Antique Chair Restoration: Part 3

We proceeded to re-glue the chair with specialty glue used for antiques. Once the glue had dried we started the refinishing process. The chair’s stain had darkened over the years and turned a rusty orange color. Once the fabric was removed, I noticed the original finish had been a darker mid-tone cherry. My client and I decided to restore the chair back to its original finish. As the restoration progressed, I approved the finish before the final sealer coats were applied. I selected a softer satin sheen for the final coat; I love how it brought out the rich wood tones.

My client and her family have deep emotional attachments to their grandmother’s chair because it had been in the family for decades. The restoration and new upholstery transformed their heirloom and now it’s a showpiece in their recently completed living room. They couldn’t be more pleased!

Thank you Julie and Chris for sharing!

-Tara Wilke

For more inspiration, take a look at the reupholstered chair below, created for the 2011 Rare Chair Affair by Tara Wilke. Enjoy!