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walkin_yesindeed

should I buy these chairs? If I should, what should I do to them?

17 years ago

OK, have never posted pics before and have no idea whether this will work, but bear with me.

These are the first chairs I've seen on my local CL that I actually like, and the price is great -- $50 for two of them. I am trying to imagine them either in neutral tan microfiber or something funkier, but I can't imagine what. Our taste runs toward Mission/transitional. I was thinking maybe a neutral microfiber on the back, and either kilim or a bold paisley on the round cushion -- something that'd be easy to change out when necessary but would give it a shot of style/color.

Opinions?

[IMG]http://i29.tinypic.com/dxilqc.jpg[/IMG]

Comments (21)

  • 17 years ago

    darn it! can't get that pic to post! Let me try again...

  • 17 years ago

    Well, they would be interesting. Where are you thinking of using them? They strike me as a boudoir or slipper chair, nothing that I would expect in a living room.

    In all honesty, I don't really see that with mission or transitional, but that is just me. If you love them, the price is great, and it is really what floats your boat that matters!

  • 17 years ago

    I can picture them in something like chartreuse, or a modern print. For funky. Maybe even a different color for each.

    Have never seen anything like them before : ) Very interesting chairs.

  • 17 years ago

    That's an interesting chair. I would call it Hollywood Regency. I like it but am not sure about doing it in a plain fabric. I think the fabric on it suits the chair style very well. But like les917 said, they're nowhere near what you think of when you think of mission style. Transitional -- well, the question is transitioning between what and what? To me, it would look great in a very modern space, the elongated back is kinda fun and spunky and dramatic. I don't see it with traditional furniture though. It would be stick out among traditional Colonial or English or French furniture.

  • 17 years ago

    Even something sleek, like a black, white, or colored leather.

    They don't look very comfortable, though.

  • 17 years ago

    I love em. It's hard for me to resist a funky chair. Maybe a skirt to hide the 50s legs would work with your existing style? I like them skirtless too, but a box-pleated skirt or something like that might blend them into what you've got going.

  • 17 years ago

    That is funky. I like it, but it's not mission/transitional by any means. Makes me think of the pair that I rescued and recovered.

  • 17 years ago

    They have a funky vibe but they don't look at all comfortable to me. I love cool chairs, but I have to be able to sit in them.

    Red

  • 17 years ago

    I have to say your title made me laugh.

    The chairs are unusual and will definatly make a stmt. in any room. I see something like them in a leopard print or velvet to go with the era. They could be fun.
    If you like them go for it! :) Then I want to see.

  • 17 years ago

    These are great chairs. I'd buy them if I could use them, and would reupholster them with a retro, modish but subtle fabric. In the late 60s/early 70s a girlfriend's family had a similar style of chair around a round, glass dining table. (They were leather, pleather, or vinyl, I think.)

  • 17 years ago

    Hi, very unusual style, never seen anything like them!! Agree with others that a pattern not a plain would work better.

    Also, don't believe they could be used as lounging chairs (no sides & too round of a seat). I'd see them as chairs to use for company to perch on or chairs in a bedroom to drape your pajamas/robe on.

    What's the seat height? If too low you may want to pass on them, as they won't be comfortable even for perching. When I go to garage sales I always pass on furniture that's too low, but maybe that's just me!!

    Good luck,

    Michelle

  • 17 years ago

    I agree with all of you: they're definitely Hollywood Regency. And I should recharacterize my own style, which is probably better said to be "*in* transition" rather than transitional. (: I do like clean-lined pieces, and our DR set is very Mission; the adjacent LR combines Mission and Art Deco; and our bedroom, where these chairs would go, is your basic Recovering Graduate Student/Random Wedding Present room. So funky/eclectic would fit in just fine there. And there's just something about these chairs...

    The room is a long rectangle. The half without windows is for the bed (not a bed per se, but rather mattresses on a metal frame) and the dressers, which are mismatched yard sale finds. On the other side of the room, I'd like to create a sitting/reading area next to the windows, with a gorgeous view of the mountains (by far the nicest thing about the room!). We got a red and tan handloomed Peruvian folk-art rug for our wedding, and that's what we'll use to set off the seating area. Also on that side of the room, framing one window, are some slender dark walnut modern-styled bookcases. And then the part I'd like to replace: a heinously ugly loveseat that a friend gave us, also on that side of the room. I'd much rather find some reading chairs and an ottoman than a loveseat anyway; the room's not that big, and the loveseat makes it a pain to open and close the curtains and shades.

    I agree these chairs don't look too comfortable, so they're probably not my ideal reading chairs. But they'd be good for draping the bathrobe or pulling into the LR for extra seating. I love the idea of velvet, and maybe even the box-pleated skirt -- hadn't thought of that, cool idea, thank you!

    I agree that they're great in a pattern, but I don't want lots of patterns clashing in my bedroom, I don't think. What would you think of a tan velvet on the back and the bottom of the seat, and then the top, round seat cushion in something like this:

    Here is a link that might be useful: I'd use this pillow cover to reupholster the seat...

  • 17 years ago

    P.S. If the Photoshop mavens have any free time and could transform the above pic for me with tan velvet and that Pottery Barn pillow cover... I'd be in your debt. But don't worry about it if you're busy, guys.

  • 17 years ago

    I've "sat" in chairs like these before. They're not at all comfortable.

  • 17 years ago

    Honestly? No. :) I agree with others that they look very uncomfortable. Also, having chairs reupholstered is really expensive--so figure that in, too (unless you're planning to reupholster them yourself).

    On the other hand: If you like them, then you should get them, regardless of what anyone else says.

  • 17 years ago

    Hollywood glam to me. I agree that they don't look at all comfortable! I like funky, but funky has to be functional for me.
    Diane

  • 17 years ago

    uh-oh... think the consensus is moving against me. And I know for certain that my DH will say exactly the same thing you're all saying: if they're not comfortable, they're a waste of money.

    I'm kinda torn. What was that thing Billy Crystal used to say: it is better to look good than to feel good, and dahling, you look MAHvelous. I think those chairs would look MAHvelous. (:

  • 17 years ago

    walkin, I vote yes. I paid $45 for my chair. Reupholstery and building the matching chair cost $450 + fabric (two fun, retro fab chairs for $500 -- not too shabby). Everyone said told me I wasted my money, that the chair looked sooo unconformtable. Once the reupholstery was done, which included repairing the rocker mechanism on the original chair, retying the springs, new stuffing, the works, they are very comfortable. You will never know unless you try it out. I think those chairs could look very glam. Think about those chairs in a velvet or nubby chenille with a game table in between! What a cozy, fun retreat.

  • 17 years ago

    I vote yes too. They don't look uncomfortable to me at all. I used to buy and sell 50s stuff and I found most of the chairs to be designed for comfort even if they don't look like it.

    But they do look like they would be more comfortable if you had a place to prop an elbow. Like at a table or desk. Speaking of desk, Target has their Global Bazaar stuff marked down to 50% off here and they have a killer mirrored desk/vanity. Parsons style I think is the style, with one center drawer. I can see this chair with it used as a vanity or desk.

    That dang mirrored thing is torturing me..... I should just go buy it! It's been on my mind for months now. And now with one of those chairs.....wow!

  • 17 years ago

    I like them! Unusual chairs are great as accent pieces. Maybe reupholster them in a deep velvet or a bright silk fabric.

  • 17 years ago

    Sarah, I just love your lr! .. You had the second chair actually built to match the $45 one? And it was only $500 to finish the two??? Around here it would probably be $5000, lol :) Who made the second chair for you? I didn't know one could do that so easily. Amazing.

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