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Anytime a decorator, who stands to gain from a reupholstering job, recommends leaving fabric as is--I'd say leave it!

(It's pretty, too.)

While the upholstery's not exactly my taste, it does have a certain charm.

But, it's difficult to counsel the "right" way to proceed without actually seeing the rest of your room. Offhand, I don't see these looking good next to a black ottoman and tan sofa.

Only you will know whether to keep it. The advice to give it some time is the soundest.

If they were mine, I would get new covers made for the bolster pillows in a simple, geometric pattern based on the dark red flowers.

Live with them for a while and then decide.

I'd keep the upholstery and paint the wood -- but that look may not work for you. Are these chairs comfortable? The seats are pretty deep, which I guess accounts for the bolsters, but then it seems the arms aren't extended forward enough to be effective (?)

i think it really depends on the condition it's in, how it fits in your space, and how the design sits with you. personally, i could go either way with the fabric, depending on the setting. i do love the style of the chairs, though.

kelly
http://tearinguphouses.blogspot.com

These are a great find! I like them as they are now, but would be curious to see the rest of your room - color and style wise.

Also, if the upholstery and cushions are in good shape, I'd say hang out with them for a bit and see. You might start to really like them as they are.

I agree with the suggestion to do the lumber pillows in a coordinating fabric. I think it would quiet the fabric down a bit and make it look more modern. I don't think I'd go with black for the ottoman, though. You could go with that dark blue/green color in the chair fabric if you want a deep color. I think the black would be a little stark with the tan sofa and this pattern.

I'm surprised an upholsterer advised you against changing them. They aren't her chairs and aren't in her home. Make them yours- whatever that means for you!

I do like the idea of reupholstering the bolsters in a geometric to coordinate and living with them awhile to see if that freshens them up enough for you.

Those chairs are awesome! I would definitely keep them the way they are, if thats your personal taste and if the fabric is in good condition. Im envisioning them with a tan sofa and I think they would look fine. I would, however, reconsider reupholstering the ottoman with black. It might make the room look heavy. Just some food for thought.

Enjoy your chairs!

-J-

Do you like it? If not, then reupholster and never mind whose fabric it is. (on the other hand if they are in good condition & go with everything else you have, then you might consider sticking with them the way they are for environmental reasons.)

I agree with home body....contrasting bolster pillows would really make these chairs pop without having to recover the entire chair, which is "not so bad" given the right decorating circumstances.

Lovely chairs. And amazing price! Perhaps you can leave them as is for a while and see whether the look grows on you. Doesn't the cherry wood coordinate with the dining room pieces?

If you're considering changing the bolster, consider other shapes and sizes and think about using related contrasting fabrics on the bolster, ottoman, and sofa pillows. Not matchymatchy, necessarily, but related fabrics.

I had a Bergere chair with a rectangular, feather-filled back cushion, and it was so-oo-oo comfy. It wouldn't be hard to commission two welted box cushions that follow the contours of the chair backs. While contrast welting might sound too busy, but it actually create subtle harmony, as when the chair cushion and ottoman use two different patterns but both have cream welting.

I'd try new cushions and ottoman in medium-scale (geometric/tile/narrow stripe) fabrics of cream, black, tan, and a color (either red, blue or pink) to draw a relationship between the chairs, ottoman, and sofa. A coordinating solid welting (cream, tan, or black) is classic.

Sorry for the ramble, but sewing for furniture is my hobby! I congratulate you on your find, and applaud you for getting advice. You'll be happy if you go with your gut feeling once you gather ideas and think it over.

Of course the biggest factor is- are you thinking you may want to sell them at some point and would you want a profit? Since you barely paid anything, you could probably sell them for a little more than you bought them for if you reupholstered, though you wouldn't make back the cost of the work you had done. If they are actually valuable now, reupholstering will decrease the value but if they look nice you may still sell them for a bit more than you paid.

It seems you bought them because you like the shape of the chairs and your primary concern is really living with them not resale value. Try just a cover for the pillows if the fabric is something that intrigues you but you aren't positive you like. If you hate it- either sell the chairs to buy other ones or just reupholster them to make you happy.

Personally, I like the pattern as a way to bridge traditional and more modern and think the suggestion to cover the pillow is a good place to start.

In my opinion, who cares if its Lee Jofa? If you don't like it, then don't keep it!

Always a problem when someone tries to sell a name as important, Lee Jofa is just another fabric manufacturer, if the fabric fits your taste and home then keep it - if it doesn't - change it! There are some really fantastic geometric options these days that would look great on those chairs - and - pair perfectly (even better) with your sofa. Painting the frames would be a great option as well and that chair style looks great in black, glossy white, Kelly green or leaf'd (if it's paired with the right patterned fabric).

My mantra: change it to suit my home unless it's a museum-quality antique or modernist piece that I may want to resell.

20 bucks??? That's amazing!! You are so lucky.

Since you spent so little to get them, I would say reupholster them with a fabrick you REALLY like. :-)

Unless you love that fabric, or you want to re-sell the chairs for a profit, I say to reupholster them.

I do agree with those suggesting keeping the fabric for a while, though, to decide if you like it or not, but I would set a time limit "I will live with these for two months, and then make a decision" and I would put it on my calendar so you don't come around again next year and wonder why you never did anything with these.

I love the fabric but agree with others - do what makes you happy. I don't care whose fabric it is the chairs are living with you. Again, agreeing with others here, maybe live with them, play with the bolsters, see how they do or don't work for you.
It's like clothing. That Chanel may be fabulous and look great on your best friend but if you wore it you'd hate it. The value is not only in the quality but whether you love the item.

Change it if you don't like it. There is no crazy. just personal preference. Your taste may be totally different from the designers taste. It's your house! Pick a fabric you like and go for it. :)

I wouldn't touch these chairs - you got a great deal, just sit back and enjoy your good luck! But I certainly wouldn't pair them with anything black...

Ask yourself: if these were a blouse, what kind of skirt and blazer would you choose to wear with it? That's the fabric you should choose for the other pieces in this room.

obviously do what you can live with. if they were mine, i would reupholster in a heart beat. i love the shape of the chair, but the pattern reminds of cheap chinese furniture. for me the pattern is too loud and ugly and distracts from the chair's shape.

It doesn't matter who the designer is if you don't like the look of the fabric. It's far more important that your home express your tastes than that you fill it with designer finds about which you feel lukewarm. Find a fabric you LOVE and reupholster. If the fabric is in good condition, that just means you have more time to hunt for JUST the right patterns and colors.

The Lee Jofa link shows some inspiring textiles, and seems useful as a springboard for the owner to develop her own ideas about how to make the chairs work for her.

The designer name wouldn't enhance their value, in my opinion. But seeing what a skilled designer does with similar pieces is informative.

Eye of the beholder, and all that. Enjoy your find.

These chairs look like they are in good condition, but a fabric of your choice gives them a new updated look and better suits the personality of your individual room. Personally, and some people think this is silly, but I have to change the fabric because I hate having the memories of other behinds lounging in my chairs or sofa; it makes me squirm.

I must admit. These chairs along with the price are great. If the fabric isnt your style consider a change. However, if you arent opposed to it, leave them as is and use what money you would have spent buying coordinating pillows and accessories to match.


Whatever makes these chairs comfortable for you. Do it!

I love them and what a steal!

I would leave them, the fabric is charming. I don't care for the idea of changing the cushions out either.. Since you have a tan sofa you could add cushions or a throw to the sofa by pulling that beautiful shade of red and blue from those chairs. I would start playing up the red and blue perhaps for the ottoman and other accessories, just some not too much.

No black that would ruin the whole look.

I think Romo's fabrics would compliment nicely with those chairs-

Look at these stripe maybe for the ottoman or some pillows- the Carmine and Heritage Blue with the tan would look great. http://www.romo.com/collections/new-collections/samsara/pinkerton.html

http://www.romo.com/collections/prints/oriella/elsdon.html
or this plaid for the ottoman-
http://www.romo.com/collections/prints/oriella/lorcan.html
I think a smaller print of one of the same colors from the chair would work too, I love large pattern paired with smaller pattern then maybe a stripe in the mix- See Carmine color
http://www.romo.com/collections/new-collections/samsara/cio-cio.html

the colors fabrics I linked from ROMO were not the colors am suggesting, each pattern has a great blue and red that would work with the chairs and tan sofa.

you could add a rug with a border in red something like this-
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/color-bound-seagrass-rug/?pkey=cbordered-rugs

the shape of the chairs is fine. the upholstry is hideous. i'd re-upholster those chairs in a heart beat.

Thanks, everyone for your comments! It is kind of hard to tell in the photo, but the wood finish is painted a dark red. I think for the time being I am going to leave the chairs. The fabric is growing on me and I haven't found another fabric that I love enough to pay $800 to get reupholstered. I do love the shape of the chairs. My current plan is to slipcover my ottoman in this red fabric. http://www.calicocorners.com/product/designer fabrics for the home/shop fabrics by color/red/musad brown-red.do?search=basic&keyword=musad&sortby=priceAscend&page=1

What do you think? It is very textured, kind of looks like a St. John's suit. I can sew it myself, so it should be pretty inexpensive. I am also considering repainting the wood finish a glossy black--but I'm not sure how hard that would be to do while still preserving the current fabric on the chair. Anyway, thanks for the suggestions! Keep them coming!

hm... the calico corners link doesn't seem to work. The fabric is called Musad, color red/brown

I like the Musad and it actually seems like it would complement the wood on the chairs. It is so hard to tell on computer screens but the Musad looks more brown than red to me. I would suggest getting a sample if possible and seeing how it works with the upholstery.

I've never seen any diy for painting the wood on a piece of furniture that is already upholstered. I spose it could be done but.... Maybe if you paint using the kind of brushes artists use, something small and angled? Again, you might want to do the ottoman before you do anything to the chairs.

Jill, congratulations on finding your beautiful chairs at such a steal!

Regarding painting the wood black ... I wouldn't. The wood is already beautiful and dark. The red undertones of mahogany work well with the chair fabric & will work well with the rich red-brown re-up ottoman you're considering. The rich texture of that ottoman fabric sounds like a winner. Is that a swatch of the murad red/brown fabric laying on the ottoman in your photo?

I forgot to mention ... I LOVE your hardwood floors! I couldn't even see your furniture for looking at those floors!

So glad you decided to leave the chairs alone for now ... taking your time experiencing them in you home while gathering info & inspiration is an excellent approach to this decision! No need to rush. The upholstery is beautiful; but, if it's not you ... you will know with time & your room will feel out of balance.

If you like the upholstery; but, the pattern stands out in the room too much for your comfort ... spread it throughout your room by incorporating its colors elsewhere in accessories. Reupping your ottoman in murad red-brown is 1 way of doing this. Adding a vase or planter in that same shade, blue or beige across the room is another way. Keeping other fabric & accessories simple will help as well.

@jyllebean ... is this the swatch?

http://www.calicocorners.com/product/designer fabrics for the home/shop fabrics by color/red/musad brown-red.do?search=basic&keyword=musad&sortby=priceAscend&page=1

the link isn't working because this site keeps replacing the plus signs in the link with spaces once the comment is posted. To make it work, copy & paste the link into a new internet explorer window address bar & replace spaces with plus signs before clicking the enter button.