Help me avoid re-upholstering mistake

18 years ago

I plan to have 2 living rooom chairs upholstered. I tried painting them but it just isn't going to work. You can see my experimentation on the arm cover.

I have chosen the fabric on the right.

I'm concerned about texture, color, and the suitability of the fabric for the construction of the chairs.

1. Texture. The sofa is cotton tapestry, the drapes are linen, and the rug is cotton needlepoint; these "show threads" textures dominate the room, although there is a large ottoman in microfiber. I'm not sure whether the slight sheen of the polyester will be old ladyish or plasticy feeling in the room. The curvy chenille bits might prevent that.

2. The color I have chosen is very close to the tan color of the ottoman and the oatmeal drapes. IRL the border of the rug is also in the tan-oatmeal range, not yellowy as it seem in my poor photo. I just can't feel any other color working with the grey-blue walls, which I want to keep. Can you? I don't want the room to have a library, or club feeling, so dark colors probably won't cut it. And I haven't found a bright one that feels relaxing or like it belongs. I guess the room feels a bit worn. The tan freshens without making everything else look bad.

3. The suitability of the fabric for the chair shape. The back cushions are not squared off and not dense.

The arm has little gathers in it, too, as you can see below. Will the fabric translate to the shape of these chairs?

P.S. You can't tell from the photos, but the chairs have a purpley tone that makes them unusable in the room as they are.

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Comments (4)

les917
18 years ago
Nice chairs. Bet they will be great recovered.

I think the fabric you have chosen is too modern for the feel of your other furnishings. I am also thinking that the chairs will seem kind of blah in that light color in comparison to the strong fabric on the couch and the pattern in the rug.

I would think a deeper shade of the blue-grey, which also seems to be in the couch fabric, would serve well in there. Or, what is the background color of the couch fabric - it appears brown on my monitor - that might be great, too.

I can't tell for sure, but this stripe might work with the couch fabric, and be a good balance for all the other pattern:

enola stripe

When they recover the chairs, they can change the look of the cushions, the legs, etc. Maybe, if you want a different feel, get rid of the skirt and have the legs exposed, and have the back cushion boxed. The london arm will be fine in whatever fabric works for the rest of the chair.
budge1
18 years ago
I agree with les and think you should look at a stripe as well. I feel that the pattern on the fabric you've selected while abstract, is mimicing a floral and you already have a big beautiful floral piece in the room. Even though it's neutral in colour I think the patterns are going to fight each other. I love the stripe les chose but if it is too much colour for you, you could even look at a more neutral stripe.

I love your sofa. Could you post a better picture of it? I've ordered chairs in a similar floral and have been second guessing myself like crazy. If they look half as good as your sofa, I'll be happy.
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Jamie
Original Author
18 years ago
I see that the chairs would be bland. With 2 of them in the room it would be maddeningly bland rather than relaxingly bland. I was afraid to put stripes on those chairs but I'm getting a sample of the Enola - I like it. Thanks for the courage and the push to keep trying rather than settle for safe.

Here's the sofa. One picture for shape and one shows the the fabric in daylight. The fabric came from a Robert Allen book called Cognac.

I wish I could find the pictures of the room in which the couch first had a home 15 years ago. It had natural woodwork and striped wallpaper. The fabric is easy to live with and I think you'll like the versatility.
budge1
18 years ago
Thanks so much for the pics. I love your room- I think we must be kindred spirits. The other pieces in the room are just the sort of things I would have as well.