Dated to Daring
Play up the form of a vintage chair by dressing it in the perfect fabric
The Problem
The corner of this third-floor family room needed something cool enough to meet the elevated aesthetic of our super-chic client’s home, but cozy enough to curl up and hunker down in with a book. No clunky leather recliners here.
THE FIND
Most furniture today isn’t built—or bought—to last, one of the reasons why we turn to vintage so often. This Rossi di Albizzate lounge chair, made in 1960s Italy, checked most of our boxes: high quality, interesting form, highly comfortable, and vintage (read: sustainable). The upholstery was another story. The white leather gave us Austin Powers, groovy-baby vibes, and had been well-loved.
THE Facelift
House of Hackney makes funky (in the best way) textiles, and the Artemis velvet pattern is no exception. We’ve used it to create curtains, on dining room chairs, for cushions, and now, this plush lounge chair—the size and heft of which could accommodate a large-scale pattern. The room also features a bright yellow ottoman, nutmeg-toned sectional, and blue and green side chairs, and this colorway pulled in each of these shades harmoniously.
So how can you take a vintage chair in need of some love from almost-cool to OMG-where-did-you-get-that?
Tip 1: Shop your house
“As always, the best place to start from a convenience and sustainability standpoint is your own home. If there’s nothing interesting lying around your place, see if parents or other relatives might be harboring a hidden gem that they aren’t attached to.”
Tip 2: focus on form when searching vintage
“Resale sites like Chairish and 1stDibs are bursting with amazing vintage chairs. Try the search terms ‘Midcentury Modern’ and ‘Art Deco’ for cleaner lines, or ‘Regency’ and ‘Victorian’ for a more ornamental piece. But be warned…depending on the manufacturer, some authentic vintage items will cost you. Look for listings that say ‘(designer)-inspired’ for a similar look without the hefty price tag. You can also check out local vintage shops (hi, GoodWood!), or scour Facebook Marketplace.”
Tip 3: Select the right fabric
“I prioritize tension in all my designs, and upholstery is an easy place to achieve this kind of visual interest. For example, if you select a mid-century chair, fabric with an organic pattern provides a beautiful juxtaposition. A style with intricate woodworking, like a Louis XVI chair, looks great upholstered in a bold solid or pinstripe.”
Tip 4: Find a reputable upholsterer
“It can be hard to know the level of service and craftsmanship you’ll get with upholsterers. The best place to start is by getting referrals from friends and family, and always ask to see samples of previous work. Small businesses or generations-old upholstery shops may not have an online presence but do an excellent job, so be patient and explore providers through word of mouth.”
Tip 5: Protect Your Investment
“Getting something upholstered that you already own or had purchased secondhand means you’ll wind up with a totally unique piece, and that you saved more furniture from the landfill. AND it’s a (worthwhile) but not always cheap investment. Use an upholstery protection service like The Fabric Shield to keep your custom chair looking like new.”