After having taken a few weeks off of attending yard sales, I ventured out bright and early Saturday morning to browse for a few treasures. I was not disappointed.
Tucked away, I caught of glimpse of the lines on this chair and envisioned new white washed wood with the cushions sporting a clean,white slip cover. The owner happened to be an acquaintance from church, who always treats us to eye candy at her yard sales. Bargaining with a church friend steps over the lines of Yard Sale-ing 101, so when she said she wanted “$20,” it was a deal.
The biggest surprise came last night when I began looking under the cushions to determine how difficult it would be to put new fabric on this myself. I eyed the tag with the manufacturer’s date stating both 1926 and 1929. Since I am not well versed in antiques, I am not sure of the true date, but I am pretty excited anyhow.
I have to determine now if I want to paint it, but I do know that with just a simple wipe down to condition the wood, the warm wood tones will come out and the scuffs will be easily minimized. I photographed the side with scuffs, but the other side looks like new.
I’m amazed at the excellent condition of the fabric. It actually matches my great room. 🙂 I’m trying to determine if it’s the original fabric or not. Do you think that’s possible? (The true green color of the fabric is shown in the above picture.)
This is almost as good a find as my $5 Best Ever, Eddie Ross Secretary/Hutch, almost, but not quite.
So, would you please help me brainstorm?
To paint or not to paint? That is the question.
To reupholster or slip cover? I’m horrible at these decisions.
(There are a few more weeks of yard sales. If you haven’t found your own treasure, get on out there and let me know what you’ve found.)
It’s beautiful! I wouldn’t paint it. I would reupholster it.
Don’t paint, but change the fabric would be my choice!
Paint… fabric stays… love it!
If you’re looking to keep the item and aren’t worried about it’s value as an antique then paint and reupholster. However, if you are curious of the item’s antique value then hold off doing anything to significantly alter it’s appearance and have it appraised. You never know, you might have landed an item worthy of the Antique Road Show! lol
I agree with Jenn above. I would paint and re-upholster if you aren’t worried about messing with the anitque’s worth. I LOVE the idea of a white wash. 🙂
Jen, here’s how it works: a true antique is valuable intrinsically – no matter what its condition. My husband & I have invested in some antiques over the years, some of which are family heirlooms. We have several books on them, and they ALL say that an item is most valuable in its original condition. Trust me, I’ve had my doubts when looking at a picture of a chair with shredded upholstery, but they stand firm on it.
SO, bottom line – if you care nothing about true antique resale value, make it yours. Reupholster it – it could only help! Don’t paint it, though, the wood’s gorgeous and those sculpted details won’t “pop” under paint as well. Get some wood rescue treatment & rub it in; it will make a huge difference. If you end up wanting to keep it in original condition, consider a slipcover or something. The fabric’s probably not original – it looks pretty “70’s green” but the original fabric might be under it. Have fun with it – it’s beautiful!
Before painting, I’d want to know how much the chair is worth too….but knowing me, this would be at the bottom of my to-do list and I’d never get to it. I think I’d at least temporarily hold off on the painting (although a white wash would be so pretty) – and then slip cover the cushions. I’m wondering if this chair has already been reupholstered as the fabric really doesn’t have the look of being from the late 1920’s. Great find & have fun with your decision! Makes me want to go out a find a bargain this week!
I think the cushions are a 1960-70s-vintage reupholstery job. I would be surprised if the chair were very valuable, but it is certainly very pretty! A white paint job would be great, if you have time to do it, along with freshening and modernizing the upholstery and cushion stuffing.
I vote to keep the wood, and just spruce it up… recently I got a curbside piece of wood furniture for free, and after washing with Murphy’s Oil Soap, and rubbing it down with lemon oil, it’s very nice. Not antique but well made.
Regardless of value, that beautiful detailing would stand out with some TLC.
painting would diminish the value of the antique. don’t paint! ( I too have watched too many antique road shows!!)
I’d paint it and keep the upholstery the same.
Make it yours. If you want to re-sell it as an antique later, leave it as is. Otherwise, if you think it’ll make you smile when you see it in crisp white, go for it!
My grandfather handed down an antique curio to us. It is quite simple, as my family lost everything during the depression. My grandfather was one of 13 children. When he gave me the curio, I wasn’t sure what to do with it. I asked him if he wanted me to restore it or leave it the way it was. His answer was typical of something he would say. He said, “If there is one thing I’ve learned in my seventy-some odd years, it’s that you can’t take it with ‘ya when ya’ go, Suga’. Do with it what your heart desires.” Two years later, the curio is standing in our living room, tattered… just the way it was when I received it. It is so easy to look at someone else’s “treasure” and say what you would do with it, but it is a much different story when it is your own, no? Ha ha I will agree with my Grandaddy and say, “Do with it what your heart desires, you can’t take it with you when you go.” 🙂
I would reupholster, but not paint. There is no way that is original fabric (coming from this non-expert haha).
I would say that unless you intend to sell it, make it how YOU want it to look. If you originally envisioned it crisp and white and that made you fall in love with it, then go for it. Or, just keep it as it is for now and enjoy the antiqueness of it and update it later. 🙂
Great find!!! I love the lines on that chair. 🙂 If I were only looking to redecorate, I’d paint it white and reupholster…but you’d want to hold off until you find out more about the piece. (Like the others said) 🙂
That is a great find! What a treasure. I love the rich tones of the wood. If I were adding it to my decor right now, I would probably have to paint it white with a linen cushions. Either way, it will look great. You can’t go wrong. 🙂
Side note: I met you briefly at Blissdom. My sister and I are coming to Relevant. I hope I get to chat with you again. 🙂
Blessings,
Traci
I’ve read that you can cover up scratches in wood furniture by rubbing walnut over the ding:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/how-to/how-to-cover-up-dings-in-wooden-furniture-home-hacks-109198
Hi, Jen! Wow, that’s a beautiful chair, what a great find. Really, I like the fabric a lot, so if it is in good shape & matches your stuff, I’d say live with it for awhile. It’s gorgeous! Lucky you. Can’t wait to see what you do with it.
LOVE, LOVE the chair! 🙂 If I owned the chair, I would paint it and recover the cushions. 🙂
LOVE, LOVE the chair! 🙂 If I owned the chair, I would paint it and recover the cushions. 🙂
Can’t wait to see what you do with it!
I would leave the finish alone. If it is possible ( I really don’t know) I would cover the cushions with white but if possible leave the original (or not) fabric underneath!
What a great find! If it were me, I would paint and reupholster. My thinking is if I wouldn’t have purchased this piece at full price, why live with it “as is” at a bargain price.
I would paint the wood the green in the fabric and keep the fabric. Cool chair.
I would paint the chair white and keep the fabric.
Lovely score!
I would paint it white, the almost cream color BUT white.
Then I would reupholster the chair like this….. Back of chair, the bottom on the sides and the bottom on the front one design. then the front back another material and also have the buttons styled the same as now. the the cushion…. one side like the back and one side like the front of chair. (flipable cushion) Then the medellions on the side of the chair I would do a real light brush of silver, to bring them out. (metalic paint)…..
Great fine.
Sue