Remember this recent story about how to reupholster vintage dinette chairs affordably? Well, reader Melissa used the video shown to tackle doing the upholstery herself — both on the dinette chairs and a vintage Cosco high chair she found for $3.12. Melissa also used steel wool to polish the chrome, and achieved what looks to be perfect results. Oh my goodness — her DIY project turned out beautifully — you go, girl! Read on for Melissa’s story of triumph…
Mel writes:
Hello!
I’m always checking out your website, because I love retro and mid century modern style. I know your always putting people’s projected on your site. And I thought you might like to put mine up 🙂
I have refinished a 1950’s table and chairs as well as a high chair. I bought the table and chairs off craigslist about two years ago for about a $100… I bought the fabric for about $50… and then the steel wooling started. I thought it was going to be much harder than it actually was, and I was pretty worried it was not going to turn out well. But I surprised myself. and everything turned out better than I could have ever imagined.
Then a few weeks ago I spotted a retro high chair at the thrift store for $3.12. I thought to myself well I don’t have any kids, and that would be stupid for me to buy. But I could just couldn’t resist it for only $3.12. So I thought, well, I could refinish it and sell it. But now that I have it done and it looks so good, I feel like I need to save it for when I have a child lol.
I asked Melissa whether she used the video I featured on my site, and also quizzed her on where she got the supplies. She said:
I did use her video. But I did not know it was on your site, I just googled “reupholster retro chairs” and eventually found that video. I bought the fabric from Beatrice, the lady in the video. I had originally emailed her to find out where I could buy that type of vinyl, because the only kind I was finding was the kind with backing or non plyable. Then she just told me I could buy it from her. So I did 🙂 I also got the white piping-piece from her. I had my mom help me with them, I thought four hands would be better than two. And we did it in the middle of the hot summer on my front porch with the heater on us — lol it was HOT.
Mel
Thank you, Mel, for this inspiration. Of course, I asked Mel what else she had going on in her house. More to come maybe! 🙂
Barbara says
LOVE it!
Cathy says
Great job! And the fact that she looks so young and is so interested in keeping vintage alive is great!
DrJulieAnn aka The Modern Retro Woman says
Stunning! Absolutely stunning! It looks like a showroom!
Ann-Marie Meyers says
Fabulous! The high chair looks just like the one I ate in when I was a little pipsqueak, but not after my mom was done having all six of us! It looked like a before picture then.
Amy says
The high chair looks beautiful, but would recommend against using it as-is. The newer high chairs have a strap or a block between the baby’s legs to keep them from slipping out of the front of the chair.
pam kueber says
Good point, Amy: Yes, get informed about updated safety precautions and designs when considering using vintage furniture …
Melissa says
Thanks everyone! I worked really hard on them. And the chair actually came with a safety strap that was so disgusting that I threw it away. I do have a new one to put on. I just have not gotten to it yet 🙂
pam kueber says
Again: Safety standards have changed dramatically over the years. Consult with professionals regarding the safety, or not, of these vintage high chairs!!!
Dulcie says
Oh my gosh, you would not believe how awesome that set would look in my kitchen! I’m putting the final coat of paint on my cabinet doors today, and it’s almost the exact shade as those chairs.
Absolutely gorgeous job! I wish I had the patience to do that
Amy says
The high chair in particular looks AMAZING!
Andi says
What a happy space—I love it! Fabulous job on the reupholstering and on creating such a colorful, happy room!
kate mckinnon says
Absolutely gorgeous. You did a really great job, Mel! I’d love to see some close-up shots of the tricky bits, like the seams. I’m guessing the tabletop was in good shape when you started? That old Formica is so hard to kill. I love it!
I have a great dinette similar to this, and I have structural problems with the chairs- my kids lean back in them and snap the welds. I have to take my upholstery OFF, and get the welds fixed, and then put it back on.
Just another Pam says
An alternative spelling would be….
A-bsolutely beautiful……sigh….