apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

of course. if it makes you happy, that's really all that matters. sure it's a little granny, but most hideous furniture can be completely redeemed with good fabric.

it's really not bad, and with a nice print I think you could make it really cool.

I think if you choose a bold print for this chair it could really work!

I think it's kind of retro-fabulous. Even in the velvet purple.

How about upholstered in a soft, high quality linen, and then you can accessorize with pretty pillows to match your room?

I think with a great fabric choice the chair would be fabulous. I'm thinking a bold, modern floral or geometric could be nice.

I agree with bold, medium to large sized print. Not floral though unless it's a "modern floral" and you have a girl. Otherwise, geometric or retro-ish.

I think it can be re-upholstered in a nice fabric. I would stick to a solid or a print that is a modern floral. A busy floral and the shape of the chair could leave you with an eyesore. I personally would have the skirt removed, legs refinished, and when they upholster it I would have them remove the tufts. Modernize it while keeping the all of the main components.

I like the color & velvet as is, also. Maybe the skirt could come off? Depends what the underneath mechanism looks like, of course. Or depending on how glam the room is, you could attach a nice big chunky fringe around the bottom as a skirt. Otherwise I'd leave it and coordinate with a cute throw over the back or a printed lumbar pillow.

i totally get wanting to do the thrift store thing, but unless your a pro seamstress (not me) your going to have to pay someone a chunk of change to get that reupholstered.

I would get a quote before diving in to this project, because it may jut cost you the same amount as buying an already stylish glider (minus the pain in the butt).

nevermind... all i read was the "redeemed" part an comments about REupholstering. if you can order it in any fabric you want then yeah! the sky's the limit.

I would get a washable slipcover for now, until your baby passes the "burping up" phase.

funny - i'm in exactly the same situation - looking for a comfortable rocker for baby #2. my mother has a slipper chair very similar to this one which she recently had recovered in a pale yellow ribbed chenille - sort of embracing the granny look. it looks FABULOUS & is now the model for what i'm after myself. i say go for it

A large-scale, tone-on-tone damask or floral pattern in a bright color would really update this chair style. You might need to supply your own fabric but it would be worth it. Best's fabric styles seem to be very traditional. Something like this would be cute: http://www.calicocorners.com/product/designer fabrics for the home/newest collections/modern zone/silhouette turquoise.do depending on what color you want to do in the room.

What about this one? No poofy back, and you could do it in a linen with contrasting piping.
http://besthf.microdinc.com/2619_856_Chairs_Best%20Home%20Furnishings_ItemInformation.aspx

angeladudek... that site is wonderful... i think JJ (our poster girl) will find it super-useful to see what different fabrics will look like....

as for a pattern scale... I think big and bold will make the chair look big and messy... a large geometric pattern with that back button quilting distorting the lines spells virtigo. nursing was a calm and peaceful time for me and i think a pattern and texture that enhances that mood would be your best bet.

I would keep it clean and simple -- if you want an outrageous print, get it from a blanket or pillow. nothing wrong with neutral sometimes.

I have this chair in a sage green soft fabric. It is awesome. So cozy and comfy. I am embracing the granny-ness. Plus in a room w/ modern stuff (ikea gulliver and a simple shaker-style dresser), it cozies up the space. I bought mine secondhand, so no choice of fabric, but I like the sage. I also like the suggestion of khaki w/ colored piping, or a slipcover, but I don't know if you can do that w/ the tufting. fwiw, the tufting makes the chair even comfier.

i love these types of chairs! growing up, my parents had one in their living room that i ended 'borrowing' when i moved to college. when my first was born, i didn't want a regular rocking chair...i couldn't think of any chair that i would feel really comfortable in except this one. drawback - it was really bad 80's brown velvet. so i had it recovered. i was lucky enough to work at a fabric store at the time, so i got a really good deal on fabric, plus worked with a lady that did upholstery in her 'spare time'. if you do have it recovered, just make sure the person who does it makes it easily removable. mine fits like a glove and i am afraid of ever attempting to remove it.

angeladudek-thank you for that link. that is incredibly helpful. i was leaning towards a bold print but they don't look quite right-i think because of all the tufting. maybe a matte neutral with more interesting pillows would be a good (safe) solution.

i really appreciate all the input-it has been really helpful. you are a smart and nice bunch!

I've just lost 20 minutes playing with chair fabrics. I'm threatening to order our next sofa in the "concerned deer" fabric.

Hi JJ,

One of my favorite nurseries has your rocker. Here's the link: http://www.hashai.com/?tag=bedroom. I personally like the understated fabric in this room-- it's not something you'd get sick of very quickly (I just recovered in a wingchair in a crazy fabric, and I'm already a little regretful). I'm not sure what the fabric is, but I'm sure you could contact the blogger and ask her.

Good luck with the chair and nursery decorating and congrats on baby #2!