Carved Chair

A dining chair with buttoned back and detailed carved frame needed a new cover. 

The seat stuffings clearly needed work, regardless of the word “comfy” written on the cover fabric!

In practice it turned out that there were lots of issues – which is why it qualifies as a Restoration project.

One front leg was cracked, the detailed carvings curiously discoloured, just a simple cross of webbing and the support fabric was carpet!

The stuffings were a layer of felt, a rough pad of grass and a pile of bits and pieces of fabric and carpet.

The main frame wood showed signs of extreme distress, with parts bleached, a corner blackened, displaced joints and the back of the seat frame fell off!

The back section of the seat frame was glued back in place – essential to rebuild the seat.

Filler was used to fill the nail holes and crack on the front leg.

The frame, legs and back were rubbed down with wire wool and wax remover. Then rosewood stain was applied to all areas that would be seen including old, bleached show wood that had been covered. 

French polish was applied over the stained wood and later wax polished.

The chair was taken to the workshop and webbing, then hessian, added to  make a seat base.

A roll was added around the seat – taking care to squeeze the roll at the back to leave space for later layers to pass under the back.

Rubberised hair was added and covered in felt.

Calico was added to complete the seat.

The inner back had a layer of wool safe added, the button holes cut open. 

Cover fabric, marked with the button positions was placed over the back, the buttons added and the excess fabric trimmed away.

The outer back was covered in the final fabric. With no edge to follow, this was done only by eye. Double piping was added with the ends wrapped.

The seat was covered in the finishing fabric.

Double piping was added around the inner back, ends wrapped and around the seat  with folded ends.

Overall a huge change bringing the chair back to life – frame fixed, holes and cracks filled, polish work restored and new show wood exposed. 

No undercover was added. Flip the chair over to see the grey, weathered and fractured look of the frame.

Done!

This is Transformation #8 where you may find something to give you inspiration to “improve” an item of furniture you own.

JBerryUpholstery has many examples of furniture Recovering and Restoration and also Soft Furnishings to add to or complement the finished items. You can see pictures of these in the Galleries– Recovering Gallery, Restoration Gallery, Soft Furnishings Gallery and Transformations.

If you have some upholstery that is in need of a bit of TLC or you are interested in Soft Furnishings then please contact us.