It was one ugly chair. Painted black but pretty knocked around and scratched and with an orange plastic seat, it couldn't even draw a bid at the auction last year. So the auctioneer gave it to me. I am finally getting around to fixing it up and decided that it needed a new life: it needed to be red!
But I am stumped as to what fabric to use on the seat, so I am going to ask for the combined wisdom of my readers to determine the choice. Here are the fabrics I have on hand:
Next is a white fabric with embroidered black daisies. This is actually a skirt.
And here it is on the chair:
The seat itself, you might have noticed, isn't on the chair--it's out in Larry's shop. Might have looked better to put it in place, but I hope you get the idea of what these will look like. Here's fabric #3:
Number 4: another skirt.
And last, #5:
I also thought about painting the circle section of the chair a contrasting color. Thoughts?
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I like 5 the best followed by 4 and 3
ReplyDeleteDo you have any burlap? I recently saw a chair with a burlap seat that had a large stencil painted on. They used black paint and it looked really nice. Maybe a star, spade, or something country.
ReplyDeleteI think the one with black daisies. It makes the chair pop!
ReplyDeleteSusanna - Do you have anything like an Asian print?
ReplyDeleteGreat chair, great red! I like the first fabric best, but to be honest I think I would keep looking til something just jumps up and says "me!"
ReplyDeleteI like that flowered last one.
ReplyDeleteI think that Quinn is right--I need to keep looking until something really jumps out at me. It can't be expensive because I plan to ask $20 or less for the chairs I'm painting--they're meant to be affordable, fun, surprising elements that most people can afford to take home. So, on with the hunt!
ReplyDelete(P.S. I liked the old floral print best myself, but thought that might limit the kind of places/decor the chair would fit with. Larry liked #1 and I have to admit it's more versatile as far as the decor it could be used with.)
It's a very outspoken red, so I'd advise a contrasting fabric rather than a fabric that tries to match its colour. The black and white daisies, if you're limiting to these fabrics, might work, but the daisies just aren't bold enough to hold their own, and I'm not that thrilled by the white. What would work best, I think, is something like a yellowy brownish mustard-like colour. It'd be bold, but -- well, give it a thought. Failing that, black (with possibly a small pattern in it) would work, and lend a dramatic flair. --Mario R.
ReplyDeleteAs a p.s. to my comment: if you choose black, it would fit more colour schemes, and you can paint the circles of the chair black to match, if you'd like. I don't think the mustardy yellow would work well as a contrasting paint, though.--Mario R.
ReplyDeleteI love the black & white flowers, I think that would look great with the red & you could paint the circle section black as well.
ReplyDeleteI also like the burlap suggestion. It's very popular right now & I've seen some really fun printed burlap. My daughter-in-law has a really cute set she bought from a shop like yours where the chairs are upholstered in a coffee print. Her colors are black, red & white so this chair would look great with her style if it were done in burlap.
Can't wait to see what you do!
I absolutely loved # 3. It looks funky, yet still traditional in many ways. But yeah, I agree...if you're not feeling it, then these aren't the right ones! The right fabric will pop up eventually.
ReplyDeleteI like the old floral, best but the first one looks best for the red. I would run a dark wax over it to mute the red down first though, either way. It's a little too vibrant for me.
ReplyDelete#2 or #5, although I am leaning toward #2. Love the red chair!
ReplyDelete#2 and #5, although I lean toward #2. Love the red chair!
ReplyDeleteI think leather. old aged leather. and since you want this affordable go to the fabric store and find a piece of vinyl that recreates the look of old 1930s arts & crafts leather.
ReplyDeleteohhhh the black and white - for sure for sure - it really makes the color of the chair pop - and would be nice in most any decor. I wouldn't look any more - just use the black and white - I love love love it.
ReplyDeleteI would choose a black background with some kind of bold white print then paint the circle back black. I love the red chair. Good luck on your search.
ReplyDeleteOooh, I *love* #3!!
ReplyDeleteI'd say #1 as my 2nd choice.
For what it's worth I like the geometric best. It will wear well, go with most anything and has some red in it. Especially if you don't want to put much money into it. I'd buy it if I were looking for a chair. I like it!
ReplyDeletei like the first one very much, with its varied colors the chair could go with many decors.
ReplyDeleteWhat you need is a bold black and white fabric (less white than the black and white you have here). You don't need to paint any more of the chair!
ReplyDeletelol... advice is usually about worth what you pay for it... so: It is hard to tell the true color of the paint, but I would would age it by sanding the likely wear spots, and cover the seat in a painters drop cloth. Then stencil the fabric in black paint with a saying or word...
ReplyDelete