Friday, October 9, 2009

A circular chair for the drawing room



I have a little chair in our front room (also known as the Green Room, also known as the Problem Room, also probably known as the Drawing Room by the elderly lady ghost who still seems to reside there) which I have 'inherited' from my mother. By which I mean she gave it to me when I was a university student living in penury and I have never returned it.

I love its circular shape. I have never seen another chair like it. Except of course, its twin, which I was not given and which still lives with my mother in a much much cleaner condition.







But as you can see it is supremely grotty. So I turned it upside down last week and what do you know, instead of being a glued together Made in China chair, it is a screwed together Made in Italy chair, which comes apart like a jigsaw. I also saw that the little padded parts had the fabric stapled to them, quite neatly. After thinking a little bit about the Italian craftsmen who put this chair into its shape, I pulled myself together to rise to the challenge.


So, although I am not a professional upholsterer By Any Means, I thought, why not have a go.


The fabric I bought is above (from Signature Prints - check out their website). It is by Florence Broadhurst and called Japanese Floral.


This may not be to everyone's taste but it does go with the look (Chinoiserie\Japanesque 1930s, light and green) I am trying to achieve in the front room. (No other photos yet, it's too depressing).


Here is the chair stripped down and naked.




And here is the result. I used a staple gun. I must say I am rather pleased, and I suspect it is a chair my grandmother would have liked. Whether that is a good thing or not I cannot say. If only all interior redecorating could be accomplished with a staple gun.




15 comments:

Mise said...

This is very elegant, and the fabric you chose really suits the unusual chair. I've become very aware of curved furniture lately and would like much more of it. And a staple-gun.

How did you get the back of the chair-back to look neat? And a book, you say?

Amanda (Small Acorns) said...

The chair looks great! I love those Florence Broadhust prints, and it does suit this chair so well. A girls best friends - staple gun and glue gun!

Dallas Shaw said...

great chair
dallas
http://dillydallas.blogspot.com

P.Gaye Tapp at Little Augury said...

Very chic and smart. la

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

You clever upholsterer Jane...it looks fantastic...really. You must be really pleased and proud of yourself.....and I love the shape of your chair, any chance of your mum giving up the other one !!!! XXXX

Jane said...

Mise - the back of the chair is fabric too, the little panels click \screw in so the messy stapled bit is at the sides and therefore hidden.

Yes, a book I say. Hidden in bits and pieces partly typed and partly written and never to see the light of day unless I get an agent. How do you get those agents who negotiate multi million 3 book deals.

Jacquie - I want the other chair but I will never get it. In fact what will probably happen is that my mother will say in 10 years - darling can I please have the chair I gave you 25 years ago back. The only reason I can even post this is because my mother has no computer!!!

Julie@beingRUBY said...

HI Jane
LOVE the do-over you have done on this chair!! What a clever girl.. and you say I never sleep!! haha It looks fabulous!!!

Well I'm glad it was the chair you inherited from your mum and not the ghost... I have some of those too.. ghosts that is.. not the chair!! hehe

Have a great weekend. xx Julie

brismod said...

Jane, it is a lovely choice of fabric for that particular chair. Impeccable taste.

Devon said...

Amen on the stapler comment. Glue guns, staple guns. If only all things could be snipped, snapped, stapled and glued in the design world. Life would be so easy.

Fun, fun chair. Very envious that you own such a gem although, if I were you, I'd be working out a plan to steal the other from your mum. ;)

Mise said...

Good luck with the book, and I hope you get an agent! I would imagine that it is intricately written and right up my street.

Monika said...

This looks great!! I love your fabric choice and the shape of the chair is really special. Thank you for your very sweet and encouraging comment on my blog!

jane said...

wow you are talented! the chair looks fab. you´ve got to post about the ghost some time... besos!

Laura said...

How brave of you to take on such a project, especially on such a fabulous piece of furniture. It clearly was worth the risk, that fabric is just so beautiful! It has a bit of a David Hicks thing going on I think.

Pinecone Camp said...

I'm so happy to see you covered your chair with my favourite wallpaper designer - Florence! Love this chair. You did tell me I should give my own chair a shot, I do want a tufted back (with 2 buttons), so I best leave it to a pro. I have recovered seats only before....but that was pretty easy.
Good job Jane!

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