Restoring Kai Kristiansen Model 42  

Mark: You

Eight different solid colorways of Kvadrat Tonus?

One thing to be aware of when choosing the upholstery fabric or leather: if you want to go a little crazy with it, it will probably make the chairs less marketable if and when you (or your heirs!) decide to sell them. If this is decades from now, no big deal--most fabric will need to be redone by then anyway. But if you're like me and you cycle through a few different chair designs before settling on the one you want to keep long term, then go with something classic. (Ask me how I know this, though I probably thought when I chose the patterned fabric for my Kai Christiansens that I would never part with them.)

Hi.

No doubt, spanky...but I dig leif's idea of 8 shades of tonus.

I'd perch on the model reupholstered with the turquoise seat/ lime green back..and a printed textile on the back of the back (if it's textile, also...and I think that it is...maybe it's wood). And maybe I'd want to sit in the pink and orange chair for desert...depending on desert, natch...oh and Miller stripe on the back side of that one. What fun.

This way, when the red wine gets messy, or the kid pukes...or your grandmother potties on a seat, you can easily clean up the damage.

I guess,

Aunt Mark

The real question is, Aunt Mark--would you sit on a chair that compliments your pants or contrasts with them?!

I will take my cake comments to the other thread!

Hi Sugar,

Oh my outfit would need to compliment the chair...but I have been known to bring an outfit change to a dinner party. One look for cocktail hour, and something different for dinner....and usually nudity (or duct tape) after dinner. Sartorial drama on the verge.

why not,

Aunt Mark

I'd probably not going with eight different colorways of Kvadrat Tonus, I am not this wild and crazy. I'm just looking for a nice, fitting and elegant look that makes me smile everytime I see those chairs. I happen to have a pelican chair in gray/black which turns every day into a better day. This is why I can well imagine to also have the Kristiansen chairs upholstered in two colors. But they should all look the same nevertheless. Well, one is for my daughters room, maybe I could go a litte crazy there. But on the other hand I've rarely seen any dining chairs with differently colored seat and b

No! I loved the patterned fabric until the bitter end! it was just the wobbly frames that I couldn't live with. In fact, I was terribly insulted (not really, just a little surprised) that they took so long to sell. They finally went to a conference room in some fancy office, and I kind of winced at the thought of them being scraped back and forth on the floor. I don't want to think about that.

In the end, upholstery is not a permanent alteration. Do what makes you happy!

Do you have a picture of these chairs? Just curious.

No, sadly it was long ago before I got into the habit of taking photos of everything I worked on. The fabric was from Unika Vaev, which was originally a Danish fabric company that was bought up by an American one (but still goes by the Danish name). This was also before I had access to good Danish wools. I still like the look of rosewood with this fabric though I wouldn't use it again on these chairs.

I was asking about the stretchers and what wood they were made of. I took some pictures today, hoping that the experts can tell if this is teak, beech or someting else. It's all the same, photos taken from both sides.

That board on the right if the picture is mahogany veneer over beech

Silly me. It never occured to me that they would use veneer on these parts of a chair. But also I've never heard of it. Was that a common thing?

It was common enough. It was more prevalent later on and amongst makers that were trying to be more price competitive.