Hello AT,
I'm trying to decide whether to bring this chair to my new apartment and if so, how to finally reupholster it. Right now it's draped with an Indian shawl that's too delicate to be anything but a temporary solution. I trash-picked it years ago, in its hand-sewn covering and while it's always been a little out of place in my living room (it's very low compared to the rest of my furniture, for one thing), I like the lines...
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I would definitely keep it. If the lines and height don't really go with your sofa, try a fabric that will coordinate well - think about color, pattern, and texture. If you still have the original cover ( and some sewing skills), and you don't want to pay someone else to reupholster it (which is usually the best option), you can carefully remove all the stitches from the old cover and make a new pattern from the pieces.
Craigslist. VINTAGE EAMES ERA MID CENTURY KNOLL MODERN SPACE AGE. $725.
Here's some information on the designer:
http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/findingaids/mc00244/
The fact that the basic covering is a slipcover is great, because that should lower the cost to have the chair reupholstered (they can simply use it as a pattern.) However, it will still be pricey, and would very easily be $200+ in many markets. If the webbing is also in bad shape, you probably shouldn't bother.
If you love it -- and especially if you have a friend who's good at sewing, or you can do it yourself -- go ahead. In terms of selling it, though, you won't get much for the chair in its current condition unless the designer is more well-known than I could find, and you'll never get back the cost of the reupholstering if you have to have it done professionally.
Good luck!
Yes. Keep it. Recover it. It's a great chair.
But once you disassemble it to do that, take that opportunity to sand and refinish the wood; in fact, you COULD even give the wood a fun color, as long as it's something that really works with the upholstery you pick. I didn't say "matches" but just works with it.
It can breathe very new life into the chair.
keep it. it's classic. I reupholsterd a similar chair recently in white vinyl (looks like leather) and it looks BOSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Rick, you forgot to throw in RETRO and DANISH. Heh. :)
If it were mine, I'd reupholster and keep it. Heck, if I didn't live on the West Coast, I'd make you an offer myself. The fact that the chair sits lower than your sofa might feel odd, but it doesn't have to be a problem. My living room has a variety of seating heights and it works fine when I have friends over.
KEEP IT! It's a great chair!
But not only that, if your chair is Walter P. Baermann Assoc, he was a famous Architect who also designed furniture.
http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/findingaids/mc00244/
Is the only info that I could find about him quickly, but your chair is worth something. It's pretty banging to boot. I'd recover it and pat myself on the back for scoring such a great street find.
If your concerned about it not fitting in with the rest of your furniture, cover it in a similar color to your sofa, and that should bridge the gap... although not the most exciting choice, but it color is an easy way to tie different furniture together.
It's a nice chair. If it's comfortable keep it. If you don't sit in it because it's not comfortable, then sell it and don't spend more money on reupholstering.
Keep it, and have Luray reupholster it (one of the recommended vendors here on AT -- I used them for the two chairs in my living room.)
...and if you don't keep it, you must give it to me!!!!!
;-)
More important than anything else, if you like it then you should keep it. We should feather our nests with whatever we love. If you like it enough, you'll find the way to make it work in your space.
It's a very ugly chair. Personally I'd sell it or burn it if you're feeling flush and don't need the cash.
I grew up with all Danish modern, bought by my mother on her honeymoon, so I may be biased. Wake up, people! It's in vogue now, but it pales quickly. Intrinsically, it's not an attractive object. Covering it will not change that fact. It's a popular style now, but that does not make it beautiful. The emperor is NAKED.
I also grew up with a whole house full of Danish modern, and I still covet every piece that my mom still has. Classic look, beautiful woodwork, and very comfy.
I also have two chairs that sit lower than my sofa and loveseat, both a bright orange that pops in contrast. Get lots of compliments, and they are the first spots taken when friends come over.
You've kept it this long in that shabby shape, I'd give it a makeover(if that fits in the budget).
Good Luck
Thanks for the comments, everybody! It was so exciting to get the attention...I do know how to sew and I hadn't thought of removing the existing cover to make a pattern. I'm looking forward to rejuvenating my chair!
Good luck with the recovering project. It is not something I would be bothering with - simply because the chair is not to my taste. But if you are preserving a piece of history you can consider the project worthwhile!