apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

You can purchase reproduction deco upholstry fabric. www.decodame.com, www.achome.co.uk. Also check at ebay.

i love the upholstered furniture at anthropologie that is done in bright, bold colors, like these ones:

http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=14586&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=597&iMainCat=371

http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=13391&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=597&iMainCat=371

http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=9667&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=597&iMainCat=371

maybe you could stain the wood ebony to give it a bit of a more contemorary feel.

This reminds me of the theater lobby chairs at my favorite deco movie theater - which was covered in red velvet, with a patern much like the one already on the chair. Maybe red velvet would be too much for your place, but I think it would look hot.

Here's a fabric that might be almost too typical art deco for you, but it's nice:

http://www.achome.co.uk/artdeco/index.php?page=fabrics&view=details&title=Adelphi+Orbis+Weave+F5361%2F01&desc=%3Cp%3ERepeat+47+cms%2C+Repeat+138+cms%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%3E70%25+Viscose+30%25+Linen%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%3E%26pound%3B55.00+per+metre%3C%2Fp%3E&item=adelphi_orbis&subpage=

And here's another from the same company:

http://www.achome.co.uk/artdeco/index.php?page=fabrics&view=details&title=Adelphi+Eltham+F5374%2F01&desc=%3Cp%3ERepeat+6cms%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%3EWidth+139+cms%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%3E53%25+Cotton+47%25+Viscose%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%3E%26pound%3B55.00+per+metre%3C%2Fp%3E&item=adelphi_eltham&subpage=

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Keith wrote:
> ...doing the arms and front in leather...

What color leather?

Nice find. I hope you will post back with the results.

Here's another few:

http://www.e-luxus-fabrics.com/soie_us/pres/frm_pres.asp?p=ART_DECO

Actually, if the arms and the back are in leather, that fabric you're looking at could look amazing.

But I think that if you're going to use that fabric in the colors that my monitor make them look like, I would probably try to find a leather that's somewhere near the color of the darkest warm tone in the pattern, and then for the wooden bits, I think I'd carefully sand and fill and paint them with satin-finish black alkyd paint. Then the whole thing would have something of a Beidemeyer look.

Although I really like some of the fabrics people are suggesting, a really busy pattern might overwhelm the chair and take away from the cool lines that it has. Maybe something in a bold color but less bold on the pattern.

I love the idea of having the wood ebony as justine suggested and the using the first fabric that curtis suggested. The chair is such a cool shape I wouldn't want to take away from it with a busier fabric.

Marimekko meets Deco? Oy.

If convinced of a leather/fabric combo, honor the original elegance of the chair and use a solid mohair and a leather in exactly the same color as the mohair... there is precedent for doing the body of the chair leather and the seat in a mohair.

Or go all "weird Ralph Lauren" on it, and combine tooled leather with blanket stripes.

Recover this chair in....fire....bleeeck!

As an amateur upholsterer (very amateur, I'm afraid), I love the idea of mixing leather with pattern. Having said that, and having DONE that, I would suggest doing your chair all in leather or leather and mohair in the same color, as patric suggested. I got really tired of my mixed piece after a few years.
What about making a second cushion cover in the print, and a throw for the back?
I'm just sayin'.

We had a similar chair and similar experience, and wound up covering it in cut red velvet (couldn't get my hands on the appropriate mohair at the time). Looks great and is a classic. the chair is already a statement piece, and you don't need to amplify the "wow" effect with the fabric choices.

I'd definitely do it in a deep shade of red velvet, mid-way between true red and burgundy, and would do the wooden parts in black high gloss lacquer........ooh la la!

I have just sold a pair of chairs so very similar to your one. They had both been recovered just before we bought them. The timber was dark stained and the fabric was actually a very subtle almost sueded leopard print. It sounds ghastly but they looked fab. They got heaps of comments - all positive. I had to sell them because they were hideously uncomfortable to sit in! I definately suggest spending an hour or two sitting in the chair before you decide to invest any money in recovering it!

I agree with hdtek!!!!!!!

TORCH IT!

We recently launched a collection of re-issued Art Deco fabrics. Samples can be viewed on www.artdecofabrics.co.uk We ship worldwide.

Hello there;

You have a good eye for Deco. I have the same chair plus couch, that took me about 2 years to work up and have redone. I think you should stay with one shade, with a textured fabric. I chose a melon pink microfiber, that looks red in some lights and almost dusky maroon in others. It has a definite "Deco swirl" in it, that makes it move. My upholsterer, waxed the wood and kept it in a honey color, which is a Deco color. Mine are a bit plump, which adds to their "voluptuous" quality. They are a good sit too, and everyone always heads for the chair when they come to my apartment. Good Luck and take your time. It will be worth it. They are very dramatic when they are finished. Deco gal.