{thrift store chair}


My giveaway has been postponed until next week{fingers crossed} because a special one came along just few days ago, so I'll put off the other one for a later date. Just waiting for a few details to be ironed out.
I need to celebrate 354 followers! 

 So today I bring you my thrift store chair.

{Sad before photo -but aren't before makeover photos supposed to be blah?}


 This beauty I found back in November while shopping with 2 local bloggers, Nancy from Marcus Design and Victoria {formerly from Design Ties} now starting her own blog, Edin's House.

For $50 I couldn't resist.

My plans are to re-cover it in a black and white strip fabric from Ikea, to look like this inspiration photo that Victoria sent me.

{source unknown}


A few versions of my chair has popped up on the internet. One version is owned by my garden plot neighbour {we watered each others plots all summer but never met} who has started a fantastic blog, Simply Inspired Home {still haven't met}.




Here is another from Restoration Hardware, look familiar?

Hmm..$1295 {on sale}
Mine....$50

I have put off re-doing the chair as I am not quite sure how to upholster it, have never done anything like that before, shocking, I know...

My dilemma is whether or not to paint the arms and legs of the chair or to leave them the lovely mahogany stain the currently wear. They have such a lovely patina.



What do you think?


xo Barbara

25 comments

  1. I think it's going to look so great Barbara! I have faith that you'll do an awesome job reupholserting it. The best advice I can give is to take it apart very carefully to inspect how it was put together, and then use the old fabric as a pattern! :) (Sorry if that's obvious haha)

    As for the wood, I think it looks fabulous, but in the end, it totally depends on the look you are going for! Good luck! :)

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  2. hi...i'm leanne and i just found you today...lovely blog!
    i have a feeling that you might regret painting it. if it's a good sturdy chair and it's going to last i would leave it. i am a huge fan of painted furniture so don't get me wrong. i just think that some pieces look wonderful with this patina and it probably feels nice to the touch!

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  3. I think with this striped fabric the chair would look awesome!!!
    And I wouldn`t paint them, i would leave them like it is right now.
    Can`t wait so ree them ready;)
    Lovely greetings...

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  4. I'm going to vote for not painting the chair. Your bold stripe upholstery today may turn into something else in the future. You can't go back to that authentically worn wood and it will look great with your current chosen pattern.

    Best of luck on the project!

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  5. I would probably paint the legs to go all out with a pop of color :) But I'm a color lover...

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  6. Ah! leave the wood -- the patina is so gorgeous, you just can't buy that :) It's going to look amazing in that stripe!

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  7. Oh, this chair is going to get a serious second life when you are through with it my friend! The idea of the bold stripe running horizontally is going to be amazing!
    Nancy xo

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  8. That is a great find for $50! That style of chair is appearing a lot these days in magazines. I wouldn't paint the chair - just recover it. It will look fabulous!

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  9. I think that chair would look awesome! Personally, I would paint the wood. Just because I don't like brown and black together, so I would paint the wood black or white, or maybe a color of some sort? Depending on what room you want to put it in!

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  10. Usually I'm all for painting the wood, but I kind of like that would colour with the stripes! Good luck!

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  11. Love the chair I'm on the fence with the black white stripe. I hope your off to a fabulous weekend.

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  12. Well I love the patina of the wood!!!! But if you like color I think it would be really pretty with a pop of color with those stripes!!

    Either way you go it will be beautiful!!!

    Leave the wood and see if you like it if you do leave it and if you dont you can always paint it!!!

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  13. i'm going to say leave the wood with the stripes... it's going to be great!!! can't wait to see the end result! happy weekend!

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  14. I am going to go with no paint. As an earlier comment said...it might not always be black and white stripe. Either way though...it was only 50.00 so it's not like your painting a priceless antique :)

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  15. You always find the best stuff Barbara. And what a small world about your neighbor - you two need to meet! My vote is to leave the wood as it is - I just love how worn and loved it looks.
    Happy Saturday!
    Alissa

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  16. I love it Barbara! I actually have a chair just like that sitting in my garage that my sister's boyfriend found on the side of the road destined for the garbage! The fabric on mine is a lot worse than yours and one leg is a little shaky, but other than that perfect! Ha ha. I vote that you leave the wood and get that glorious black and white fabric from Ikea. I can't wait to see how it turns out...so that maybe it will inspire me to do mine!

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  17. Thank you SO much for your sweet comment!...I love to play with my Nikon...still lots to learn!
    Have you come to a decision yet on the chair?? :)

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  18. Yes, we should meet soon. Wnat to get together for coffee?
    Wonderful job finding the chair. Wow! It is like the one I found. Can you believe someone would spend over a thousand dollars for a chair?
    I would paint the chair black or white with that fabric. Depending on the location that it is going. It will give it that modern, crisp look I think you are after! As far as the fabric goes, I would take it off gently to keep the pattern and then you essentially would have a pattern to at least work with to get it back on. It will take some time I'm sure, but well worth it. Good luck!

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  19. I wouldn't paint the chair I think the patina is beautiful and with that fabric it is going to look great! Can't wait to see the final result!

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  20. I love your fabric choice. This is going to be a great piece when you're done with it!

    Melissa Hare
    www.melissahare.blogspot.com

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  21. ohhhh...i'm having the same dilemna on some bergere chairs i have in the basement. i don't know what to do. i can't wait to see what you decide to do.
    love the stripe.

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  22. Hey! You mentioned me in your post!! ;-)

    I'm still voting for painting it black. I think Jodi put it right when she said that if you're looking for a more contemporary feel... and from what I've seen in your home, that contemporary look coupled with a little whimsy is definitely your style ;-)

    If you decide to keep it in wood though, it can work... could be a good juxtaposition between vintage "rustic" and clean contemporary lines from the fabric.

    Hope this helps a little!
    Victoria

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  23. I really like your idea to upholster the chair with the stripes horizontally. I used a very similar fabric from Ballard Designs to upholster my dining room chairs, wish I would have thought to try it your way, love that inspiration chair.

    As far as painting the wood, I would say upholster one chair and live with it a few days to see what you thing before deciding you can always easily remove the seat and paint later. (I didn't paint my dark wood chairs when I upholstered in the B & W fabric, let me know if you'd like me to send you a photo to show you how it looks.

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  24. It looks like you might have already started on your chair, but I've recently taken on my own chair re-upholstery project. I have deconstructed it to find broken old springs in the seat. In my search to find replacement springs, I found this website with wonderful supplies that seem to be very competitive price-wise. The gem though is the links to the youtube videos of the owner (45 years in the upholstery business)of each step in the process -- i think 13 videos in all. Here's the link: http://www.diyupholsterysupply.com/how-to-upholster-chair.html
    Good luck!

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  25. Marriah! Thanks for the link - soooooo helpful!

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