It could be a very beautiful deco piece done in mohair. It is expensive because of labor and getting really nice fabric. Mohair starts at 80.00 per yard. I think you should restore it and do it right when you can for now throw a blanket over it.

oh and take off the casters let it sit on itself.

Bad Andy! My cats have tried and failed to get their claws into my microsuede couch. Recover it but go with a fabric that kitty will have a hard time destroying.

I think you would regret tossing it. The lines are wonderful; it is a piece of sculpture. It could be the basis for a whole way of life. Not only is it a magnificent piece of furniture, but it is a part of your family's heritage. My family immigrated so I treasure a thimble and a pair of scissors from a past I cannot know. You can make the chair your own by reupholstering when you have the money. Replacing fabric every 50 years is cheaper than replacing cheap furniture.

its such a great shape - i'd loathe to toss it.

I'm usually all for keeping old furniture/restoring things, but I am not a big fan of this chair, the shape is too blocky for me. But if you like it, and it reminds you of your family, then by all means restore it. To cut on cost, you could do the upholstery yourself or find a friend who will do it for you for a deal.

I think its a very funky chair. Think carefully about the fabric and pattern. I see velvet in a lovely jewel tone. Save up for the reupholstery job and rehab Grandma's chair. You will be so glad you did when everyone starts asking you where you got it.

maybe it's just the angle, but it just looks way off

so the cost to restore is roughly the cost to replace right? the replacement surely wouldnt be as solid. removing the front wood panels would simplify the lines...

Take a reupholstery class at a local community college or whatever is in your area. Make this your class project. :) Learn something new and save a ton of cash!

it looks so comfy, even with the cat destruction, I would save up to reupolster. You'll never find a couch that will have quite the same character.

I don't like the shape either. Even though the chair has to have great sentimental attachment, I'd let it go. It would be expensive to rehupolster, and will probably stand out from the rest of your decor, but not in a good way.

I agree with those who said to keep it. It's gorgeous! I think lindenen had a great idea - at reupholstery classes you bring your own project to do during the course - this would save you all the cost of labour, and you'd learn a great skill!

It's had it's day and it's time for something new. Nothing wrong with imports from China if you find the right item.

Get rid of the cats restore the chair. It has great lines and a shame to let animals destroy something so nice. I also think it will be a waste of money to buy anything new or restore something if the cats are going to just tear it up again. Maybe you could declaw the cat. New items you get that are mass produced are cheaply made and wont last; restoring something well made will last for years and wont be glued together and will be a show piece!!

Buy a new chair. it is not that nice anyways and with the money it costs to restore it you should be able to buy something quite nice.

I'd be all for restoring it, but that cost seems somewhat outrageous to me- not as in unreasonable, I'd just not want to spend that much on it.

I'm going with the 'upholstery class' people. Or any other way of making 'keeping it' cheaper. And whatever you do, make sure there's no way to turn it back into a scratching post again!!!

I won't get into a crazy declawing rant here, but it's enough to say that it's cruel and barbaric and illegal almost everywhere but in the US.

I don't have an opinion on the chair but I will give you some ideas for the cat:

If you attach tinfoil or double sided tape to things he is drawn to scratching there is a high chance he will stop. Most cats hate both. You can also try spraying him with canned air (like for cleaning computers), and there is a great automated training tool called "Sssscat" you can try. Also regular clipping of the nails.

Absoloutely restore it - somehow - it is too gorgeous & unique not to!
I can't say I've even ever SEEN a chair like that! Depending on your decor, you could even have a bit of a go at DIY ala what I did here with an oppy chair: http://punkysmamma.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-creative-space_08.html
Or even just patch up the bursting apart parts & cover it with a slip on cover...? Whatever you decide, I beg you to keep it..! (or send it my way... hehe)

Ha - good one JRC! I'm absolutely driving the "restore" bandwagon, as I recently found myself in the same situation; after dreaming of the perfect, authentic, beat up, vintage Parisian leather club chair, and going as far as looking around 1st Dibs to further torture myself... I suddenly realized I already *had* a perfect candidate -- grandma's old, worn, pink reading chair.

Low and slung back, it's incredibly comfortable and in desperate need of a good reupholstering job anyhow.

To achieve the 'worn', lived-in look (in something besides pink toile), I may try and find an inexpensive leather sofa or love seat on Craigslist, and cannibalize it for the leather!

Then again, you could also save a lot of money by opting for a plain linen that really shows off the lines - maybe accented with bronze nail heads along the edges, which looks sophisticated ...and you could add them yourself!

Either way - we (and you) would not only be saving a sentimental piece by re-imagining grandma's chair, but we'd be keeping it out of the landfill, and ending up with a completely custom piece!

Brad in Chicago

I hate to be *that guy* but declawing cats isn't like taking off fingernails. They have to chop off part of the actual paw to keep the claws from coming back. Like posted above, soft paws is a great solution that does not involve mutilation.

For my part... I have lived with many, many cats over the years, and I have never seen such wholesale destruction despite living with fully clawed cats who could never be dissuaded to not scratch. I kind of doubt that much destruction happened in a single day, or a single trip out of town.

So... have a cup of tea, sit down, and really *think* about how much you really care about this chair. If you let it get to this point without covering the thing with a quilt so he couldn't get it to this point, are you really, really sure you're as attached to the chair? Part of your brain may be thinking "It's a temple to grandma!" but the rest may be thinking "It's just a chair." Decide which part of your brain is stronger.

Consider what other mementos you may have, as well. You don't have to keep every single thing someone gives you, just the most important ones.

At worst, if you're still very emotionally attached but decide you can't keep the chair - carefully remove the pretty patterned fabric and see if you can get a crafty friend to sew it into a beautiful purse or pretty thing. That's a family reminder that is easy to keep and easy to pass on to the next generation.

Restore. Restore it WELL. Professionally.

THEN sell it. Before the cat ruins it again.

I'm also assuming that the quotes you are getting is not only for reupholstery, but for the restoration of the wood itself, so DIY classes will only get you so far.

As mentioned, mohair or a cut velvet is the way to go with this chair.

But the "restore this chair or buy BF's sofa" seem like two separate issues... unless your budget allows only one or the other. If you do it right, your initial investment will yield a restored chair AND a new sofa.

Brad - there are places that sell leather. One in Indianapolis sells it by the pound, including leather scraps from who knows where, but it is less than $10 a pound of thin leather in all colors. Perfect for redoing a chair.

I am all for keeping the chair. It is built better than anything new. The price sounds high to me.

I agree that the cat didn't do it all at once, but cat's don't live forever and the chair could outlive you. It is worth the investment to refinish it. A different material will make a difference. I had a couch and chair that my cat scratched to hell, but he didn't scratch any other furniture.

I say restore it, only because those quotes seem high. Keep shopping around, if possible. That chair is gorgeous.

From your post, it sounds like you know what you want to do.......

It's a lovely old chair. I'm with the school that says keep it and maybe make a slipcover to tart it up. Then wait until the cat dies of old age, and get the chair professionally recovered.

You've airily announced that you "do not want to consume mass-produced “stuff”, which in Australia is usually imported from China", but have you actually checked this? Excepting obvious places like Natuzzi and IKEA, Australian couches tend to be made in Australia, especially at the cheaper end of the market.

If you live in Sydney or Melbourne, there is plenty of furniture on eBay or gumtree.com.au that is both cheap and tasteful. For the same price as your husband's mass-produced department store suggestion, you could probably find something that will knock your socks off.

I have this same chair sitting in my apartment, but it's covered in blue mohair that desperately needs replacing. It reminded me of an old movie theatre - very glamorous and art deco. I am having the same dilemma as you, except that it was so difficult to get up the stairs into my apartment that I'm worried I won't be able to get it down to be re-upholstered. It's a great chair with great bones. I think I'm going to try to sell it online and let someone else deal with restoring it.

According to google $4000 AUD is $3500 USD. Is that right? $3500 to restore a chair? What the eff?

Keep shopping for restorers. I had four totally fabric dining chairs that a cat had destroyed. I found an upholstery shop to recover the chairs for $125 each after I had had a quote of five grand, both plus fabric. When I got the quote for $500 for all four chairs it was all I could do to stay upright. I didn't want the lady to see my surprise.

So you pay a ton of money to restore the chair and that naughty kitty claws up that one too? Seriously, go to the root of the problem!

The chair isn't my favorite, so I'll comment on something I know: the cat. I started trimming my cat's claws because she liked to puncture my visitors with them. It was horrible for both of us at first, but she's gotten used to it. We're both much happier now. Trim their claws so they can't scratch, and get them a nice catnip-y cardboard toy that is way more fun to scratch at so they feel like they are scratching. You need to take steps to change their behavior or this will just keep happening.

Beautiful chair. Restore it. Then get an inexpensive slipcover to protect it till Andy isn't anymore.

Get a cheap sofa to live with till you can afford a better one.

And I don't know who the upholsterer was but I have an old armchair with similar heritage. It's about 70 years old. I priced out getting complete restoration, including the frame which is getting loose, and I got quotes in the $600 to $800USD range. Unless you are looking at upholstering in some extremely high end fabric the prices you quoted are freakishly high.

Maybe try networking to find a shop where the prices aren't quite so outrageous. There are still individuals who do high quality work and don't charge wild prices. And if you purchase your own fabric you might be able to lower the cost. Ask folks at fabric stores. Check on neighborhood listservs. Talk to artisans who may know a hidden gem. I found a great jeweler when talking to a potter about quality artists. (this for a shop i managed)

I think you know what you want to do. If you like the chair, you like the chair. The price you quoted seems insanely high...are you looking to upholster it in gold?

Also, you know this, I'm sure, but you need to teach Andy to not scratch furniture. Trim his claws, get him a scratching post, cover the chair in a cover, and spray his little kitty hiney with mist from a water bottle until he learns.

sew yourself a slipcover, buy the sofa and save up to restore the chair! If you use the spraybottle tactic to train the cats not to scratch it, by the time you've saved up (or found a cheaper place to do it) to fix it they won't scratch it. I say only restore it if you actually like the lines of it. I personally think it's cool and funky (I also agree that jewel tones would pop on this thing) but if you don't like the design there's no reason to keep it, even if it is sentimental.

Reminds me of the story my friend told me about the 'davenport' left him by his great-aunt because as a child he once said he loved it. As an adult, after his aunt passed away he went to pick it up and was aghast at how ugly it was. Out of respect to family members he rented a truck, thanked everyone for remembering his summer visits to his great-aunt and his youthful fondness of this couch. He then drove toward the state line where he promptly dumped it on the side of the road. Not that I'm saying you should dump it.. just how fond are you of it?? If it brings back childhood memories or funny stories then keep it. It will keep your grandmother alive in your mind - at least you can tell the story about the ugly lounge chair she left you!

I'd just buy a staple gun for now and give it a go yourself. I did an upholstered rocking chair in fuschia pink batik and it looks great.When you have the money, and after living with the chair, if you then decide that you really love it, then do it properly once you know that it is a keeper.

And trim the cats claws.

I have some questions for you:

- When you noticed that the cat was scratching, why didnt you do something about it right away? Even if the cat scratch at it every day, that kind of damage would take at least a month. You should have seen it long before it became that bad.

- How many scratching posts do you have for your cat?

- How often do you trim his nails?

- Have you tried the various products that you can spray on the furniture to keep him away from there?

Cats are animals, and as such living creatures with needs and instincts. You wouldnt molest or tie a child down just because he/she ruined the house and neither should you do with your cat. If he is not happy at your place (I have a feeling he does not get enough play time?) then you should try to find a new home. Softpaws or declawing is a terrible thing and thankfully it is illegal in many countries with better animal protection than the US. I would be ashamed to even consider something like that, and I am quite upset that AT would suggest it. Gives me the feeling that furniture is more important than living things (and I am not sure that there would be a big difference woin attitude if a child ruined a precious piece).

Hi AT readers. Thanks for all the feedback ...I'm blown away by how helpful everyone is... now to digest it all... there is so much good sense and humour in these comments. Khatam - What the GQ did not include (not sure what happened there, ED?) is that there is also a 3-seater sofa and another single arm chair - and the quotes reflect the significant degree of work the suite requires. And the reason for the agony - can't bear blowing all that embodied energy, not forgetting history as pointed out. Andy did this when he was a house bound kitten. There are more piccies on my blog for those interested...thanks again... Love & adore AT, its opened my eyes to the creative side of America. Sarah (Teal Sea). http://www.thetealsea.blogspot.com

Thorndale think I might try Evergirl's suggested Spray solution if I can find it in the local pet shop. :)

Let it go.

Re-upholster your lovely sofa. Get rid of the cat ;-)

that is the ugliest chair i have ever seen GET IT OUT GET IT OUT

The chair is stunning. As others have said, save up for having it redone properly. In the meantime, I'd make a slipcover. You can take a sewing class if you don't already have that skill. With a little experimentation, you can come up with a simple pattern that's easy to make. Then you can try inexpensive, lightweight fabrics to make temporary slipcovers in different patterns/colors so you can try out several fabric ideas before you commit to the expensive fabric your eventual professional job will require.

Also, you can use the temporary slipcovers to train the cats to avoid the chair. Putting aluminum foil or tape on a temporary cover is easier. When you do get the chair redone, you'll already have a pattern for making a slipcover out of a good, durable fabric that will protect the chair from the cats when you're out and can't shoo them away.

Don't just get rid of the cat. If you truly are a 'cat person' (and you know if you are) abandoning a cat for the sake of furniture won't make you feel any better.

Do whatever you need to do to make the cat stop scratching - training, new toys, trimming, declawing (no judgement from me, not trying to start anything) - but keep the cat.

As you say the price is to restore the full suite, maybe discard or sell 2 pieces and keep your favorite piece. I think a whole suite in that style would be overwhelming, but one focus piece for the room would be quite stunning!

It does not cost that much to restore it. This is what I do for a hobby. Eventhough your chair is a reproduction of a 30's chair in the 50's, its still worth saving. Come on AT is all about reduce, reuse, recycle right??? Go to downtown LA and find some great wool or something durable and take it to a rundown hole in the wall upholsterer that has been doing this skilled trade for over 20 years. It should cost max $700 including fabric.

I saw this comment on you linked blog, "Trevor thinks its drab, dated and uncomfortable." Reassure him that restoring it will probably fix all three issues including "uncomfortable." I vote for restore, especially since you claim the cat issue has been resolved.

I think we can tell the people with pets from the people without based on the comments. I'm mostly under the opinion that if somebody doesn't have a dog or cat, they should probably refrain from offering pet advice--especially when it comes as "get rid of the cat."

MORE ON CAT SCRATCHING: Try clear packing tape on furniture.

You also need something more solid than a typical pet store scratching post. When cats scratch they like to push and pull against a resilient surface -- it's how they exercise their shoulder muscles. Either find a way to anchor a scratching post to the wall or use my cheap but ugly solution: Wrap a carpet sample around a door frame and nail it in place. My cats love it.

You can also provide other scratching surfaces for them, such as a couple more carpet samples on the floor here and there.

NAIL CLIPPING
Cats will always need to scratch. Clipping won't stop that. But if their claws are snagging the furniture, here's how to clip them. 1) Don't pick the cat up and try to clip right away. Instead, start by massaging its paws a little bit every day for a couple of weeks. Do this on the same clear, flat surface where you plan to clip. When the cat struggles, stop immediately. Give a treat each time. 2) With the cat on the flat surface, lean over its back to handle the paws on the side facing away from you. Turn the cat around to work on the other side. 3) Use regular nail clippers. 4) When you start clipping, the cat will struggle after a claw or two. Stop immediately, give a treat, and have another go tomorrow. It may take days or weeks but eventually the cat will be (more or less) reconciled and you will handle its paws with confidence. 5) Never clip more than the very tips.

I actually think the lines are pretty clunky and inelegant. For that reason alone, I would let it go....

I have this same problem. I have an old leather chair that was my grandfathers. I learned to read in it, and since I am a bookworm now and my grandfather has passed away I really dont want to get rid of it. I actually put it outside one time, and I cried and my boyfriend took pity on me and carried it back in.
Sigh memories.

Thanks BREDLO, I didnt mean to start a cat fight with the other folks. I liked your idea about the Parisian club chair. Have you tried second hand stores locally? I found some great chairs at thrift stores; however, I like midcentury modern. Good luck! JRC

Declaw the chair.
reupholster the cat.

$3500 is a ASS LOAD of money for a chair. You can get a REALLY SUPER AWESOME designer custom chair for that price.

If it was $500 I would say restore. If they chair was worth a ton I would say restore. $3500? I almost don't believe it. What would be the point? If you don't want "cheap" new stuff...well $3500 is by no means cheap.

Kidding about declawing...I shouldn't even joke. I hate cats but I don't hate them so much I would condone torture. :(

Just read that it is a suite of furniture not one chair. oops.

I love vintage furniture, but find this particular chair really unattractive. Buy a nicer vintage piece and let this baby go.

I just realized that you're in LA. I'll go to your blog so I can give you the phone number of an unbelievably good and reasonable upholsterer.

it would look great in either a navy or the blue color you have on the outside cladding.

Definitely have it recovered. The bones of new furniture will never compare to the furniture of days gone by.
I have two arm chairs which I had recovered/re-upholstered recently for around $700 per chair which included fabric, all new wadding and some repairs. They are old, maybe a bit younger and simpler than yours but still good quality. I bought them years ago at a Salvos store for about $30 each! The money I have spent re-upholstering is about the same as what I would now have to spend getting some of that mass produced Made in China stuff.
Re doing the upholstering course suggestions, I have done one of these for 6 weeks and you don't come away equipped to tackle this kind of thing which needs experience and skill. I managed a swing back bridge chair.
I think you should shop around a little more for the upholsterer for a better price, your quote seems outrageous. Make sure you know how much you are paying per metre for the fabric. Ask them to re-use the old springs if they can because once again they don't make them now like they used to.
I'm sure you can get a better deal, I paid the above and live on Sydney's Nothern Beaches. He did a great job and I am very picky about these things!
You will have to come to some kind of 'understanding' with your cat if you do get it re-done. Scratching post?

Ah right, just read that it is a whole set which means your quote is about right.
Still worth it.

Thanks everyone, I'm still undecided. Husband is mad keen on a Florence Knoll leather replica from a place in Waterloo...but quality & durability is questionable. We've looked at King sofas which are quite divine, and Australian made sofas in various department stores. The economics tells me its more cost effective to buy new, but there are many compelling reasons not to, as many people have pointed out. And the cat is still with us and we need to address that before we do anything more with the lounge. Appreciate all the cat suggestions. Thanks Etelka for the nail clipping advice.

Teal Sea: Sure! I'm always eager to help people manage cat scratching problems. Feel free to email me through my website if you run into trouble with the clipping.

Another thing about the tape/tin foil: You won't have to leave it on forever (that would suck!). After the cat tries and fails to scratch the taped furniture a few times, it will forget about it and find somewhere else. Once you're sure the cat is out of the habit of scratching the furniture, take the tape off. If the cat goes back to the furniture, do the same routine and set up a more desirable scratching post or scratchable areas.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot another method! I haven't tried this, but you can spray furniture with Bitter Apple spray from the pet store. It will get on their paws and discourage them from using those areas.

keep the cat. i spent a fortune on new furniture and got extra fabric which i throw over it, i plan to make a slip cover out of the fabric to use and they can scratch that. of i take it all off when people come and they understand.

like the leather idea, maybe i'd keep all but the sofa-put it in a guest room. two chairs and a table in a separate place in the room would look great. off set the old look by using a modern table or floor lamp.

maybe you won't like this but i'd use raw or just regular silk. it's a texture idea and then i'd add great pillows. either modern print or embroidered (now ther's an idea for your spare time!).

i agree, having done this with a chair that had the same ugly upholstery yours does, that the workmanship and quality of old furniture can't be equaled with today's stuff.

also, i know this is long, trying to find a coordinating ottoman that you can cover in the same fabric and use as a 'chaise longue' type of furniture. it might distract from the bulkiness.

you could also paint the wood in black to get an 'art deco' type of chair.

Restore it if you love the chair. But shop around and try to haggle a bit. If you have more than one piece to re-do, you might get a deal. That quote seems a bit high. But worth it if you will cherish the piece forever. Just keep your cats away!
~Tanya
dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com

Get rid of the cat and then restore it...:) Definitely a very cool chair, although I can understand not wanting to put out that kind of money to have it redone.

I wonder if you could make a deal:
Find a vintage furniture dealer who handles restorations and offer him the sofa in exchange for the restoration of the two chairs, or vice versa, depending on which would be more suitable for you.

It'd break up the suite, yes, but it would avoid breaking the bank (and it'd make it easier to keep your living room from looking like the lobby of a Art Deco-era Miami hotel).

Pick a vintage-approriate fabric that you love, install cat-scratch deterrents, and be prepared for the restored pieces to become hubby's new favorites.

I couldn't get rid of my grandparents' old loveseat but my friend suggested we make pillows! Here is how it came out if you're interested:

http://thecaffeinatedwife.com/2012/07/03/project-number-one-completed/