nin which there is a wingback chair restoration.
since i dropped the first chair off at Ena's yesterday, received my fabric recommendations and a price quote (which was what i hoped it would be, $100 per chair), and have plans to fabric shop with Dave in Auburn at the $1.99/yd store this weekend, i figured it would be a good idea to record the "before" status of the chairs.
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both chairs were about the same condition, though i think the one i delivered yesterday was slightly worse off. as you can see from the picture above, the arms took the brunt of time, incredibly stained and worn. i also didn't love the odd "fabric button" detail on these chairs, but Ena assured me she will both fluff out the arms for me, and not finish the top of the arm in this way.
other arm, outside. this was the worst of the wear on this chair.
the arms were obvious, but i'm unsure how the outside of the wings got all stained, except perhaps while the chairs were stored or moved, or repositioned by grimy hands. it's a mystery. Ena told me twice that everything on the chairs will be new. she even insisted on doing the wood, though i told her i was perfectly comfortable sanding and restaining the legs myself, to save her the work.
the chairs aren't quite as large as i had originally wanted (given Dave and are not petite people, and i love how small i feel in deva_fagan's chair) but they were large enough to be a challenging fit through doorways at this size; i'll take the trade-off. having paid only $20 for the chairs, i can afford to pay $30 for fabric and $200 for the labor, getting the chairs i always wanted at a price i can actually afford. counting my blessings! the tag on the chairs reads "Rowe" furniture, which i haven't Googled yet, but the build of the chairs seemed very solid. Ena approved the one i took over yesterday, and i'd like to think she wouldn't waste her time on a rickety chair.
i also found it amusing that she suggested pistachio for the chairs, even before i mentioned that i rather hoped we could find something in green. :D she advised getting a darker color, and i agreed, because really - who the heck thought cream was a good idea for a chair people will actually be using? i'm sincerely hoping this endeavor won't necessitate a trip down to Rocky Hill, but i'm prepared to travel that far if the place in Auburn doesn't turn up something Dave and i both like.