Good Questions: What Fabric to Recover This Chair?

10.18chair2.jpg Hello AT,

My sweet husband recently bought me a chair very similar to this for our anniversary, but it needs to be recovered.

My question is this: Can a chair like this be recovered with a print such as a paisley or a damask fabric or does it need to be covered in a solid fabric?

Thanks! Heather

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Comments (6)

go for it!

i saw a pair of these deco chairs at the Rose Bowl flea market this weekend and thought they'd look so charming covered in a vintage botanical print. OR if they were in a girly dressing room or bedroom in a seashell pink...

posted by my little apartment on October 18th 2007 at 10:42am
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I think it can handle a pattern, something that flows with the curves of the piece though, I wouldn't throw any sharp edged geometrics on it.

I think it would also look nice with legs to get it off the ground, but not sure what would look best with the round base, probably something that's small at the bottom then tapers up wider near the top edge. Something metal?

Have fun!

posted by Angie in Montreal on October 18th 2007 at 12:03pm
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I think you could definitely use damask... take a look at these examples:

several tufted chairs upholstered in damask...
http://tinyurl.com/yuuabv

http://www.laylagrayce.com/detail.aspx?ID=6579

http://www.lampsplus.com/products/74179/?sourceid=DFMSNSH74179&cm_mmc=MSN-SH-_-Furniture-_-Furniture-_-74179

a large damask print is going to look more abstract, but look at this tufted chesterfield by anthropologie...it can look magnificent...
http://tinyurl.com/yufnue

and this bold and beautiful botanical print chair...
http://tinyurl.com/2d99d3

you could also go with an outrageously bright velvet...chartreuse, fuchsia, turquoise?

posted by polkadot on October 18th 2007 at 3:41pm
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It might be fun to alternate solid and print somehow on the sections on the back.

posted by circlebloom on October 19th 2007 at 7:29am
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I was thinking a subtle pinstripe in grey and a leopard print for the seat... but maybe that's too Madonna in the "Express Yourself" video?

posted by saya* on October 19th 2007 at 8:39am
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You could use almost any fabric on this chair - what mood do you want to create? The chair has fabulous lines so I would want to see it done in a fabric that allows them to define the chair - maybe with a funky fringe around the bottom. For the best fabrics around, my favorite "store" is a website actually - below wholesale prices on really expensive high-end goods like Scalamandre, Brunschwig, Clarence House, Donghia and others of that caliber. TIP: If you don't see what you are looking for ask - they have a lot more than is shown on-line. Plus the owners are decorators and will also do email consulting at reasonable fees. The only area they fall short in, in my opinion, is the very current trendy stuff but for anything classic through retro, they'd be my first choice. The website is new and unfinished (should be complete by May), but links to store items work and you can't beat the values. Check them out at
RestorationFabricsandTrims.com
---Chip

posted by chip on March 23rd 2009 at 9:41am
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