Hello AT,
Walking down the street in Brooklyn this evening, we stumbled upon this lone chair sitting out in the frigid cold next to some old abstract paint canvases.
My girlfriend recognized it immediately as an Eames, though we figured it was probably a knock-off.
When we got home, however, we turned it upside down and were astonished to realize that it's an authentic Herman Miller (with a patent number and everything)...
(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first.)
It has clearly seen some use and the fabric seems to have been scrawled on by the previous owner's kid (albeit in a similar, brownish color!).
But I'm curious about having it reupholstered, and what that might cost.
Also, it needs a new foot piece for one of the feet, so I'm wondering about parts.
Thanks! Blake
Veronica & Keith's Handmade Chic 
The World's Ugliest Condo: The Big Bathroom Reveal 
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Hunslet Dinner Plate
A Beginner's Guide to Superb Stir-Fry: Quick, Healthy Meals from a Wok
Homesteaders' Cocktail Recipe: Lovage Simple Syrup
Comments (20)
Blake, try getting in touch with Retro Redo. They charge about $250 to reupholster an Eames shell chair, and are willing to work on most Herman Miller and Knoll pieces. Very nice people, and will be happy to give you a quote if you email them. I'm planning to send a shell out there in the new year.
As for the foot piece, try getting in touch with Highbrow Furniture. They sell replacement parts for most HM pieces still in production (as this one is).
(Very nice find, BTW!)
I was under the impression that style of chair actually was a pre-made cushion (that you order), versus a true upholstery job, but I may be mistaken.
Excellent! I had the same question, as I am redoing the room mne is in, and would love to have it in a different color.
Anna - Thank you! Highbrow Furniture looks like the perfect source for that foot.
Patrick - Now that you say it, it makes sense: when I turned the chair upside down I noticed that the whole seat is kind of a "sling" hung on the frame. Maybe it's as easy as ordering a new cushion from Highbrow Furniture? I wonder how easy it would be to mount on the frame.
How lucky are you?! I have a vintage herman miller as well, and when first got it, the metal was a bit tarnished. I used some metal polish and it worked wonders. I highly recommend it. Congrats on your find!
I jealous
I think that if you unscrew the bits on the back/top, the fabric "sling" can be removed & replaced. A decorator I have worked with has had these reupholstered before.
We got the same chair free, and are also missing a foot. Ours is actually broken off and part of the plastic thing is stuck up in the screw hole it goes into.
Any thoughts on how to get that bit out, should a replacement foot be found?
We have these exact chairs in our conference rooms at work. Love them!
I hate that when the plastic thing is stuck up in the screw hole.
cristinanyc: very carefully, with a tiny drillbit, at slow speeds, drill into the center of the plastic. Done right, leaving the bit in place, put the drill in reverse and slowly, while pulling gently, the plastic should spin out with the bit. If not, then change up to a slightly larger bit, enlarging the hole, repeat, etc. You should be able able to get the plastic out fairly easily at that point. This is how I remove bolts and screws that have their heads snapped off or stripped....
Petro- can you tell me exactly what type of metal polish you used for the aluminum? Thank you!
Lucky you!!
Congratulations on a great find!
Is anyone else wondering about those 'abstract paint canvases' [sic]?
nice find- these guys might be able to help out with replacement parts - they're in uk but they have a ton of parts for herman miller chairshttp://www.mancha.demon.co.uk/spares.html
The polish I used is called Brasso. You can get it at most supermarkets and hardware stores.
Dammit. The odds are against me of ever stumbling on anything like vintage Herman Miller out by the trash here in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Oh, wait. There was that solid brass Paavo Tynell light fixture that I bought for a quarter at a tag sale. And that Eliot Noyes IBM telephone table I got at an auction for seven bucks. And I guess I did get that Hans Wegner Papa Bear Chair at that one estate sale...
But I really want an Eames chair for my office.
I caught that, Patrick ;)
Parts are also available from Hume Modern-- humemodern.com. Alfie Hume specializes in Herman Miller furniture restoration and repair. He also has some used parts--I got some great casters for a chair, also some glides for my chairs. He will also know about the upholstery possibilities with this chair--. I have a similar chair, so I look forward to hearing about what you do with it in terms of that upholstery.
Hi All
I ended up contacting Lloyd at Retro Redo about the reupholstering, and Highbrow Furniture about a replacement foot. Highbrow sent the little plastic foot free of charge--incredibly generous.
Retro Redo quoted the reupholstering of this particular model at $350 plus shipping, and also said that this is one of the more expensive ones to redo. I'm saving up the cash to mail it down to them sometime soon.
In the meantime, a little polish and a new foot, and she's looking pretty good.
Blake, did you ever end up getting this reupholstered? Thinking about getting mine done.
Andy - Brooklyn