A couple of years ago my mom’s cousin Kay Lee asked me about redoing an antique rocking chair she has. Last Spring she brought it up again. I told her I would be happy to do it. Then I see her again at our family reunion in June and we talk about her chair one more time. Finally late in the Summer she brought me the chair.
The chair belonged to Kay Lee’s grandmother, Mae Elizabeth. This is a picture of her grandma in 1951. She was 82 in this picture. Mae Elizabeth passed away in 1962 at the age of 92. Kay explained to me that her grandmother lived with her family for as long as she could remember. Everyone called her “mom”. Even Kay Lee referred to her as mom, while calling her own mom “mother”.
This is how the chair looked when I got it. I did a little more sanding on it, then I worked on repairing some of the webbing. Kay Lee brought the original seat padding, but I didn’t get any pictures of it.
When Kay Lee and her husband Bill dropped the chair off to me she had said she wanted a simple tung oil finish. I didn’t have any, so after several conversations we decided on a dark walnut finish.
I applied one coat of stain with a soft cloth, then put on one coat of wipe-on poly. Love the results!
Here, you can see the original fabric from the chair. I laid it out as a pattern for the new pieces.
I got the seat done relatively easy.
I added two new pieces of webbing on the back.
Okay, I have NO in progress pictures. This was not an easy makeover. I told Kay Lee that I felt like Mae Elizabeth did NOT want me to recover this chair. I struggled quite a bit.
I used the nailheads that come in strips with a nail every 5th spot.
I delivered the chair to Kay Lee and I think she is really pleased with how it turned out. She said the finish is exactly how she remembers it being originally. Whew! I was sure glad to hear that.
I have a rocking chair in the basement that has hideous material on it. I blogged about it here when I first started the blog and redoing furniture. I plan to tackle it this winter, probably with some drop cloth material. It will look a LOT better the next time around!
Have you upholstered something lately? Any tips for a novice?
gail
see more chair projects here:
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I'm Busy Procrastinating
It must have been so stressful trying to bring back a family heirloom, rather than just some ol' chair you picked up for a few bucks at a yard sale! I would love to watch someone do a reupholstering project, but I'm nowhere near being able to tackle on one my own. Upholstering scares me!
Suzanne@Meridian Road
I've only upholstered one thing in my life, and it was such a paint that I never did another! I think the rocker turned out beautifully, Gail! Not the work of a novice at all.
Artsy VaVa
WOW! You did a great job redoing the rocker. I'm not sure I would even know where to start with a project like that! Thanks for sharing.
alida
You did an awesome job! I not brave enough to tackle reupholstering something that difficult yet. The farthest I've gotten is a seat cushion. 🙂
Erin
You did an amazing job on the rocker...your friend must be so pleased. I think I'd be more than a little nervous to take on such a meaningful project. Thanks for sharing
Kat Bennett
You did wonderfully! I have my great grandma's rocker and have thought about stripping the gaudy green paint from it, but I just can't seem to get up the ambition needed to tackle it, therefore, I'm happy looking at your fantastic job. The seat & back material are perfect!
Dawn
you are an inspiration... I have an old rocker very similar to yours... You have given me the bug to finally start on it... thanks
Dawn
ps.. I'll send you a link to my in progress photos
Good Time Charlie
The end result is just gorgeous! I love the fabric and I love the stain on the wood. What a good and sweet friend you are! Now it can go on for a long time in a new life.
Katie
Phew! I bet that was difficult to reupholster! It looks wonderful though! Love the final finish on the wood! It looks brand new again!
Rose @ Confessions of a Curbshopaholic
I agree with everyone else, it looks beautiful and like a professional did it. Nice nail head trim ;).
It's so much harder when the piece in question has sentimental value, isn't it?
Sylvia
All the way from Washington State: you rocked the rocker. The fabric is perfect for the style and era of the chair. Another great make over from Gail.
Toqua's Crafts
Gail, it looks GORGEOUS! I know it is a frustrating job to reupholster.
Kudos to you!!
pedalpower
It might have been a struggle, but you did a beautiful job!
Marla and Steve @ Always Nesting
Amazing makeover. It's beautiful!
Love Of Quilts
It looks great! Trish
Just Stuff From a Boomer
I never had any doubt you would do a fabulous job. Mom's chair has been brought back to life. What wonderful memories it holds. "If chairs could talk"....
Proper Prim
Wow, you did an amazing job on that Gail. So nice to see it brought back to life again. I am sure Mae Elizabeth would be so thrilled. I love pieces with a story... and a sentimental one is the best.
Can't wait to see what you do you your other one.
Have a great day.
Hugs, Deb
Shannon
WOW, it looks GREAT!!!
So, let me know when you're ready for me to load up the wing back chair I've been avoiding for over a year that desperately needs reupholstered (and all new foam/padding) and we'll head your way 🙂
This really looks great! I like the nail head trim!
Sandi @ The Primitive Skate
Awesome job, Gail! I Love how the chair turned out. Have a great week!
Debilou ~ Mississippi Mama
the chair looks really good, you did a great job. How lucky she is to have such a treasure from the past.
Connie Eyberg Originals
You did do a beautiful job on that rocker! I am in awe. I am in the process of redoing a rocker - first time. I have my MIL to fall back on if it is a failure. As it turns out there were slats under the back upholstery so all I have to do is cover the springs of the seat. If I finish it successfully I will post photos. I was hoping for tips from you!
Connie
Korrie@RedHenHome
I used that SAME fabric on a nasty reupholstery project I did for a friend! Upholstery is NOT easy; you did a beautiful job!
Eileen
What a fantastic job you did on that chair. I don't think that I could do it! I was looking at your coffee pot lamp, I have a pot very similar to that one, I paint on all my finds, but making that into a lamp was a fantastic idea, I love it. Keep up the great work, I enjoy seeing it!
http://paintingbyeileen.blogspot.com/
Suzie
Amazing job! What a treasure!
Terri
Wow, I can see where you would be a little apprehensive to tackle such a project...especially considering all the personal attachment that your cousin had with it. You "nailed" it, girl! I am totally impressed with your recovering job...it is not easy.
Reupholstering is something I always wanted to try and when I picked up two cane back chairs super cheap, I decided to give it a try. I have never seen so many staples in all my life. Keeping the original fabric for a pattern is definitely the most important part. Then it is just a matter of a lot of "pulling and tugging" to get the fabric on there tight. I would not want to do it for a living, but I am sure I would do it again just for fun!
Lesley
You did a great job. A novice? Really? The chair looks great! I have done some upholstry work....I find it too difficult and leave it up to the professionals!! lol
Susan
That chair is beautiful!! What a wonderful job you did with it.
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper
it looks beautiful! i have yet to try upholstery.... one day!
Sharon
Gail! The Chair turned out beautiful. Just stunning! You did a wonderful job on this.
I love the color, its perfect and the new fabric is perfect as well.
I have only recovered one Chair well it turned in to 6. LOL. I guess I need to post that.
Sharon
aimee
it looks great, you did a really lovely job xxx
Dawn
Ohmigosh Gail, you did such a good job on that chair - I would have had a heart attack doing a recover of a chair with that much history, for a friend! I'm applauding you all the way from Texas on this one!! Super job!!!