Upholstering an Eames lounge chair in tweed - Page 2

HM will probably require your material to pass several tests before deeming it appropriate for upholstery use. Typically, the fabric has to withstand a threshhold of abrasion - or wear, flammability, and color fastness just to mention a few characteristics. Most fabrics for garments are not as durable as upholstery fabrics. Good luck.

Just make sure you don't wear anything that clashes while sitting in it.

I have a green tweed vintage couch. It has worn out along the base where people's feet have scraped against the wood underneath. Otherwise the fabric has held up extremely well for being about 50 years old. I'm considering how I want to go about getting it reupholstered because I really like the shape and scale of it. You should consult with a designer who can take you into a design center, if there is one nearby, and look through all the books of fabrics. There are millions of options and some of them (look at the Ralph Lauren book for example) look a lot like suiting, but usually they are made more sturdy with some nylon or whatever woven in so they will hold up to the wear they get. BTW, you should just call up Herman Miller and talk to the person who takes COM orders - they will be able to tell you what types of fabric work and which don't, because someone crazier than you has probably tried all kinds of other stuff.

Mafoo,

Wouldn't tweed be uncomfortable for an Eames chair?

It should hold up fine, because there are a lot couches in tweed (mid-century, retro, modern type furniture). I wonder if THAT chair would look good in tweed, but I guess that is up to you.

And never furnish a dwelling in town with it ... unless you're a dandy.

--Andre

Holland & Sherry has a home division of fabrics for upholstery. I have a client who did chairs and covered a wall with tweed. I will try and get some pics.

A tweed wall? That might be pushing good tastes, but I'd have to see it.

I've seen walls covered in chalk stripe flannels at Ralph Lauren stores.


Mafoofan,
Holland & Sherry has a separate showroom for interior design in NY but I am not sure if it is open to the public or to the trade only.

I envision it in black patent leather.

I give you an "A" for sense of adventure. I think it might work actually.

BTW I have to thank Mafoo for posting this thread - I remembered that I had been searching for one a while back, looked on Craigslist, and ended up getting a very nice repro for free. I convinced the seller to let me take the ottoman for $40 since I didn't want to break up the set.



Horrible pic, but trust me, it's a very nice example. I just popped a button off that I had tried to fix, but other than that and a couple of scratches in the wood and the usual cracking of the leather, it's in excellent condition. Now that it's all reassembled and cleaned up, it's unbelievably nice and I actually feel kind of bad for paying so little.

Edit: it's a repro, probably Plycraft. No labels found anywhere. Still, solid and comfy, and looks awesome.

For $40 j? Damn, that must have been some smooth talking you did.