Over two years ago, I received this chair from friends. The house needed clearing out… perhaps I would be interested? This turned out to be the beginning of the longest-running restoration project to date since we started the project. Upholstering, can we do that?

Step 1: all material (except for the springs and webbing) from the frame.

Step 2: repair the frame.

Step 3: new webbing for the seat; modern method for the back and armrests.

Step 4: build up the seat layer by layer, with the upholstery fabric as the final layer.

Step 5: build up the back and armrests layer by layer using cold foam.

Step 6: sew the panels together from the outside.

Step 7: finish and apply decorative nails.

The result? A rebuilt chair that was made in the first half of the twentieth century. Not perfect (symmetrical), but structurally very good, a great success in terms of comfort, but above all… a feast for the eyes (although tastes can naturally differ).

We considered admitting defeat to this chair several times, but persevered nonetheless. Complex challenges were the connections between the parts and the sequence of materials, especially between the back/armrests and the seat.

Here is the result of many hours of ‘quality time’. It is difficult to put a price on it; if you are interested, please leave a message. We would love to see the chair in a nice spot.