Hi there,
First time poster - so glad to have found this amazing resource! Thanks in advance for taking a look at my questions.
A few years back we received a pair of Selig Barcelona-style chairs by my husband's mother - the link shows chairs that are pretty much identical. The chairs were purchased in 1977 in NC, and we were thrilled to receive them. By the time they got to us, the cushions were showing some serious wear and tear, and are now at the point where they need to be re-upholstered or replaced (a few tears and some that are imminent).
The question is this - to replace (and if so via whom?!) or to reupholster (and if so, with what!?), and lastly, in what color. The original cushions/straps are leather, once black and now faded to something approaching espresso. So if we go with black cushion we'd probably want to do something about the straps. Or we could just embrace the changing nature of the chairs and go with an espresso cushion.
We have a great upholstery guy who can do faux leather, but I'm really struggling with that idea given that - though not original, the chairs are great vintage pieces. Seems ideal to replace like with like as much as possible. But is it really worth it for these chairs, given the likely cost?
Any ideas/tips on finding replacement cushions for this chair? Thoughts on real vs fake leather? Thoughts on the color situation?
http://furnishmevintage.com/livingroom/2-mid-century-modern-vintage-barcelona-chairs-by-selig/
Pics
Sure! The cushions are currently at the reupholster person's - the faux leather guy - but here are some fairly recent pics. The problem is that the bottom cushions have now gotten tears in them (thanks in part to my 4 year old), so what were little holes or threadbare spots are now tears.
At any rate, here are two pics that give a relatively good idea.
Any thoughts?
Bumping this post in hopes of a response. I'd welcome any anecdotes on your own experiences, should you have faced a similar situation. Though not originals, we think these are great chairs. They have a lot of sentimental value - my husband's parents set up the Christmas presents on them every year, and he grew up with them - hence the desire to be mindful of how we repair them. Thank you!
I am facing a remotely...
I am facing a remotely similar problem. I got a great deal on a pair of stainless knoll Barcelona chairs, however the straps are shot and somebody took some latex paint or spray vinyl paint to the cushions because they were badly faded. After ~100 hours of removing the latex vinyl whatever it was, with Isopropyl alcohol, I found a color I'm happy with. Personally I like the faded tan leather look, I might try dying it back to the original dark brown. They have no cracks or stains.
(Speaking from experience with Knoll, Not Selig) The company that makes the belting leather used for the straps is called SpinneyBeck. They are an expensive italian leather company, and if you order the straps through knoll they are about 150 per strap. (2000 per chair). I am currently speaking with an upholster who is trying to order me the uncut cowhide through SpinnneyBeck, at which point I would cut the leather, or have him cut it. I am waiting on a quote.
You can probably find someone who makes belting leather for a fraction of the price of SpinneyBeck, with comparable quality. And considering these are not Knoll chairs, I don't see why you'd need to stick with knoll specifications. Id recommend going to a local shoe or leather repair shop and see if they can order you some belting leather straps. Belting leather generally isn't cheap either.
As for the cushions. I would stick with genuine black leather, if they can't be revived then I think its worth it to have new ones made. Obviously these chairs have sentimental value, and if you don't plan on selling them anytime soon you should repair them properly. The chairs might loose sentimental value if you alter the original look too much.
If you want to go a completely different route on a budget, I would go to every discount fashion store in your area and stock up on leather belts. Either buy all very similar ones, or completely different ones for a sporadic look. I'm sure you could find a way to fasten a mens size 40 belt to a 30' frame with plenty of length left for mistakes. Polo makes some pretty nice basic leather belts and they can usually be found for less than 10 bucks.
I've been trying to avoid purchasing the straps through knoll for obvious reasons but to no avail. Yet.
Also, as for the tears in the leather, I believed I read on here that the cushion squares are individually sewn into the foam, and the lines between them hide the threads. Maybe there is a way to individually replace a square?
Let me know what you decide! Here are some photos of my cushions.
Getting closer to a decision
Thanks so much for your reply! Can't imagine the time it took you to remove all of that vinyl spray - wow. The cushions look like they are in great shape - I'm jealous!
The belting on our chairs is actually in great shape, so think I'll try to avoid replacing them. Funnily enough, the more we talked about his memory of the chairs the more my husband felt certain that while the cushions were black, the straps were closer to espresso. And my mother-in-law found the original receipt and with it an envelope that had the two other colors they were considering, teak and espresso. So we think that the store somehow sent a chair with espresso straps and black cushions, and that this was never corrected (the difference is slight enough that they may not have noticed, or opted to just deal with it, knowing my in-laws).
All of which is to say that we're now thinking we'll go with espresso cushions to match the straps. One decision down!
For the leather vs vinyl cushion option, I'd love more feedback. My heart wants leather but my head isn't so sure. It's hard to tell from the photos, but these don't have the individually sewn squares of leather, it's just one piece that has been tufted (apparently like many knock-offs of the era). This may be easier to reproduce if I'm trying to replicate the chairs we have instead of the Knoll chair.
But regardless, I've no idea where to start for leather cushions! This is where I could really use input - not sure of the forum rules on listing vendors, but if that's not possible can people share experience on the internet-based vs brick and mortar options for this kind of thing? My upholsterer doesn't work in leather, but has told me we'd need 2 hides, so I know I could be looking at at least 1k for materials alone with an upholsterer. Any better deals to be had on well-made leather cushions that people have found?
Authentic Replacement Barcelona Chair Cushions: Source, More Info
I am a leather repair pro, but I don?t touch these. This is an unforgiving, challenging design best left to specialists. For replacement Barcelona chair leather cushions and straps made to authentic specifications, the best (IMHO)is Advanced Leather Solutions in Hayward, CA (Kevin GIllan). They use Spinneybeck leather for the cushions and make the new straps thicker and stronger than the originals, an extremely durable result that holds the lines and feel of the chair very well. (They also do Wassily chairs)
Few who sew leather professionally will attempt these - for good reason. It takes great skill and time. Combine with Spinneybeck leather and the customer must be willing to pay a premium price. Fortunately, you get a leather that can last decades if well-cared for. It hard to sew because:
The ?squares? have an extended corner near the buttons (1, 2 or 4 / square) to become square when assembled. 16 layers of leather converge at each button, so corners have to be thinned (skived)to lay flat. The backing buttons are concealed inside the back leather casing. The seat cushion has an angle to the back to fit the curve of the chair when viewed from the side.
There are 17 straps / chair, so there are 32 long edges / chair. To cut by hand, you use a tool to maintain the blade straight and square, but it can still wobble. It takes multiple cuts with power and control to keep the edges smooth and straight. The leather is both thick and dense. The strap must be a very thick, stiff grade of leather to be strong enough not to over-stretch and become a hammock. Don't use old belts; they?ll stretch unequally, causing a lumpiness.
The foam must be quite dense so it will hold it's boxy shape well over time and not collapse between the straps. That's one reason people find the chair uncomfortable.
(edited by DA - link removed, no advertising on the forum please)
Since this came back up I fig...
Since this came back up I figured I'll let you know what I did. Keep in mind, I'm simply an enthusiast. not a leather pro, nor a mid century buff.
I got the chairs from a friend for a great deal. They were part graduation gift. When I received the chairs all of the bottom leather straps were broken and the original spinneybeck cushions were (brush) painted with some type of latex vinyl paint. Really cheap stuff that was peeling all over. (Whatever the product was, it should be illegal.)
I found a way to remove the latex vinyl paint with isopropyl alcohol. This took about 6 hours per cushion. I knew that I would never be able to remove all of the paint, but it was a decent color brown. The original leather underneath was a very sun bleached/faded brown but no rips or bad stains.
The straps were the most difficult part. I took the chairs to 3 or 4 different leather/upholstery professionals. The leather professionals quoted me between 2000-3000 per chair to replace the straps with spinney-beck leather. (The price is mostly for the labor, to cut and ins tally the hyde in perfect straps.)
New spinneybeck cushions were quoted at 5000-8000 per chair. I understand that they have to individually sew each square into the cushions... more labor.
After searching high and low for a new leather source I found tandy leather factory They are located north of Boston so it was an easy drive. They also ship. These were by far the friendliest group of people I met on my quest. They agreed that 15,000 was an absurd amount of money to spend on fixing chairs.
I ended up buying fifteen 1/2' x 72' natural cowhide straps, (Belting Leather) some water based dye and an exacto knife- to the pleasant tune of 200$.
I took off all of the original bottom straps and measured and cut the new straps. Attaching the straps is much easier than one is led to believe, especially if you have a friend. They do not sag or feel uneven, they are incredibly comfortable.
I saved all of the original broken straps and used all of the original screws. Everything I did can be reversed or replaced with original material. I could not be happier with how the chairs turned out. I have been conditioning the leather regularly and they are getting some color back. I am still messing around with the dye but I'm not in a hurry.
Moral of the story: You don't have to pay someone to be happy, do it yourself and there are ways around spending 10,000 on each chair.
I think you are smart for not wanting to touch these chairs. If you put as much labor into these chairs as I did, without charging an arm and a leg, you'd be out of business in a hurry.
For the OP, I would definitely go with leather instead of vinyl. Search around and you should be able to find someone to make you a cushion without individually sewn squares.
Hi everyone, thanks in...
Hi everyone, thanks in advance for any guidance and this LONG story. I recently acquired a pair of Barcelona frames (the pair $100). No cushions. I have always wanted this chair and was lucky to run across this deal. The seller told me that the original owner brought them with him from South Africa when he moved to California. The seller ended up with them and really didn't care for them, now I have them. They have what appears to be the original leather straps all intact with rivets. The measurements seem right and are slightly scuffed from use but still solid in polished chrome. No makers mark that I can see. I figured I saved a bundle and wanted Knoll to make the cushions. I was told by Knoll that they would only do it for Knoll-marked chairs, so I asked what do they do for chairs made pre-1995? She said I would have to prove ownership or show original sales transaction. Is this standard for Knoll or did I speak to the only ditz in the company? Appreciate the tip on the guy in Hayward, CA.
Difference of Euro and American?
Thanks Mark! Now I am confused. According to this 1987 BBC video, Knoll International in Italy applied rivets to the straps exactly like my chair. (start 12:44)
So only if the chair is American made it is Knoll? As a newbie I appreciate all the information posted here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NUpGYMckyo
Replacement Barcelona Cushions...
...are going to cost you a MINT even if you can find someone at Knoll Customer Service who will sell them to you. You'd be paying MORE for the new cushions than you would for an entire authentic pre-owned chair. Same for Schultz Slings, same for Saarinen tops, same same same...
Cushions come up on eBay with regularity. Save a few different search terms and check every day or 2 to keep up on what's out there. You won't have to wait long.
As an aside - I love Knoll customer service, but the replacements they offer are extremely expensive. Go with eBay and share your success story with us.
About those rivets...
Hi Mark,
You say that rivets are not used on a Knoll chair but on the Knoll website in the product description they have the following:
Two frame options:
Polished chrome, hand-ground and hand-buffed to a mirror finish. Upholstery straps attached with aluminum rivets
Premium grade 304 bar stock stainless steel. Frame is shaped, welded and hand-buffed to a mirror finish. Upholstery straps attached with solid stainless steel screws
So rivets can be found on American made Knoll BC...
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