Wood frames · club · vintage
Accent chairs, given a makeover from head to toe.
Wood-framed, club, vintage and contemporary chairs, re-covered at the studio in Vancouver, WA. Email a photo of yours and get a quote.
Where an accent chair gives out first
A chair rarely fails all at once. The seat goes first, because that is where the weight lands every day. Underneath the cover the webbing stretches, the springs lose their lift and the foam packs down, so a chair that once held you up starts to let you sink. Arms rub through at the edges, and a cover faded by a sunny window can make a sound chair look far older than it is.
The frame is the part to judge before anything else. A joint that is still tight and a wood frame that stands square without a wobble are what make a re-cover worth doing. Club chairs, vintage armchairs and contemporary accent pieces all follow the same rule: if the bones are good, the rest can be rebuilt from the seat up with new support, fresh padding and a cover you choose.
Sometimes nothing has worn out at all. The chair is comfortable and the size is right, and the only trouble is the color or the pattern. That is the chair Sassafrassity describes as “That comfy chair that still fits your space but really, really needs a modern look.” A new cover is often all it is asking for.
Blue velvet channel-back armchair, freshly re-covered, standing on a lawn
How an accent chair makeover goes
It starts with an email. Send photos of the chair, any ideas you like and a look at the room it is going into, to sassafrassity@hotmail.com. Anything that helps the creative process is welcome. Sassafrassity works with each client to narrow the choices down to final selections, so you are not left alone in front of a wall of swatches.
Bring your own fabric, or order from Charlotte Fabrics through the studio. Already know what you want? Email a picture and the details and a quote comes back as quickly as possible. At the studio in Vancouver, WA, the old cover comes off, the seat is rebuilt where it needs it and the new cloth goes on. If a wood frame looks tired, ask about refreshing it while the chair is there.
Pick up and delivery services are available, so a heavy armchair does not have to ride home in the back seat. If you would rather talk it through than type it out, call 503-245-2453 and describe the chair. Photos by email still help, since they show the arms, the legs and the back better than any description can.
Is your chair worth saving?
Sassafrassity’s own test is a simple one: “If your furniture functions for you, is well made, vintage, antique or just has sentimental value it is worth saving.” A family armchair, a yard sale find with good lines and a vintage club chair all pass. Color drives us to love or hate a piece, and changing the tone can keep it out of the garage and out of the landfill.
Once it is home, a few habits keep new upholstery fresh. Turn removable cushions now and then so one side does not take all the wear, keep the chair out of hard direct sun that fades cloth, and brush or vacuum dust away before it works into the weave. Blot spills right away instead of rubbing, and ask which cleaning approach suits the fabric you picked.
I strive to take each client's idea for their furniture and turn it into reality.
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