A family heirloom rejuvenated!
By Fleur
@Fleura (35004)
United Kingdom
February 13, 2018 1:09pm CST
My Mum inherited a large amount of furniture from her parents, who died before I was born. When my Dad’s Mum died, my Dad also inherited some family things, but the house was already full so he didn’t have space for it all inside. He obviously didn’t want to part with certain things though, so he put them in the shed.
Only after my Mum died did I find he had kept this old chair, which he remembered being in the hall of his grandmother’s house. My Dad was born in 1920 so the chair must be over 100 years old and probably more. By now it was in a pretty bad state but I didn’t like to throw it out because of its history, so I’ve had it re-upholstered.
The cost of the work was a lot more than the price of a new chair, even a reasonably expensive one, and anyway I’m not short of chairs either, but I like to be able to tell the girls that this belonged to their grandfather’s grandmother. So far they are very pleased with it and have pronounced it very comfortable!
All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2018.
12 people like this
12 responses
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
13 Feb 18
Wow - who did the reupholstery? It's nice that you did keep it and restore it - it's very special to your family. We have a modern dining set - the chairs definitely need to be reupholstered but the cost to do it wouldn't justify it. In fact we were thinking to do it ourselves - but the materials alone would be somewhat expensive too.
2 people like this
@Fleura (35004)
• United Kingdom
13 Feb 18
A local business did it. They were a bit snooty but they seem to have done a nice job. I opted for the traditional horsehair version in the hope it will last another 100 years; foam would need to be replaced after 10 years or so which soon flies by!
I did think of doing it myself. I have done another chair which my Dad made, but that just had a seat pad which dropped into the frame so much simpler, whereas this one needed webbing and springs as well.
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
13 Feb 18
@Fleura They really did do a nice job. We have the foam and frame thing with our chairs and could do it ourselves easily (hopefully), but yah, webbing and springs I'd have no idea how to handle. Enjoy your wonderful "new" old chair!
1 person likes this
@Fleura (35004)
• United Kingdom
14 Feb 18
I didn't mean to make you feel bad : (
Some people like to keep old things and to others they are just clutter, and as you say, you have to have the space. And thinking that I might pass it on to my girls also makes it more worthwhile to keep it.
1 person likes this
I love doing reupholstery myself and I have been recovering some old furniture, my last one was an old mirror that now is in my daughter's bedroom.
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
14 Feb 18
Very pretty and I am a big believer in preserving family heirlooms not matter what the cost.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97983)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
13 Feb 18
I think it is wonderful when you can renew things that bring memories.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
15 Feb 18
The chair is really lovely and it's so wonderful to have the family history.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
17 Feb 18
@Fleura I agree, I love having something that belonged to someone in the family.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
14 Feb 18
Me and my mum have a thing for old chairs! They are so wonderful when they're brought back to life.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (35004)
• United Kingdom
13 Feb 18
I had it done by a local business. They were a bit snooty but they seem to have done a nice job. I chose traditional horsehair upholstery in the hope it will last another 100 years, rather than having to be replaced after 10 years or so like foam - 10 years soon flies by! I did think of doing it myself. I have done another chair made by my Dad, but that just had a seat pad which dropped into the frame, whereas this one needed webbing and springs as well.
1 person likes this
I hope they didnt charge you too much, but it is worth it as you say to get it properly done.