While I was in Charlotte I found this amazing Barrel Cane Back Chair for really cheap. I have wanted a pair of Cane back chairs forever, so when I came across this one I knew she needed to come home with me. Only thing that would have made it better was if she had a mate. I could have really used two of them but she was too good a deal to pass up.
And for those of you who asked yesterday my favorite Consignment Stores in Charlotte are: Classic Attic, Clearing House, South End Exchange, and The Pompous Pheasant.
The chair is in excellent condition. Only thing is the fabric has a few small spots so I want to recover it. I thought it would be easy to recover myself but it looks a little more detailed because the bottom is all stapled up and the corners seem hard. Has anyone recovered a chair like this on their own?
Now on to the decisions. The wood is in such great condition I hate to paint it. Do you think it is granny to leave the wood as is and just recover the cushion and add a fun pillow? The wood actually looks good in our den and matches some of our pieces. I feel like white would be too bright- I could paint it black or off-white though.
Below are a few pictures I saved for inspiration:
Help me out what should I do? I like the tufted one but think that is more work and $$ than it is worth. I thought a navy velvet fabric could look cool and tie in with my rug well- but I worry will the wood + navy be too dark?
I am kind of obsessed with Kelly Weartsler’s Bengal Bazaar fabric. How would it look for pillows or the cushions?
Also adore this KW Groundworks
I bet I only need two yards of fabric so I don’t mind spending a little more for a kick ass fabric. Any other thoughts for fabric- solid etc? And should I paint it?
Lay the decorating advice on me, this is when I wish I had a decorator friend to come over and help me make decisions!
Yay!!! You know i just got two barrel back cane chairs too! Mine are a painted cream color and the tufted upholstery is in great condition but I know eventually I'm going to have mine redone too. Love all your choices. I'm a big fan of them in white. That way you can work in the navy velvet or another dark fabric and it will still pop! Always a fan of that kelly wearstler fabric!
My vote is for velvet navy I think that would look so great in your room!
NAVY NAVY NAVY! I think it would look so perfect I need to start hunting around you find the best things!
Love it! I've always wanted one! I love your 2nd inspiration picture and your 1st fabric choice! I think you should either leave it the way it is (which is totally lovely) or have the whole thing professionally painted and reupholstered. Painting that cane is going to be a bear and may get globby in the holes, etc. I've recovered a million chairs in my lifetime so I'm happy to help!
I'm an Interior Designer, here is my advice:
1. Leave the wood as is
2. Get it professionally reupholstered
3. Buy enough fabric for another potential chair (just buy 2 yards of whatever you chose)
4. Keep looking for second chair to go with it. Chairs like that are relatively easy to find online, even if it's not exactly the same they'll be 'friends' instead of a pair
Yes, yes, yes darling. I am in the same boat and have two, tufted ones to recover. I vote for the geometric print. The last one is fabulous!
Love them in white!
Leave them the color they are, navy will be perfect, and you will only need one yard, but get two for her sister when we find her. That was a run on sentence. Todd can recover it, he does mine all the time 🙂
Love it- so jealous! I've been on the hunt for a pair forever. I say leave the wood as it is and just recover the cushion. I think navy would look gorgeous
Love that chair! I vote for either blue velvet or that last black and white fabric 😉
I'd paint it white with a kick ass fabric.
I say the painted geometric KW fabric! But do it professionally, for sure!
I think your instincts are correct: don't paint the wood. If you choose a really modern fabric they will look fantastic! All your fabric choices seem great (I like the navy velvet best).
Don't paint it!!! Do the navy and have the option of changing the pillow whenever it strikes you. it will be fabulous!
I like the navy fabric and paint it off-white!
Love, love, LOVE! I found one for FREE a few months back. The cane was in perfect condition but the wood was worn so I painted it black. Here's the link if you want to see how I did it: http://www.thechroniclesofhome.com/2012/11/cane-chair-reborn.html
What a great find! I wouldn't paint it – just recover, but I'm one of those weird bloggers that doesn't paint every single piece of furniture. 😉
It sure is PURTAYYYYY. I can't wait to see what you do with it.
Such a great find! I'm obsessed with bengal bazaar fabric too. I'm using the apricot in our guest room1
Great find! I think the wood looks great. I wouldn't paint it. I think you should leave the wood as is and go with the navy fabric and buy and awesome pillow for it. I think it would look fab! And if you decide later on you want to change up the look of your room you could always paint it or add a different pillow!
Loving the first ikat fabric!!
So jelly!!! Love. My vote is not to paint and use a tufted navy velvet. Whatever you do. . .go classic, not trendy so you are not over it in a couple of years. Use a small rectangular pillow in a graphic, trendy print on it. Bam. Just my two cents.
What a cute chair. I say leave the wood as-is. White may make it look like porch furniture brought inside? And your fabric choices for re-covering are all awesome. Good luck!
It looks just like the ones I found on Craigslist a while back! I still need to re-upholster mine. Yours look fab and I love your fabric options! Can't go wrong with Kelly Wearstler.
Since I designed one of those spaces my vote is to paint it!!
I've done several of these. You should have no problem – it's just tedious work!
http://www.chattafabulous.blogspot.com
I love them white on white, but I know with littles that can potentially be a nightmare. White or black for paint and that KW fabric alllllll the way. {in my head, I said K-dub}
xo. Patience
whitelacquer.blogspot.com
I cant wait to see what you decide to do with them. They are the perfect shape, so I think anything will work well. I like the idea of dark wood with the silver/velvetty ikat.
I say go with the Bengal Bazaar in the khaki colorway and keep the wood like it is.
Depending on how much you paid for it, my vote is paint it if it didn't cost too much. White with a huge pop of color would be amazing!! I a, going to have to start hitting up the consignment hops ASAP!!
Ooooh, I like the white in the second picture best! Good luck with this project!
I found this great inspirational photo for you (http://www.theurbancottagedallas.com/2011/09/new-items-posted-for-sale.html) you seem to really like the wood color ….so why not leave the cane part wood – then paint the rest black and go for a neutral fabric and then you can add fun pillows to spice it up whenever you get the urge!!