Well folks, here we are again. In a move that won’t surprise our regular readers one bit, I have fallen irrevocably in love with yet another vintage chair. That moratorium on chair adoption I mentioned a while ago? Disregard it. I certainly did.
Last week I was on an evening mission to the craft store to get a few supplies for the coaster project. Out of habit, I popped into the adjacent Goodwill. I have a well-established loop for this Goodwill: I scan the furniture, check the textiles, loop over to the aisle of frames and art and exit by way of the ceramics. I was on my way out when something – some strong cosmic force – made me veer from my well-trodden path and return to the furniture section. This time when I walked by (screeching to a halt like a cartoon character at the edge of a cliff), I was able to see through the veil of 1980s Golden Girl fabric to what lay beneath: the most beautiful, solid, comfortable, mid-century recliner in the history of the world. Truly. The whole history of the world.
I smelled it, poked it, peered underneath it, took photos of it, reclined in it and, finally, recognized we could never be apart and paid for it ($30). I went back the next day with the truck to bring my baby home.
Looking like the homecoming princess in a parade float
I love the tall back and that little peaked detail on the arms.
It really is insanely comfortable. I’ve barely gotten out of it since I brought it home. This photo shows it with the footrest up, but it also kicks completely back so you’re practically lying down.
I don’t think the little wood panel on the front is original. It has a pretty grain, but is definitely a different kind of wood from the rest of the chair. I’m thinking I’ll probably remove it, but would love to hear your thoughts.
There aren’t any designer markings on the chair, but by googling ‘mid century recliner’ I was able to find another one. It’s listed on Chairloom (the upholstery company of my dreams) as a “Milo Baughman style recliner” and they’re asking $1200 for it as is.
I think that’s probably a price that’s been inflated by an MCM-hungry market, but I sure hope someone buys it so they’ll put it in their Before & After gallery – a place I sometimes go to daydream.
And speaking of daydreaming, I’m mulling over upholstery options that will take this little lady from Bea Arthur to Bea-utiful. Here’s a very similar recliner upholstered in grey linen. I like the clean simplicity of the fabric, though I’d probably go with a darker shade – closer to a charcoal grey.
Or perhaps a grey velvet like this one? It would be so plush!
Or is that too safe? How about a maritime blue?
Or… an electric raspberry velvet like this one?
When Mera last visited we found this incredible navy blue cotton velvet upholstery fabric for a smoking deal. Mera – in her infinite wisdom – convinced me I needed to buy it even if I didn’t have a particular project in mind. I’m not sure there’s enough yardage, but oh my. The way the warm wood looks against the blue is unbearably pretty – it’s the Helen of Troy of chairs; the chair that launched a thousand ships.
I’m considering trying to upholster it myself – after all, the months (yep, months) it took to upholster the bed chair are but a hazy memory; the staple removal-induced claw hand only recalled when there’s a storm-a-comin’. I’m eager to start right away, but in the short term I guess I’ll have to pull on my best caftan and embrace this Golden Girl just as she is.
What are your thoughts? Linen? Velvet? Something else entirely? Keep the front wood panel or nix it? I’d love to hear!