The Chair Saga – Upholstery 101 V.1

So, the time has come. My oft discussed, in desperate need of repair chair has gone under the knife – phase I of the reupholstery project has begun. As family and friends will attest, this project is long overdue and thanks to Eliot School and $240 there is an end in site ( on a side note, if you are a Boston local looking for a great class in woodworking, upholstery, I highly recommend the Eliot School).

Just one night with father and son duo Paul I and II, and my chair has been stripped to the bone, completely ripped apart and glued and clamped back together. All that remains is the wooden frame, gone are the springs, the 2,000 staples, the three layers of fabric, and the antique batting and foam. Actually doesn’t look like there is much left to salvage…

Two hours of sanding have gotten the wood close to the original (looks like cherry in some places, poplar in others). Now just need to decide if it gets a rosewood stain or a whitewash??

Here is the work in progress:

Follow the entire saga of upholstering a chair from start to finish:

V.2 Rebuilding

V.3 Mild Freakout

V.4 Taking Shape

V.5 Hello Fabric!