Black Vinyl Chair Upgrade

Chair After

Chair Before

This was the chair I worked on while Jim was tackling the large desk in the previous posting. It was more challenging than I had anticipated, but that isn't uncommon in the restoration business. The vinyl was not torn at all, but was pretty worn out in need of replacement. There were over 300 tacks surrounding the bottom edge, front, sides and back as well as the top back section of the chair. 

It's hard to see in the "before' photo to the left, but the tacks line the entire bottom of the chair. As a rule, I dislike working with tacks because they inevitably bend and never line up as you'd want them to. But the customer had wanted tacks, so tacks he got. Those tacks were the first thing to remove so I could then remove the upholstery nails and tackle the vinyl. This took the better part of an afternoon. 

Once the material was gone, the springs were revealed and not in the best condition. Well, the springs themselves were great, but the original ties had come apart and some of the springs weren't supporting the seat properly. I put that on  hold in the back of my mind while I worked on stripping the old finish from the wood. The stripping took me three days (I don't work as quickly as Jim does!) After that was sone, I let him work his magic and stain the chair then apply the polyurethane to protect it. In the interim I had decided that I would remove the old ties on the springs and re-tie them with the 8-way tie method. I couldn't leave it the way it was knowing how bad it would be if someone sat on it. 

New ties in place and springs supporting the seat properly, I reused the horsehair which was perfectly fine. Next, I secure the springs with burlap, then added a thick layer of cotton batting and finished it off with a top layer of muslin. Though not necessary, muslin is a nice finishing touch before adding the material. The vinyl seat was very difficult, but I managed to get it in place. Another afternoon gone. The next day I tackled the backrest. Another challenge, but once it was in place I began the tedious process of nailing in the 300 tacks, choosing a shiny brass finish to match the hardware on the desk. The tacks were now much more visible than before the reupholstery. I was so glad to have finished this chair as it was one of the more difficult projects I had done lately.

Springs Before

Springs After

Large Desk Refinished

Desk After

Desk Before

This was a whopper of a job! Not only was it pretty beat up, this desk was extremely heavy, making the refinishing and restoration process more challenging. 

Jim made the executive decision to take it apart for two reasons; the first reason, it was quite heavy, the second reason, portions of the structure was reinforced with metal, which could not be stained but had to be painted. This included the entire bottom edge, a 2" wide curved metal frame and metal accent pieces inside the drawers and some parts of the interior.

This was surprising because at first glance it was difficult to determine that metal was a major component of the overall structure. So to do it right, taking it apart and refinishing each section was the best solution. It worked great because while he was tackling the desk, I was tackling my own project, a chair which was part of this three-part project for the same customer. The top was quite worn and had some damaged areas, but nothing that couldn't be sanded and made fresh again. The sides had some dings and dents, which were filled in and made less noticeable.

Our customer had told us that this desk had belonged to his father, so he had wanted to bring it back to its former beautiful condition. The desk was quite stunning once the pieces were assembled again. The freshly painted metal proved to be a great accent for the English chestnut stain and matched quite well. Jim polished the hardware to make it fresh and new as well, and wow, what a difference. It always amazes me how very different the refinished project is compared to the original, worn piece of furniture. Now the desk can be handed down to family members to cherish for many years to come.

Cedar Chest Makeover

Cedar Chest After

 

Cedar Chest Before

Here's another cedar chest that had seen better days. Over the past fourteen years we have refinished and restored several cedar chests. They always present a challenge as each  one is unique with its own problems, therefore each one needs special attention. 

This one had a severely damaged bottom, possibly water damage or the dog got a hold of it. In any event, it required a complete reconstruction as the original section could not be saved. Unfortunately, when replacing any section of wood damage, it's difficult to match the stain colors. Because of the type of wood and the age, which also affects the finished look, stain matching was not possible, but the new addition is still a big improvement over the damaged section. Another unique feature of this cedar chest was the false drawer front. The hardware needed a bit of cleaning, otherwise it was still usable.

This cedar chest was different from the other ones we've worked on because it had a padded fabric top, which allows you to use it as a place to sit while putting shoes on. The original material was circa 1976, so I updated it with waxed canvas, a nice durable fabric that will hold up to plenty of daily wear and use. Overall, this cedar chest makeover was a big change from the original.