apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Yeah do it!

Don't rush. It actually looks great on the picture. A little wear and tear gives a nice lived-in patina and soul to the piece. Only make changes that you are certain will be an improvement - amd that would be pretty hard.

I love the shape of this chair and I like the nailheads. It's a nice mix of traditional and modern! And I actually enjoy this buttery color, too. Does it blend in with what you have already?

I like it just the way it is, naug is retro!

Have you considered painting/stenciling on a modern logo on the back or seat instead of reupholstering it?

Yes, yes you should reapholster that chair! It's a good piece and after you breathe some new life into it it will be a great piece! I'd choose luxurious fabric, maybe a brocade or something with texture. Good find!

I love recovering things, but just a warning - I recently recovered a little egg/tub chair in Naugahyde type material and it was WAY more difficult than I though it would be. The problem is that (if your chair is like mine) the Naugahyde is so streched out it is impossible to make a good pattern from. So either plan really well or have an expert do it.

I would recover it in a rich fabric like desireeg said, but only if I could have someone else do it.

If not, it is very cute as is. I hope it fits with the design in your place!

I wonder if there is a way to stain it a darker color? Anyone know?

I vote recover, but only if you have it done professionally. it has great shape and could look really sharp, but it's current color doesn't do it for me. wear andd tear yellowish color = grungy looking.

I love it, especially the nailhead detail. Unless you have a lot (like a LOT) of reupholstering experience, I would get a professional to do it. If it were mine, I'd go for a silvery or jewel-pink silk velvet...

I think you should stain it... if possible!

Tough to reupholster as a DIYer. But an easier update would be to make a pin-fitted slipcover in any linen or upholstery-weight fabric you love. A fastener of some sort at the narrowest part of the chair back would accentuate the shape and keep the cover in place. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Oooh, I'm envisioning a fabric slipcover with some fabulous trim running all along the edge where the nailheads are now. A metallic fancy braid, or a mohawk, or a row of little buttons...

No way!! It's phenomenal as-is. I wouldn't touch it.

dont change it! just clean it up and give it a good polishing. i have two matching chairs in the same color vinyl with brass studs, i love the buttery yellow leather look. Mine however have shorter backs (one continuous curve with the arms) and are on these marvelous casters! once i cleaned them really well (an unbelievable amount of dirt came off) and just wiped them down with some wax furniture polish stuff they were super shiny and seem well protected from additional wear on the arms (i don't know if this is the best way to deal with the pleather but it seemed to work well) I got the pair at a habitat restore for $10!

i agree with the other posters - if you recover it..... don't do it yourself!

That fabric looks kinda gross to sit on- vinyl? Not fun in the summer if you're wearing shorts or a skirt... i'd have it professionally re-done if you're worried about the curves. The nailheads are great! Pic a beautiful linen!

I agree with RalphEMole... Give it a really good, thoughtful cleaning and polishing. After that I bet you'll know if you want to keep it as is, or tackle the reupholstery yourself, or have a professional do the job. Cleaning and polishing a new purchase is the only way to see the real potential of a piece before making changes.

Good Luck.

Send picture or have a pro (or several) come and give you an estimate. The problem is the curve in the back--both for width of fabric and strechiness. With barrel chairs of any type the back is often seamed and that should be done by a pro. Your upholsterer should give you the amount of yardage you need. You should bring a sample of fabric and tell hm the repeat(example: repeat: 19") and the width of the fabric. He needs this to estimate yardage and to tell you if seaming is necessary and how it will be seamed. Verticals and prints won't match perfectly all the way down the seam due to the curve. If you choose a fabric of that type, a good upholsterer will choose the points to match wisely and make it look good. Also, ask if the nailheads will be reusable or you will need new ones.

Leave it be.

Yes, definitely. But have a pro do it. I'd consider a pony-hide (actually cow), depending on your decor. All depends on the room in which it will live!

PS -- you don't have to do nailheads again if you don't want to. You could do welting.

If that wasn't fake leather, I'd say keep it as is. I like the wear on it, and the nailheads (even the color). But fake leather feels creepy and rubbery to me. If the chair is well-made, and you like it enough, I'd suggest doing it over in real leather. Or hair hide, if you want it kind of funky. But you will pay a lot for the labor on this curvy chair.

No, no, no ,no.

Leave it alone. Dont recover it.

Slipcover, it's cheap and you could easily make a pattern with large paper. Be creative with different ways to make it fit; elastics, shoelace and clasp pulls at the bottom. In the far corner isles of Fabric Stores is where you can get discounted fabrics or take your time to thrift it to help the environment.

I agree with the deep clean suggestions.

Also, is that your carpet and wallpaper? I think the chair, once cleaned up, goes rather well with that kind of kitsch!

I also think the slipcover idea is good....especially for summertime. You could have a lot of fun with it!

Leave as is. Just add textured pillow and you're done.

Looking at the picture again, my priority would be changing the carpet and curtains.

Since you only have one it should look like an art peice. I would do "Hair on cowhide".

Reupholster it for sure! It has such a beautiful shape...I'd pick a luxe velvet fabric and replace the nailheads. And definitely have a professional do it. I know a great, inexpensive upholsterer in Long Island City. They've done a number of pieces for me including a custom headboard which I have a photo of on my blog here:

http://sohaute.typepad.com/sohaute/2008/08/bedroom-sneak-peek.html

Good luck!

What if you sewed a little slipcover for it, with buttons up the back to fit the curves? That could make it work for your space till you decide on what exactly to do with it.