haha!
Funny Mark. And thank you - the fabric is Maharam Steelcut color #435 (with acrylic backing - learned the hard way that we needed that finish...)
The problem is that it is SO uncomfortable - to the point where I'm loathe to use it. I feel perched, like I will roll off the sides of the seat cushion if I attempt to adjust position.
I have enough leftover fabric to redo the cushions I think - although it would be great to be able to salvage the current fabric...possible?
Here's the poor womb back when it was tattered, filthy and shrinking - but oh so comfortable.
But I've sat in brand new wombs at DWR and they are still far more comfortable than my new, 5" high density/no compression cushions. I'm just trying to figure out what specifics I need to ask for when I get the cushions redone since I did not anticipate this issue.
This is my first reupholstery project - live and learn!
Warrigal
1. I agree with Mark that the chair looks very nice. You're right; aside from the cushions (which don't look bad, just different), the work seems impeccable. If the chair isn't as comfortable as a brand-new one, though, you clearly have to do something.
2. I don't know whether the foam will compress.
3. Yes, my cushions are asymmetric; the curve above the seam is different from the curve below the seam. You can see the difference best in Mark's photo, which I've marked up and reposted below. See how the sides are almost square above the seam, but how they curve sharply inward below the seam to match the curve of the base? Both the ottoman cushion and seat cushion on my chair have that profile.
4. You didn't say who did the work, but if it was Lalo, I bet he'd redo it to make you happy.
Thank you again Fastfwd
I really appreciate the time you've taken to answer my questions and illustrate the photo of Mark's cushion.
Yes, Lalo did the chair and he was so wonderful to work with - though we hit so many bumps along the way that I felt like I was taking years off his life with the cursed chair! (we didn't realize until we had glue bleed through that we needed the acrylic backing; we reordered the fabric with the backing and then when it was 99% done we had a glue mishap and we had to reorder the fabric and poor Lalo had to redo the entire front of the chair...) So I feel terrible going back to him about the cushions and wanted to see if I could make it any less painful by helping with suggested type of foam etc..
But Fastfwd, you're the one who recommended him and THANK YOU because even with the mishaps he was so much more reasonable than any quote we got in LA, and his work on the rest of the chair is beautiful.
Welting
Hmm.. now that you mention it, I believe it is. I had noticed that in some photos both the ottoman and the chair itself have that welting - is that right? Ours does not.... Not something I am as concerned about as the cushions, but I'm glad you pointed it out just so I know.
These are the types of things I didn't even think to ask about!
Edit: I notice on DWR chairs that there is welting all the way around the ottoman - i.e. all four sides. However, the upholsterer stated that the proper way to do the footstool was to use a single piece of fabric, tucked and sewn so that there are only three seams: two on the sides, and one centered on the underside of the ottoman. Are there different schools of thought on Womb upholstery?
Also, in the DA thread linked below, I see that Pegboard Modern states, with regard to womb reupholstery, that "the original way [to upholster the womb is] with the seam hand-stitched all the way around. A short cut is to use ply-grip and a welt cord." So perhaps handstitching with no welt is "the original" upholstery method, and the present, brand new upholstery method includes welting?
http://www.designaddict.com/design_addict/forums/index.cfm/fuseaction/th...
Warrigal
The welt cord on the perimeter of the chair is a later modification by Knoll. Originally the womb chair was done with a hand-sewn seam all the way around. The welt cord makes it faster and easier to do. Knoll even does them with a product called ply grip today. Another shortcut on current production that makes vintage more desirable in my mind.
Though I can't tell from your photo, I'm guessing your chair is vintage and your upholster re-did it the way it was done originally. I very much prefer the clean look of the hand-sewn seam.
The foam is an issue I certainly understand. The upholstery shop I use stocks foam in various densities and if there is any question you can come in for a "sit test" where you try our different foams to see what you find most comfortable. If your guy is a small one man shop, he may only order foam as he needs it and may not have different foams available to try.
I wish I could recommend a particular foam for you, but I've not learned the different names or numbers. That is, except pincore and real latex foam rubber. Those are both quite expensive, but have a fantastic feel and weight. If cost is not an issue for you, you may want to inquire about those.
More re welting
OK so in googling around for photos of vintage wombs, I am seeing that the vintage specimens generally do not appear to have any welting around the body of the chair or the footstool.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Saarinen-Womb-Chair-Mid-century-Modern-/...
Pegboard
Thank you for clarifying. I was obviously composing my newest post as you were writing yours. OK so that makes sense - welting is recent. Yes, my chair pre-reupholstery did not have welting that I can tell and is now handstitched all around, which looks very nice - so I'm glad it is original.
Good point about doing a sit test. Our one-man guy does order the foam on an as-needed basis, so I'm sure that's what happened here. He used the same foam for the cushions as for the body of the chair.
I pay a visit to our Papa Bear reupholsterer to see what he used in the seat cushion, as it is awesome. (And if I can, I will try to test out pincore and real latex foam rubber).
Thanks again for sharing your wisdom.
Here are some pictures
... you might find of interest.
The red womb chair is vintage (mid 60s) that we had reupholstered in new old stock Alexander Girard fabric. We had it done with the original hand sewn seam.
The gold womb chair and ottoman is a very early 50s example, note the fixed feet rather than swivel and solid frame rather than tubular. It is 100% untouched and original. Unfortunately the foam is rock hard and the fabric worn and faded, but you can see how the upholstery was done.
The gray womb chair and ottoman is a more recent example in the original upholstery as purchased from Knoll. It has the welt cord on the perimeter.
foam issues
I've done quite a bit of upholstery on a small scale and I have a variety of thicknesses and densities of foam on hand. I don't keep latex foam around because yes, it does cost a lot more and generally it's not warranted---but for a Womb chair, i'd use it! For cushions that size it would only be maybe $150 at most. Ok, that's compared to a polyfoam of maybe $30. But so worth it!
That said, it sounds like maybe your guy just overestimated the density needed. Maybe he was out of the softer stuff and hoped that firmer would pass muster.
Also, the back cushion should always be a little softer than the seat. If you use the same density in both, the back will always feel much too firm.
It shouldn't be hard to replace the foam in each with slightly softer. The fabric covers might need to be taken in a bit, but this isn't hard to do either.
There are two measurements of foam: density (actual weight of 1' square cube, I think) and the ILD number, which is a measure of how much resistance there is to compression (link below).
http://www.thesofaco.com/furniture-information/ILD-of-Foam-Firmness.aspx
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