Hi guys.
I have a pair of Grant Featherston (Melbourne/Australia mid century designer)Scape lounge chairs which have been in my family for 50+ years. I had them re-upholstered about 5 years ago in white vinyl but was never very happy with the work. The upholsterer kindly attempted to re-stitch them recently, but couldn't do a great job as the vinyl had shrunk.
He's agreed to re-upholster them in new fabric at cost price.
I really would love to re-upholster them in vinyl similar to what they had originally.
I've included a link (bottom of page) to Scape chairs with their original fabric (white vinyl with very thin grey? lines... typical of that era). **You can zoom in on these pics (image 3 onwards has the fabric I'm after. Also put up pics of how mine are currently looking (and prior to restoration).
If anyone in the Melbourne (Australia) area knows of a fabric being produce that's similar(and supplier of it if possible/ allowed on this forum) that would be awesome! Actually, I suppose I could even purchase it from OS. I know how much I need.
Thx, Jules.
BTW, great story to these chairs. My parent originally bought them in the early 60s. They are actually the reason I fell in love with the whole mid century thang partly because of the journey with them.
About 6 years ago I asked mum whether she knew what ever happened to "those chairs". I knew nothing of mid century designers (including our own Grant Featherston) at that stage. Mum told me she had no idea what happened to the chairs, "hadn't seen them for years"
Coincidentally, she was visiting her brother (my uncle) in the country the following week, and I kid you not, the chairs were out in his back yard, rotting! She brought them back later that week. I remember it was dusk when mum and dad arrived with the chairs on their trailer. It was like that seen out of Titanic, when the sub first comes across the bow of the wreck. At first, from a distance in the twilight, they looked in pretty good condition... but when I saw them close, OMG! (see pics).
After days of searching on the net (it's hard when you have no idea who made these chairs, and didn't know about DA) I finally came across Grant Featherston. From that day fourth, I have been addicted to mid-century modern design!! That's why these chairs are extremely important to me, and I would really love them to be restored back true to their full former glory!.
I must admit, after seeing the 'before shots' again today, the upholsterer did a pretty good job considering what they originally looked like... Just gotta find 'that fabric'.
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=126174&img=301398 
<img class="wpforo-default-image-attachment wpforoimg" src=" http://old.designaddict.com/sites/default/f 
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If they were mind, and I wish they were, I'd upholster them as they were originally.
Love the story too.
Funnily I found 2 featherston dining chairs being used as 'clothes peg buckets' back in the 90's.
Have you spoken with Gordon Mather?
As you probably already know, they are licenced to make scapes and other featherstons. They would be the best to advise you with what material.
http://www.gordonmatherindustries.com/
These guys are probably the best in Melbourne for upholstery and have been reupholstering Featherstons since the 90's Give them a call.
But get ready with 'the folding stuff'
http://www.martelupholstery.com/
Thx Ball.Yeh, good idea...
Thx Ball.
Yeh, good idea re; contacting Gordon Mather. My upholsterer actually contacted them when he was originally restoring my chairs, as one of the bases (as you can see from the pics) was almost beyond repair and was hoping to get a replacement. They couldn't supply a replacement base due to their "licensing agreement" with the Featherston products (I know, ironic!) But I suppose this is a little bit different. I'll give it a try. Although I don't recall seeing their Scapes in that vinyl (I'll have another look at their site).
I'll be using my original upholsterer (but really love what I saw on Martel's site!),he's kindly agreed to basically do it for the price of the fabric as he couldn't fix the original bad stitching they did. And yes, the sky isn't the limit apparently when it comes to re-upholstering!
.
Mather seems to be always busy, it may be better to visit him.
I'm not saying Martel is the best but he's the best going around, it's just finding the others that are of equal skill and I know they're out there.
I no longer live in Melbourne so I'm only telling you what I use to know.
If I could give you some advise it would be; Get the best upholstery you can afford.
But shit yeh! what's with some of their quotes!
And I loved reading your story, it brought back many memories and leaves it open 'that theres still some beautiful furniture out there'. Thanks for sharing it!
Featherstone Scape chairs
I enjoyed reading your story, posted in 2012.
In the early 90's, I saw four Featherstone Scape chairs on the footpath outside a second-hand furniture store in Ingham in North Queensland. They sold for $45 each!
I had no clue about Grant Featherstone but as I'd just returned from a holiday in Sydney where the retro 60's craze was in full swing, I knew I had to have those chairs. Any child of the 60's has that craving in their DNA I think.
A close friend subsequently did research on the chairs and I can thank her for the appreciation I now have for these Australian creations.
The original covering was a gold-fleck patterned vinyl which I didn't like much, as it wasn't in great condition. I don't know if this is a heresy or not, but the chairs have been subsequently recovered using marine vinyl, as it doesn't attract mould (an important consideration in NQ, particularly in the wet season).
I chose different colours that reflected the bright 60's look. (blue, aqua, orange and yellow). The framework of the chairs and the metal legs and supports were in good condition, so they only needed a touch-up.
As your other replies have noted, any good upholsterer, particularly one recommended by a furniture design company, is able to advise on restoration. For anyone in North Queensland, I can recommend Bruce Johns Upholstery in Tavern Street, Kirwan (Townsville).
This family business approaches their work with real passion and expertise. They were recommended by Kingfisher furniture (also Townsville) and impressed me with the re-upholstery of 1940's-50's era airport lounge furniture that I picked up from Mount Gambier in South Australia. That's another story.
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