12:44pm
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i love them! but... do YOU? if yes, then reupholster them yourself in an updated fabric, and get the structures repaired by a professional. if no, sell those puppies and bring in something new. keep in mind, if you're wondering how much $$$ you could fetch for them, then they're probably not worth keeping.

posted by travelingrory on March 26th 2009 at 12:49pm
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I like them. You could easily paint them. I love getting ideas from designspongeonline, they have a before & after section.

If you don't like them, I'd say sell for $20 a pop.

posted by plumeria on March 26th 2009 at 12:56pm
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I agree with tabithacat. Don't spend money on them if you don't like them. Give them to a friend who appreciates them and buy new/other chairs for yourself. :-)

posted by Bosse on March 26th 2009 at 1:01pm
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If it would be inexpensive to repair...you could always paint and Reupholster them. They've got classic lines so it might be worth to keep and put a little bit of money into them.

posted by Nevis on March 26th 2009 at 1:10pm
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I think they're cool. Just need to be refinished, reupholstered, and stiffened up. Definitely a nice form.

posted by LinePlaneVolume on March 26th 2009 at 1:14pm
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i really like them... i would sand them and paint them a glossy color (i think red or turquoise) and reupholster the seats in a white/cream fabric. and even if you dont want to sit on them you could use one in an entry to hold your bag/etc when you come home... or to hold books... etc.

but if you REALLY dislike them... just give them to someone in need.

posted by erinpearce on March 26th 2009 at 1:17pm
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i'm skinny, i'll take them ;)

posted by pixstyx on March 26th 2009 at 1:17pm
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I like them - They have nice lines and appear to be versatile: they could be used in almost any room or paired with a small round table as a little dining/breakfast area.

If they were mine I'd certainly have no problem expending some time and energy into repairing them.

posted by bepsf on March 26th 2009 at 1:17pm
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Personally, I would refinish, reupholster and get them sturdy. But, if they have already warn out their welcome in your home, it may not be worth it for you to spend the money. Its a personal preference call!

posted by monialicia on March 26th 2009 at 1:18pm
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KEEP! Or you'll regret it, trust me!

posted by sarrazak on March 26th 2009 at 1:23pm
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My first response was definitely to keep them (the shape is awesome, and would look awesome repainted and recovered). However, if they are too thin to be comfortable, and are wobbly.

posted by caitlinmarie on March 26th 2009 at 1:27pm
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*sorry... then I would consider selling.

posted by caitlinmarie on March 26th 2009 at 1:28pm
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That looks like a fairly easy chair to reupholster yourself. Turn them over - if the padded seat is just screwed in, you can unscrew it (save the screws!), wrap a fabric you like over it taut, staple it down with a staple gun, and screw it back on. Might be worth trying with one chair, just to see if you don't mind the labor and like the effect enough to keep them around.

My guess is the other commentors are right about joint compound or glue - you could also give them a really good inspection, and you may find that some of them are missing screws that could be replaced.

posted by cakekick on March 26th 2009 at 1:33pm
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I would keep them because of the great lines but I completely agree with tabithacat, if you don't love them, lose them.

posted by ChrisToronto on March 26th 2009 at 1:33pm
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I think try joint compound/glue for the joints like people above suggested and see if that works. Maybe look at fabrics for the seat and see if anything inspires you. I think it might even be worth it to sand and stain a darker color because they look a little dull. All of that takes work, though and if you feel like it's just not worth it, then list them and put the money towards something fat-friend-friendly.

I'd say try to list them for what you paid, then go from there. You can always high ball it and then decrease the price over the next couple of days, weeks or say that you're negotiable/"OBO" (or best offer).. I wouldn't suggest that for someone who's moving or has a deadline, but since it's not an emergency, you have the luxury of seeing if anyone would pay a little more than you'd expect. I've been surprised... not lately, but there are some people out there with money still... I think.

posted by -haley- on March 26th 2009 at 1:36pm
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Chairs are a trouble - once they get rickety, you just keep fixing therm. So, if you don't love them, sell and get something more stable.

posted by bromelia on March 26th 2009 at 1:38pm
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You can buy chairs like that off craigslist (without rickety status) for between $20 and $25 each.

I'd sell them. It's embarrassing to tell a guest "oh, don't sit there".

posted by LBhirise on March 26th 2009 at 1:38pm
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i agree with caitlinmarie and lbhirise.

posted by abigailbelle on March 26th 2009 at 1:42pm
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I agree with Cakekick. If you could DIYem, keep them. I think once you see the fruits of your labor (on the cheap), you will fall in love with them all over again. What if you get them professionally repaired and don't like them?

posted by EChaz on March 26th 2009 at 2:16pm
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Those are chairs you will have for years if not decades. Get a quote to find out the cost to repair them the right way. You can do one at a time (Fatter friends on the repaired chair and skinny friends on the other) to manage the expense. You won't be sorry that you saved them, repaired them and have them. Upholstering a piece like that is super easy and requires little skill and minimal time. Splurge on the fabric. You probably need less than 1/2 yard to recover both chairs. You could really indulge on something fabulous. Don't refinish or paint the chairs. Leave the patina as is.

You will never regret saving these pieces. They are fab-U.

posted by ShellyinMSP on March 26th 2009 at 2:26pm
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KEEP THEM they're awesome!

posted by sunan on March 26th 2009 at 2:28pm
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They are very graceful and stylish. I would keep them but take some inspirtation from the artwork behind them and paint them white and re-upholster them with an orange fabric.

posted by jlw0001 on March 26th 2009 at 2:36pm
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I suspect it wouldn't be terribly expensive to just have these firmed up by re-gluing or whatever is needed. (Assuming nothing is actually broken.) If you like the patina and don't have them stripped and refinished, that saves money. I think the lines are really nice, so I would keep them if they can be made sturdy. (If the fix is not in your budget, you might find good instructions online for a DIY repair.)

posted by SherryBinNH on March 26th 2009 at 3:24pm
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they have a beautiful patina - please don't paint. if you are thinking about painting to make them better, sell them to someone that would appreciate that wood and get a shape you might prefer more to paint glossy ____.

in my opinion, they are great. i'd get some glue in the joints and refinish with a similar neutral fabric (without the texture and glimmer).

posted by amt230 on March 26th 2009 at 3:33pm
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I had a "rickety" chair. I just glued them back together and it is fine.

posted by Cally on March 26th 2009 at 8:33pm
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You should definitely keep the chairs. Paint them and reupholster, if you please. Do something drastic to invigorate your passion with them! They just need a little TLC.

You might be surprised at how far a little bit of carpenter's (wood) glue will go!

posted by cassandraellen on March 27th 2009 at 12:03am
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Keeeeeeeeep!!
They are stunning. Get them repaired, sand, varnish and have them reupholstered.
Always take the opportunity to keep hold of unique stylish pieces. You'll regret the moment they are gone!

posted by LDNtown on March 27th 2009 at 10:57am
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give them to me!

posted by justlikelead on March 27th 2009 at 6:08pm
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Thanks for the thoughtful responses! You convinced me to keep them. I've actually already tried gluing the joints and that didn't quite do the trick, so I'll employ someone/someplace to work some magic. I actually really love the natural wood and don't want to compromise that integrity with faddish glossy paint, ya know? Definitely will re-upholster the seats.
You all are right, I would definitely regret getting rid of these.

posted by dhyana on March 28th 2009 at 7:46pm
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