So, I'm going to be picking up a pair of Adrian Pearsall 2224-C chairs over the weekend that will need to be reupholstered...unless by the graces of furniture gods the original fabric has been well preserved under the current 80's upholstery and the foam isn't crumbling. So...
1) Does anybody have any experience reupholstering Adrian Pearsall furniture?
2) Can anybody recommend an upholsterer in the Boston area that is capable of reupholstering said chairs?
3)Does anybody have any fabric recommendations? (Knoll vs Maharam)
I have upholstered a bunch of
Pearsall pieces. They're not very well made at all and they're also not traditionally constructed. Meaning, they don't have hardwood frames that are built in such a way to make re-upholstering easy or logical. Most of them are essentially a bunch of boxes made of plywood (curved or flat) that are upholstered and then assembled, or half-upholstered, then assembled, then the upholstery is finished up.
The parts are usually just screwed together, often at the edge of the plywood, which is usually on the thin side and often beat up so that you have to do at least a few new holes to avoid splitting.
Can you tell I'm not really a fan? They can look good when done right but you need to find someone who is capable of improvising to fix possible problems that are uncovered. I'm sure you will be able to find someone in the Boston area. Good luck.
Knoll vs. Maharam: both have great fabrics but I would stick to the mid to lower end price points for Pearsall stuff just because it's not high end furniture itself. Just my opinion, of course. I think Knoll has more office-type fabrics ("contract") than Maharam. Both have classic MCM fabrics that have been in production since the 50s and 60s.
There are sources online that offer mill ends on a lot of beautiful MCM-appropriate fabrics, usually at deep discount and sometimes below wholesale prices. If you want to save money, consider watching their stock. It may take a few months (or longer) to find what you want but it's one way to get something gorgeous without breaking your budget.
Hmm. You'll be paying an upholsterer
probably a minimum of $250 per chair for labor and new padding, possibly up to $500 or more each. Add fabric to that, at least 6 yards total at at least $30 per yard for something good but discounted (up to $50-60 or more per yard at full price).
I don't know what Pearsall chairs go for on the real market (not Dibs) but for the construction quality, that is a lot of money to invest. These also have odd proportions, which is another characteristic of Pearsall furniture. I like their solid walnut bases but then they go and stick those odd-shaped or outsized chair backs on them.
So... I did pick up the...
So... I did pick up the chairs and they actually ends up being in better condition than expecting. The upholstery is absolutely original, buttons intact, the wood needs some work but nothing major. The foam is pretty hardened but usable.
I'm not a dealer so I'm not hugely concerned with the investment. Even on eBay they can fetch upwards of a grand for a pair of low back lounges and the high back is a bit more rare, so I think I did alright. As far as aesthetics, I actually like the proportions and sculptural quality of them.
Either way, I can and will definitely enjoy them as is for a while before I decide to reupholster them.
I hope to get them steam...
I hope to get them steam cleaned, but I'm concerned this might further damage the foam. I'm capable of replacing the seat cushion foam, so I'll probably do that myself.
These chairs are going on the back burner for a while though. I'm still trying to clear a few projects at the moment.
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