AI6YR BenSnagged a random possible chair restoration project (free) down the block. Tough one, no existing cushions. But I still have foam and vinyl for a chair or two here. #furniturerestoration
This apparently was the last owner's only photo before he had torn them apart. #furniture
Google says these are either Chiswell dining chairs, Finn Juhl dining chairs, Mid Century Matchstick, or similar. #furniture
Closest match is a Finn Juhl dining chair. But, unclear if this is the original or what. This one is definitely appropriate era, but not leather. Also unmarked. Could be something of similar era/styling, I am not a furniture person. Will be a challenge for me as there is no cushion and no fabric to copy. #furniture #restoration
Teak? Oak? I have leftover vinyl from reupholstering a lounge, so using that. I don't have appropriate foam, the stuff I have is too thick. Not sure how many inches and how firm the cushion should be, though. #furniture #restoration
(Google AI: sorry, WRONG!) Also, wish you could just set reverse image search to NOT run the stuff through "make whatever s***t up LLM". It now also mostly tries to match images against "stuff for sale", which is pretty useless for this kind of thing.
Anyway, bottom cushions are 18x17 each, top cushions are 11x17 each... so need 56 inches x 17 inches of foam. Not sure if I need "soft" or "medium" for a chair. Will be about $45 from Sailrite for high density indoor cushion foam. I am going to say "soft" as the "medium" I bought for the last chair was actually kinda hard vs. the original. #furniturerestoration #furniture
Sigh, the most convenient and cheapest foam is Uncle Bezos Depot. The only upholstery/foam people here close by are people who do upholstery, no supply shops. (it's cheaper to order from the Bezos Billionaire Machine than to drive to a store far away).
Bill@ai6yr We ran into that too. JoAnn's was the last stop for stuff like that and now they are gone. I live in a pretty big city, and ... nada.
April
Shirley Eugest@ai6yr
No! Micheal's, Home Depot and lot's of other stores are closer.
It looks like Micheal's stepped up to a few upholstery items to cover the void left by Joann's.
Many better choices than Uncle Bezo's slop emporium.
Sarah E Bourne@ai6yr This may sound crazy, but look at marine neoprene. I was able to get 1/2" for a lot less than the stuff sold as "upholstery foam". I used it to make pads for my porch chairs and it's really comfy.
bjb 
There are mattress manufacturing companies locally, if you have local ones maybe you can get supplies from them.
Years and years ago, I had a mattress made for my futon base, it was alternating cotton batting and foam layers, 1" each layer.
Maybe you can get what they would regard as scraps .
LAUREN
CassandraVertDid you forget to tell us something?
Malaboo@ai6yr We used to find furniture foam at our local military outlet store. Doesn’t exist anymore but maybe there’s still one in your area?
Also you can trim foam thickness or other dimension with an electric turkey carver. (Not making it up).
Looks like a great project!
@ai6yr
The density of the foam matters more than the firmness. Medium is adequate for dining room chairs, where you may sit for an hour or so. If you use these chairs all day, you want something that won't pancake after a day.
I know there are upholstery supply shops in your county. Auto, Marine, and home.
The density of the foam matters more than the firmness. Medium is adequate for dining room chairs, where you may sit for an hour or so. If you use these chairs all day, you want something that won't pancake after a day.
I know there are upholstery supply shops in your county. Auto, Marine, and home.
Terence
Cat West
Kinene⭐🐻
Jaakko Niemi@ai6yr Never underestimate the thickness of Birch and it's likings. My grandfather made his business building furniture from it (look for "Juvako" branded stuff).
April’s Fool@ai6yr you can consider quilting batting in lieu of foam as well.
@ai6yr
1-1½" foam is fine thickness for dining chairs. Or you could go old school and use felted cotton batting.
The pattern is easy. Use that bottom support and cut padding 1" larger all around so you dont feel the hard edge of the support.
For the covering fabric, add the thickness of the pad and about 3" all around for when you wrap and staple the fabric to the support.
Remember to enlist a buddy or child for the extra hands. One to pull the fabric with pliers, one to weild the staple gun.
The brighter coloration around the edges is probably where the fabric wrap covered the wood, and kept it less oxidized and dried out. Look for staple holes.
@EugestShirley Thanks!
Murray GM - Paperposts@ai6yr if real Finn Juhl, your a lucky guy - wonderful designer. Lot of knockoffs and 'nearlys' around
@Paperposts Don't think it's a Finn Juhl, but the design is SO CLOSE. It's definitely hardwood, vintage 1950's. Anyway... they were free, so... can't make them worth any less.
mark@ai6yr I have some similar chairs to these, and the seat/cushion is held on with screws that constantly come loose. Im in fear of all the holes expanding and nothing with hold it together correctly.
Its funny that the image of them was arranged the exact same way
@ai6yr
Then, as now, manufacturers copied each others styles. My guess is John Keal dining chairs for Brown Saltman. Curved back bar. Stretcher bars between legs for stabilization. Mild curve to the taper of the legs. The back cushion has a smile on top and bottom, like a happy calzone.
This should be an easy reupholstery job. mostly glued solid wood frame. If yours has knobs on the back, those may cover screws.
Do any wood restoration first.
@EugestShirley AHA, this one is definitely it!!! Thanks!!!
@EugestShirley $3800 for six? $633?!?! Yeesh. I wonder if I should go for a cloth pattern instead, since that is their styling.
myrmepropagandistI think a solid cloth with that vintage texture (with the perpendicular lines where the weaving is just a bit uneven) would be the most classic.
To take it up a notch go for a bright pea green or orange based on what fits with the decor.
Similar era with different back, same manufacturer in red. So textured with some solid would work too I suspect. ($1547.00 each lol)
These chairs make me think of one of my favorite libraries.
@futurebird @EugestShirley Well, I'll take suggestions for fabric then, since I do not have any appropriate upholstery fabric for sure! I also will have to figure out the backs -- they were apparently wrapped both front and back, with fabric on the back (but not padded, I assume). That will be new (I assume stapled along the edge as well and taut somehow... or shaped cardboard wrapped in fabric and stapled? Dunno,
https://www.kovifabrics.com/search/product-detail/20632?
https://www.foliofabrics.com/products/briggs-vermilion
https://fabricbistro.com/products/mid-century-modern-mcm-faux-linen-glazed-textured-froth-neutral-greige-beige-linen-chino-sand-upholstery-drapery-fabric-rmc-smii-1?variant=32385279131708
https://www.modern-fabrics.com/hbf-textiles-denim-wash-popsicle-basketweave-texture-performance-fabric.html
These are all a little tame IMO. But also I think "can't go wrong" tame?
@futurebird @ai6yr
That burnt orange was my mom's choice 👀
The burnt orange went well with the avocado green, harvest gold and sad brown of the era.
That burnt orange was my mom's choice 👀
The burnt orange went well with the avocado green, harvest gold and sad brown of the era.
JimmyI love orange.
zl2todLe Creuset are the good ones. Hell expensive here.
knowuh@EugestShirley did any other decade have such palette compliance? Everything was one of those four colors. Everything.
@knowuh
1950s. Soft pastels were favored. One exception was bright red, which was thrown in with the soft colors.
Turquoise with white, pale yellow, pale green, or warm pink or red.
Most kitchen appliances were still white; refrigerators, stoves, washers.
One exception Red with white/black floor, yellow or aqua.
Tile-work was creative.
Everybody had a metal tube kitchen table and chairs. Top was Formica, upholstery was slick like vinyl. Floors were linoleum.
@noondlyt Well, will be a challenge to figure out the right cushion depth, etc. without the original!