Ask Kyle: Old Chair, New Outlook

I received a question from Meredith, a blogger who is in mid-project with two worn out old chairs and wants to know how to pump new life into them. (You can check out her original posting of her "Ugly Chairs" here.)

When I got this query I thought it was perfect, as I just had an original 1950's Sears and Roebuck lounge chair redone and updated with a fresh new look. I found the chair for only $50 on Craigslist and fell in love with it's lines. By looking past it's flaws and breathing new life into it, the chair transformed into a classic, tailored seat that will stand the test of time.

Kyle's vintage chair, before reupholstering.

Kyle's chair with fresh fabric.

Meredith had two chairs in question - one a navy leather wrapped wing chair and another bulky floral print side chair that her husband loves )I am assuming because of the comfort factor.) Her first question was if should she spend the money to recover it. My answer is YES. Find a great upholsterer and it will save you money in the long run from having to buy a brand new chair- especially if it has great lines or you have a personal attachment to it. The lines of a wingback chair especially will never go out of style, and with a bit of tweaking I think we can get it looking modern again.

Meredith's "ugly" chairs in question.

Her second question was how she should approach the new fabric, and how does she make everything blend together, as they already have a beige linen sofa. My answer is think outside the box and unify your theme without making everything match. For example, the wingback chair has a great nailhead trim - why not have that repeated on the arms of the other chair when you have it re-covered? These are the details that make a difference and won't cost you much more. Also, think about welting or piping as it is more commonly referred. It is such an overlooked detail and a great way to add interest and definition to an otherwise shapeless chair.

Kyle loves these fabrics because they have complimentary patterns in a similar color family.

I don't think that Meredith should match the fabric on her two odd and end chairs, but by coordinating the same piping all around the cushions (and even on the top and bottom edges of both) it will unify the items. A bright white would make everything crisp, or think about incorporating the sofa's existing linen color into the two ch>airs. Look online at different hotels or design showrooms for inspiration.

Beautiful piped upholstery is pulled off effortlessly by designer Anna Spiro of Black + Spiro

Another way to have fun with the chair is to mix up the seat cushion fabrics. Have the two chairs flip flop fabrics when it comes to the cushions to give a more bohemian and whimsical look. When approaching the fabric, my eye always goes to more bold and graphic prints personally. Mix a stripe and a bold geometric in the same color family, then bring those fabrics into your throw pillows on the sofa to really create a designer look.

This bench by Oly Studio from Maison Luxe has a contrasting seat cushion, another upholstery trick Kyle suggests for a more bohemian feel. Picture via All Things Bright and Beautiful.

When you are having your chairs reupholstered, there will usually be extra fabric and your upholsterer can whip up some extra throw pillows in no time. In Meredith's case her couch pillows have some shag detailing - it would be great to incorporate that extra texture throughout the room with some shag floor pillows or some smaller shag pillows for her "new" chairs.

Most importantly - have fun with design!
- Kyle

["Ask Kyle" is a new feature on The Love List, appearing the first Wednesday of every month. Kyle Schuneman is a professional designer who has worked in not only resedential design but also on the sets of many of your favorite design shows. To learn more about Kyle and see pictures of his work, click here. If you have a question for Kyle, e-mail Kyle@thelovelist.net, and you may see it answered on The Love List!]