My clients in Presidio Heights, San Francisco had a pair of Shabby Chic slipcovered lounge chairs and ottomans. You know the type, very 80's and dowdy trying to look like an English country house, but now those scroll arms and mushy upholstery just looks, well like it is worn out and it isn't!
They can afford to throw out both and buy new, or donate them. However, they are big and out of style and donations sometimes just end up in landfill. The Pedrero's are environmentally concsious, so when I recommended we change the frame and reuse the cushions but baffle the down and put in a foam insert in the middle, raise the chair and change the fabric and style abit they were excited but skeptical.
After all, now they had three children and they were going to be placed in front of the fireplace in their kitchen so that were going to get some kid wear.
Upon investigation, they had stubby plastic feet, but a hardwood frame we could work with. I got rid of the scroll, lowered the arms and gave them a shape. Remade the cushions but reusing material and raised the back and made new feet. I took a photo of the chair in proc
ess too.
ess too.So now with the cushions remade and the arm remade we reapplied and added foam and new dacron. I found a nice stain resistant cotton fabric from Pindler & Pindler that was tough and fun. It is a kitchen and has lots of activity.
The pattern repeated every 37 inches so I had to choose the focal point and make sure the lighter areas did not end up on the arms. My upholsterer and I started with the arms and chose a focal point for the cushions and for the outside back and worked fr
om there. This process takes time and we made changes as we
om there. This process takes time and we made changes as we applied the fabric. The chair began to take on another personality.
By the time we were done with the chairs and made the new feet and put them in front of the fireplace, they were unrecognizable and had a small bag of waste. We may reuse the old slip covers for pillows in another part of the house.
Being green is about reducing waste and it is not just an economic decision, it is a priority and the project was fun!
Have a look at the final product. Also pictured are the ottomans we remade using the same techniques.
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