I just picked up an Eames Lounge knock off. It has a glued on fabric Selig tag. A glued fabric tag doesn't seem right, and the tag is crooked so I'm not sure it is original. The odd parts I cant identify are the back supports. They are the same size and shape as most Selig and Plycraft chairs, but made out of wood, maple I believe. They match the light maple finish on the plywood. The vinyl is a light olive green, full armrests, stapled under not finished, and a chrome five point base. For $75 with the ottoman I figured I couldn't go wrong even with the weird wood back supports.
On a side note, since this is a cheap knock off I want to refinish it with a faux rosewood base and a mid-century upholstery, something with a boomarang-o-rama feel. However the delicate young flower that runs my life with an iron fist says "Black leather only, what are you, stupid?". Anyone feel like backing me up on the upholstery?
Thanks
I will
Save the black leather for when you find a "real" one. Might as well play up the fact that it's an oddball instead of trying to make it look authentic.
I would vote against the hyper retro boomerang-a-rama look. Perhaps houndstooth, something with a very subtle pattern, or even bold, brightly hued obnoxious stripes a la Girard... or the neutral stripe and refinish the wood black?
Something special
I think there is something special about seeing the chairs upholstered in something unusual. I once saw a salmon pink Eames lounger, and on House (US tv show) the set has a fake Eames with brown courduroy fabric on it thats quite lovely.
The wooden struts are a somewhat common aberration to the standard aluminum struts. Maybe aluminum was expensive that year, maybe they were trying to get a more 'organic' feel to the chair...whatever. Still looks good.
One thing that is always important to me in the story of the chair is that it is composed of interlocking opposite volumes, and that the materials can reflect/highliht that: the hard shell to the soft leather, the patterned wood grain to the smooth finish.
Good Idea
I see what you mean, part of the appeal of the chair is the contrast. So like whitespike suggested - patterned textile with smooth painted finish. Opposite of smooth leather against the wood grain.
If I paint though I might go with a lacquer to keep a subtile wood grain.
Thanks
Most of
Most of the selig/plycraft variations have this awful semi opaque amber colored varnish/shellac on them. Very 70s. I've had good luck with a little sandpaper (and a lot of elbow grease) getting rid of this, which can reveal some beautiful grain below.
The first chair I did was hiding a gorgeous walnut pattern. I used MinWax Polyshades with a cherry tone to it. It brought out the grain in REALLY amazing ways. The trick to using Polyshades is to use highgloss first, then cut it back with steel wool. Matte varnishes have muddied color due to whatever they put in it to make it 'matte'.
Picture below is a little dark, but gives a sense of the graining.
I dunno
I have never gotten used to these chairs done in fabric of any kind. They just scream LEATHER to me.
I would, however, be open to doing one in an offbeat color leather, like cherry red or mustard yellow. Or chartreuse. Not for myself, but maybe to sell. Except that it might not sell. But I'd really like to do it.
These are all from kysonleather on ebay.
http://stores.ebay.com/Kyson-Leather_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQ...
Thanks for the Ideas
I appreciate the ideas.
LuciferSum, matte finishes are usually muddier because they have more solids on them, this gives the surface a textured finish for the matte look, the solids also cut back on the light that can reflect through the finish and off the wood. Using a gloss finish then scuffing with steel wool gives the textured finish that cuts the surface reflection but lets the light through to reflect of the wood letting it glow. So there is a method to your madness.
So I can figure that out but I can't figure out how to attach a photo here, or how to sneak more projects into the garage. At least there are no country-blue-duck-things in the house.
Thanks again
woofwoof
I have bought leather from one other seller on ebay before I found Kyson Leather. That first hide was ok---just rather cheap quality. Kyson is great. They will send free swatches of specific hides and will send a few others of ones that match your needs if you give them a list (such as "matte, pebbled or smooth, dark to very dark brown, 45-55 square feet").
You need about 50 square feet to do one of these chairs plus ottoman. You can get by with a little less than that but 50 is a safe number to cover cutting errors and possible minor flaws in the hide. Kyson will mention holes in the hide but I've run into a few very minor things that I was able to cut around that weren't mentioned. I guess that's the only caveat. I've paid mostly under $150 including shipping per hide. That's half what they are at the discount fabric outlet near me.
Eames knock off
I own one of these lounges, mine is oiled rosewood with leather and I bought 2 others in oiled walnut with vinyl fabric cover.
I bought them from manufaccturer in 1966, The Charleston Co of Loemister, Mass. I was in the business at the time.
With a little oil evry 10-15 years they are just as good as new.
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