NY Good Questions: What Type of Fabric Should We Use?

4.21couch2.jpg Dear AT,

I would like to reupholster this chair and love seat, however, I'm not sure what kind of fabric to use and what color to use that would look good with the chrome frame.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks! Lindsay

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4.21couch.jpg

Comments (13)

Tomato Red Ultrasuede

posted by bepsf on April 21st 2008 at 8:39am
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I love the corduroy, and to tell you the truth, I love the brown. I would stick with corduroy, and choose a color that compliments your color scheme.

posted by semidivine on April 21st 2008 at 8:43am
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Cowhide.

posted by martita on April 21st 2008 at 9:44am
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I'm seeing great things with barkcloth; possibly a smaller-scale pattern in greys and oranges. Of course, I may be partial to orange. And to barkcloth, perhaps. Good luck with the redo!

posted by allisonlindsay on April 21st 2008 at 9:44am
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I have two chairs that are similar, and I had them upholstered in chocolate brown microsuede. It looks great!

posted by Birdy on April 21st 2008 at 10:20am
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Any colour or pattern will go with a chrome frame. Let your imagination run wild.

posted by Jeanne Ziegler on April 21st 2008 at 12:23pm
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Those are hot, hot, hot. Ultrasuede in chocolate brown, khaki, or sunny yellow, etc. Also, Ultrasuede is a very practical fabric. Very easy to clean.

posted by mopar on April 21st 2008 at 12:55pm
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There was a recent photo in one of shelter mags(sorry i forget which one) of a similar sofa in a slate gray/blue....it was gorgeous.

posted by Bridget212323 on April 21st 2008 at 1:21pm
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... i think it was on the cover of Elle Decor a few months ago.

Anyway it depends on your room - what is the rest of your furniture upholstered in? I like a velvet or a corduroy... but then again I'm a microsuede-hater and it seems like that's what everyone else wants you to do.

posted by eebnyc on April 21st 2008 at 2:43pm
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i second martita - cowhide!

posted by Trixie Jones on April 21st 2008 at 3:05pm
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velveteen, leather, or ultrasuede- something in a 'warm' texture to offset the cool feel of the chrome- in any color at all (imagine these in violet velveteen, for example- yum!)

posted by mskk on April 21st 2008 at 4:54pm
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As these chairs are representative of a very particular historical period (late 70s/early 80s), you'd do best to recover them in a fabric from the same era. It'll play up their kitsch value and show that you understand their heritage - nothing is sadder than an iconic piece of old furniture reupholstered in last year's trendy fabric.

You could certainly do worse than recovering them with the same chocolate-coloured velveteen. A bold floral in acid yellows and oranges from the late 70s would also work well.

posted by Blandwagon on April 21st 2008 at 6:34pm
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It's really hard to go wrong with a microfiber fabric on a contemporary piece. I think some textured, woven fabrics would be pretty cool on it too.

posted by designsnob on April 21st 2008 at 10:23pm
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