This chair has been languishing in my basement for a while…almost a year, I think. Sometimes I don’t work on pieces because I’m stalling, busy, uninspired or it keeps falling to the bottom of the to-do list. I think other times, providence plays a small role. I wasn’t really sure what fabric I was going to use on this piece and was just planning on defaulting to natural hemp. Then, I found this PA grain sack at an antique store. I happened to set it on the chair and it seemed like they were meant to be together. I wasn’t sure how well the ornate frame would play with the humble grain sack, but they were perfect.
Here’s what the chair looked like when I bought it. Not bad at all, but the tapestry-like fabric wasn’t my style and there was flimsy cardboard backing that I wanted to replace.
The frame has a beautiful patina to it, so I left that alone. Cari (the Machine) stripped the fabric and trim off for me, so it was all ready to go and I tackled it today. It only took one grain sack and about an hour to upholster this piece. To keep things simple, I used a cream gimp trim to hide the staples. (The trim was applied with hot glue.)
Of course, now the problem is that I love it! BUT, it’s getting a tag and will be added to the Lucketts pile.
I must say, I’ll be at peace if it doesn’t sell…
39 Responses
There is no chance that won’t sell. It’s beautiful!
Marian,
I have that same chair! Did you use hemp oil on it?
Beautiful! I wish I was brave enough to de-construct a chair to reupholster it. I’d probably take it apart and never get it back to sitting condition!
You are too funny! Of course it will sell – it’s perfect!
That is very nice, and I agree with Julie @ Creating this Life – not a chance it won’t sell!
Wow! it is gorgeous.
I have to say, if I had seen that chair in it’s “before tapestry” I would never have reupholstered it. But you did, and you took a lovely chair and made it even more beautiful! It looks perfect with that grain sack.
I’m curious about comfort with pieces like this. You’ve had different styles of chairs and sofas (and daybeds) in your living and family rooms. How many are really just for show and how many are actually comfortable to sit in? Is there a certain period or style that you’ve found is usually more comfortable that others? I only have one living room (and a small one at that), so I have to be extremely selective (and yet still have seating for all seven of us plus occasional guests). I’d love to add some antiques, but they need to be comfortable as well as pretty.
All I can say is “sigh”! You did a beautiful job on it, I think it will be one of the first things to go:)
That turned out lovely! I have the same chair, I am redoing for Lucketts too! I thought I was going to paint the wood but after seeing this…I might not have too!
It’s just simply beautiful. I love the grain sack. I was inspired to do some dining chairs like yours and was going to use grain sacks for the slips but opted for a natural linen instead. I like my slipcovers but LOVE the grain sacks. Will try something with those on my next project. By the way, I will not be redoing cane anytime soon. What a headache to get the old cane off. Haven’t started with the new cane yet. Hoping it will go smoother.
hi marian –
if the tapestry pieces are still intact and usable i would be interested in purchasing them from you. they tickle my french style:) hope to hear from you
robin
Beautiful work Marian. Well done.I love the grain sack. I do remember when I was in Paris in one of their famous flea markets together with my husband, we bought a grain sack really old that my husband used it as a background for his photos.
Lol! Love the chair, love that you chose to upholster it with a grain sack. Probably going to sell though, who can leave that sit?
I love it! Perfect mix, I am really loving the style of graphic fabric! I am in love. It will be scooped up fast!
Just gorgeous! I love this one!
Marian – you might be sorry if you sell this – it is magnificent and is so beautiful in your home. It’s one of those chairs that can go from the family room to the bedroom to the dining room. It’s perfect! I say keep it!!
What Carol says…keep it…it’s beautiful ! If home space is an issue, swap it out and sell a different one…who knows if you’ll come across another sack like that…and if you do, sell the next one!
That’s amazing! I love the contrast of the frame with the grain sack. So perfect.
very pretty!
You love it and it is beautiful. It looks great with your couch in the picture. Keep It. Why not?
It is absolutely gorgeous!
I LOVE this chair & would buy it in a minute? How much? It looks fabulous. Do you have a UPS store anywhere near? You are so talented & gutsy–great combo!!
Looks fantastic, Marian! Actually, it looks better than fantastic:)
Hi, Marian, I agree with Carol, Cynthia and Lorraine, it’s a beautiful piece and looks perfect in your home, fits right in, like it was meant to be with you and yours. So I concur: keep it and enjoy the fruits of your labors; you won’t regret it! It’s obviously speaking to you……
It’s beautiful – but then all your furniture that you do is beautiful! There is not much that I don’t love!
Dont sell it Marian its perfectly you!!!
Actually, the ‘humble’ upholstery toned down the flamboyant feel of that chair. I must admit, I thought the original tapestry was a little too ‘in-your-face’ kind of fabric. True, it would have looked great in a Victorian drawing room, but not in most of the homes people have these days. 🙂
How much would this chair sell for?
I have it priced at $250
The material is so perfect! Beautiful job!
Just lovely Marian! *Sigh* I wonder how much it would cost to ship to Australia;-) You are an inspiration… and you just know you are on the right road when you finish a piece and love it so much you want to keep it!!! Thanks for all you hard work and motivation- excited to be doing the creative course with you!
Ohhhh please keep it just where it is……so perfect!
Wow! What a difference. I love it. You had such vision to keep the wood unpainted this time. Really beautiful!
You better believe it will sell in a NY minute and that’s why you really should keep it. There will always be other chests, cabinets etc., but that chair probably won’t show up again anytime soon. Why not reward yourself for all the other hard work you’ve done for Lucketts??? It looks fabulous in your house.
Beautiful! And just the confirmation I needed that my brainstorm for a rather fancy antique chair was not off base! I have some fabric from décor steals that is similar to grain sacks and I have an antique rocker that I inherited – I thought they would make a nice combo. Other’s have told me to leave the gold fancier fabric, but I want it to blend in with my décor, so I’m going to have it switched to the more humble fabric. Love your projects! And I agree with everyone else! Keep the chair! Or, do whatever you want to do, but wow, that would be hard to give up!
how did you attach the trim?
nevermind… hot glue 🙂
Where do find grain sack material?
Are you referring to Lucketts in Virginia? That chair is beautiful !