Reupholstering a chair

14 years ago

I'm drawn to this fabric - does anyone know if it would be appropriate for reupholstering a lounging chair? The description doesn't mention weight or material and I'm a bit clueless. Thanks!

Mill Creek Crazy Ol Bird Sunrise · More Info

Featured Answer

PRO

Wow Great Place

14 years ago

I'm going to assume that's a typo, and that you meant every 27 inches....which is typical of a large scale pattern. :0)
Most fabrics come 54" wide, so with a 27" repeat, you see the pattern twice as you run horizontally along the width of fabric.
There is a horizontal repeat AND a vertical repeat to consider with these birds (a striped fabric would not have a vertical repeat, for example, only a horizontal one)
Make sure your upholsterer is one who WILL take pattern matching into consideration, as well as direction of pattern and the nap of the fabric. I have witnessed horror stories, and have had my upholsterer fix some pretty awful jobs that other upholsterers botched up.
A good upholsterer will also do a pair of chairs in the exact same manner, so the same visual appears on each chair in the same spot.
The only time they won't (or can't) do pattern matching is if there is not enough fabric, then they have to make do with what they have, which may have been the case with your chaise.
As well, he will want to know WHICH part of the pattern you want front and center, in the middle of the back cushion, and will work outwards from that.
A pattern repeat won't require a TON more fabric, perhaps 12 yards instead of 9 yards for a chaise longue. (that's an example only, so don't just go buy 12 yards! LOL)
Expect to have some leftovers, which can always be used for toss cushions or a tie-back on some solid drapes in the same room....
Good luck to you!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (45)

PRO
Marie Meko, Allied ASID
14 years ago
last modified: 14 years ago
I went to the site and they will send you a sample. It is rayon and polyester so it may not be great for upholstery . Show the sample to the upholsterer you plan to use and they can determine.hope this helped!
Marie Meko
clyon
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks so much! Sounds like that might not work for this chair - too bad, I think the fabric is fun and the colors are right. My upholsterer did say I should bring him a sample of what I want to use before I buy a whole bunch. Oh, well - the search continues...
PRO
Marie Meko, Allied ASID
14 years ago
Fabric is very fun and it might be possible to add a knit back for strength . Ask your upholsterer about that thought.
Marie
clyon
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks again - that's a good thought. And since I am pretty clueless, can you tell me what I should be looking for as far as material, weight, etc... when looking for upholstery fabric for a moderate use chair? Thank you!
mljohn
14 years ago
That's interesting that you don't think this will work on chairs or a chaise. I picked this fabric out at Zimmans in Lynn, MA with my upholster and he thought it would be perfect. I went back to the store yesterday to make sure it would work considering I just bought a bright red sofa on impulse and even the expert employees at Zimmans encouraged me to do my chaise in this fabric and not my wing back chairs. Now I need to call the company.
PRO
Wow Great Place
14 years ago
last modified: 14 years ago
If you search this fabric on-line, you'll see it at several on-line retailers. It is considered an upholstery weight fabric, woven like a tapestry. There should be no issue at all for either of you to use this fabric, but I would advise a meeting with your upholsterer with a sample of the fabric, as well as giving him info on the pattern repeat so he can calculate exactly how much fabric your project will require.
Last thing you want is to run out of fabric as he tries to line up the birds, and have to order more, as the next batch of fabric may come from a different dye lot. Better to have extra than to run out!
Gorgeous fabric, by the way!
Post pics of the completed pieces!
mljohn
14 years ago
Thanks for your comment. I did an Internet search last night from the information I found here and went to several of the sites that sell this fabric as well as the company site. It is considered upholstery weight fabric so it will work.

I just recently got more knowledgeable about the term repeat and realize that the upholster that did the work on my chaise did not line up the pattern. I may have to find someone else to do my chaise in this fabric so my birds line up. The information I learned last night states every 27 yards the birds repeat, if I'm stating that correctly. So that will make my job more expensive than I first anticipated. But I think it will be worth it.
mljohn
14 years ago
Yes, that's what I mean. I just checked out your website. You're in Canada. Great, but since I live in the US I won;t be able to use your upholster. Too bad. Great advice and I appreciate it.
PRO
Wow Great Place
14 years ago
If I could clone her, I would, she is incredible!! (my upholsterer)
mojodittyho
14 years ago
I'm having two tiki rattan swivel chairs reupholstered in this fabric for a sunroom/library. Love it!
clyon
Original Author
14 years ago
So, I've now seen the fabric in person. mljohn, I agree with you - it seems like it would be absolutely fine for upholstering and I'd love to see pictures of your chaise. For me, though, although I still think it is a really fun print, it turns out not to be what I am looking for my particular chair. The chair is going in our bedroom, which has cherry wood furniture and light gray walls (BM Coastal Fog) with white trim. The floor is a darker gray textured wall-to-wall carpet. I really need a pop of color so am thinking of an intense blue pattern. I'm having trouble finding just the right one and am open to suggestions. Here's a picture of the chair. Any thoughts? And, mojodittyho, would love to see your finished product, too!
clyon
Original Author
14 years ago
Just to add - I'm thinking, deep, intense blue with orange and maybe green as accent. Having trouble finding the right accent fabrics.
Lanie Brown
14 years ago
Fun! How do I add a pic from a discussion to an idea book so I can save the bird fabric? clyon, my designer has been on a search for fabric for my master as well. I'm wanting plum with sapphire blue and sagey green. We are meeting tomorrow; will let you know if she has anything which might work for your plans.
PRO
Wow Great Place
14 years ago
To add this fabric to your Ideabook, just click under the picture, where it says "more info"
It takes you to the original photo, and you can then add the pic to your Ideabook.
It's a gorgeous fabric!
clyon
Original Author
14 years ago
Lanie - good luck with your fabric search today; I'd love to see what you and your designer find; maybe something would work for me - I'm looking at sapphire blues as well. Keep us posted!
Lanie Brown
14 years ago
The search continues... I still love the fabric we started with which is similar to the swatch you first posted but with an abstract floral kinda design; same color palette and large print. For my chair/ottoman she found an amethyst "crocodile" texture fabric - sounds insane, but the sample is stunning. We will make an accent pillow for the bed in solid sapphire blue which is gorgeous against the large, multi-colored print for the shams. For the bench at the foot of the bed we have a nubby plum material which can work, but my designer is going to try again to find a print which will marry the plums and sapphire. Sounds like a lot of color and fabric, but keep in mind the bedding will be ivory so these are all accent pops of color. Where I wanted sagey green we have a wall color which tends towards greenish and works nicely with the linen field of the multi-colored print and the granite and tile which I've had to work with from the beginning. This sounds crazy; I will post pics when done.
Lanie Brown
14 years ago
Crazy emailing my designer late last night because we are NOT going purple. My husband could not wrap his brain around it (I think the fabulous amethyst croc print sent him over the edge), and now I feel like I was forcing a color that really doesn't work with the hard surfaces we have in the master already. Fortunately, my new office in our 2nd story remodel will be amethyst, so I got my purple fix.

We are going back to Benjamin Moore "confederate red" in our master bedroom. I've posted requesteing suggestions for a flattering neutral (butter cream frosting with possibly a hint of pink) for the master bath. We are sticking with the multi-colored print for the shams and window treatments, so I'm still looking for fabrics for our chair/ottoman and bench at foot of bed - but now to compliment red walls. I still like the sapphire accent pillow. I am super patriotic but don't want my master to look like a 4th of July float, so I will let you know how this all comes together.

How is your project coming, clyon?
brenda65
13 years ago
I've made draperies out of this fabric; along with large pillows. You could use it on a chair as well. This fabric is heavy!
clyon
Original Author
13 years ago
So, I've found a fabric! I think I was stuck on a bold pattern when really what I needed was a bold color. I'm having technical difficulties emailing myself a picture of the fabric, but will attach one when I can. It's a bold medium blue with a green and ivory floral print, but the blue is the majority of the fabric; there is very little ivory.

Here's my question: are there any special instructions I should give my upholsterer? Specifically, this chair is 75 years old - I'm not sure how to balance maintaining its tradition with wanting to update it. Should the seats be fuller? Keep the buttons on the back? What to do about piping, etc...? I could just have him reupholster it in the same style but with new fabric, but I thought I'd see what you all thought. Once done, this chair is staying done for a long time so I'd like to avoid anything too trendy. Here is the chair again. Thanks!
clyon
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
OK - here is the fabric. Thanks in advance!
Lanie Brown
13 years ago
We need the professional designers to answer your technical questions, but Congrats on finding a bold fabric you feel great about.
mojodittyho
13 years ago
I had a pair of chairs done in this fabric for my sunroom/library. Love them. So whimsical!
mljohn
13 years ago
Nice. I love this pattern. I decided to keep my chaise in the elephant fabric it is in. However, I plan to do two wing back chairs in this fabric.
Lanie Brown
13 years ago
My designer delivered the shams in our inspiration fabric. The window treatments aren't just right, so she's taking those back to the work room. The dragonflies are on a bench at the foot of the bed.
clyon
Original Author
13 years ago
Looks great, Lanie! Here is a picture of my chair - not the best photo since it was taken with my phone and not taken during the day - but you get the idea. It is in our bedroom, which has solid cherry Shaker style furniture (bed, dresser, 2 nightstands). Any thoughts on bedding? Right now I have a white duvet, which I actually like for its crispness and simplicity, but am open to ideas. I also have a poppy-colored bedspread at the foot of my bed; would love to incorporate some orange because I love the blue and orange combo, but not sure it fits. Am thinking of new lamps for the nightstands - maybe green glass, something fairly contemporary. Thoughts?
Lanie Brown
13 years ago
I saw your chair on another post tonight; love it! It sounds like your bedroom is rich and classic. I'm not sure the orange fits either; might be too bold and modern. What about minimal accents in cherry or kelly green? Let me hunt for some inspiration pics...
Lanie Brown
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
Okay, your fabric has kelly green, so accents in kelly plus yellow or a little bit of cherry. Darn pics won't attach tonight. Do houzz search for "classic blue bedroom" and see the color accents you get.
Lanie Brown
13 years ago
Hey, clyon, I've been busy in the real estate market and not playing on houzz. How are you doing with your room with your new chair? I think the crisp white bedding is probably pretty; just need to figure what color you want to bring in with your bedside lamps and other accessories.
clyon
Original Author
13 years ago
Hi Lanie - chair has worked out great - it's definitely the pop of color we needed. I think I am going to go with blue-based bedside lamps, with white shades - something contemporary. The hard part is that there aren't many options where I live and ordering online is hard when you're trying to get just the right blue. I'll keep looking and see what I can find. Hope your project is going well.
Kathy Ladd
13 years ago
I ordered this in a swivel chair. I also seen it in a larger chair. Good fabric. So fun.
mljohn
13 years ago
Ladies please post the pictures when they're finished. Can't wait to see them. My projects are on hold until I get some other things out of the way. I guess I get to live through you guys, lol.
Lanie Brown
13 years ago
Sweet hubby painted during Thanksgiving week. Almost done...
mljohn
13 years ago
Wow, I love the pillows. I would have never thought of using this fabric in that way. Thanks for sharing.
PRO
Sterling Rugs
13 years ago
We can make a rug of the exact design.
Lanie Brown
13 years ago
mljohn, my designer is having window treatments made from the same fabric. She had to take them back to the work room, but hopefully they'll be delivered this week. I'm also having a set of dining room chairs reupholstered with this fabric to add fun color to the breakfast room. I tried to attach a houzz inspiration pic of the chairs, but the way I used to attach imagess from idea books doesn't seem to be working.
PRO
Urban Cabin
13 years ago
Love the vibrant colours that you are all pulling in. For anyone looking for the bird fabric, it is called "crazy bird" and I have seen several different die lots for it. Have seen the fabric show up in the samples for Sam Moore, Norwalk, and Cotton Belle (bedding) As suggested, this fabric is definitely heavy enough for upholstery :)
mljohn
13 years ago
Lanie, please keep trying to post the pictures.
mljohn
13 years ago
Urban Cabin, do you have links to those products that use the Crazy Bird fabric?
Lanie Brown
13 years ago
Modern Dining Room · More Info

Yay, it worked! By the way, before I just copied the inspiration pic from my idea book, I searched "retro floral fabric dining chairs" and got some fun results!
dpmccain
13 years ago
I just finished recovering my dining room (now my breakfast room) chair seats in Crazy Ol Bird. The fabric I have has a taupe/olive background, which I don't see very much. The look is fabulous, and whimsical, but not garish. I also recovered an antique footstool my grandson likes to use.

I would post photographs, but the digital camera is still lost in packing/moving cartons...somewhere...alas.

My only disappointment is that there is a crazy and wonderful peacock placed so close to the selvage edge it could not be used as a focal point for the chairs (as I thought I was careful in the placement of the birds). But I probably missed an opportunity for placement...next time. But I noticed on some photographs here, the peacock's head is not visible...so maybe it wasn't "me".
PRO
Urban Cabin
13 years ago
Hi MLJohn, sorry for the delay in response: any of the products that Sam Moore and Norwalk make are available in that fabric www.sammoore.com and www.norwalkfurniture.com For bedding and yardage look to www.cottonbelle.net My personal favourite version to date has been by Cotton belle (more red and less pink) They call it Crazy Ol Bird, and you can find a pic on their site.
PRO
Urban Cabin
13 years ago
Thought I would give you a visual (picture from Cotton Belle) We can supply yardage also.
Lanie Brown
13 years ago
New carpet and window treatments in the inspiration fabric! Final detail is to paint the finials goldish to match a little dresser acquired from my Mother-in-law.
juheil
12 years ago
I just bought Crazy Ol'Bird fabric to reupholstered a settee I bought at an estate sale. It is a heavy embroidered damask. My upholsterers said it will work very well. The fabric is available at many different fabric warehouses. We decided to leave the skirt off and change the feet to ball feet. It should have lots of personality and I am doing it for my grandson and myself. It will be our reading couch.