Before & After – Vintage Shell Chairs
by Katy on June 18, 2017 · 22 comments
I recently took on a new project, because how could I resist the opportunity to bring home four matching shell chairs when the price was simply “will they fit into my Prius?”
Even though these stacking shell chairs aren’t as desirable as a classic Eames chair, they are still groovy enough to be worth a few hours of my time. And since I own a Bissell rug shampooer complete with a handy-dandy upholstery attachment, I already owned everything I needed to bring them back to life. (By the way, I use the Dollar Tree knockoff Oxyclean in my shampooer, which works perfectly for just about everything. Just mix half a scoop with water for the cleaning solution tank.)
Can you tell which one had already received its beauty treatment? Notice how the foam cushion on the right sided chair had an indentation from being stacked. Those popped right out after being shampooed.
Even this indentation went away.
My secret tool for refurbishing upholstered furniture is a sweater shaver, which smooths out the fabric and removes any unwanted shagginess. Plus it’s bizarrely satisfying to use.
The last step was to scrub down the legs with Bar Keeper’s Friend, which removed any superficial rust, and brought the chrome to a mirror finish.
I have the chairs up for sale on Craigslist right now, but I’d also be happy to hold onto them as both my sons will need furniture for their off campus housing this fall.
In total I probably spent three hours on this project, which I consider to be well worth the effort. It’s easy to garbage pick individual chairs, but finding four that match is the holy grail. I really enjoy the process of bringing things back to life. I feel that refurbishing grubby items not only keeps them out of the landfill, but also helps people avoid new purchases created from virgin materials. Plus, these chairs are at a quality level you’re not going to find at Ikea.
Now, onto another project!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
Click HERE to follow The Non-Consumer Advocate on Twitter.
Click HERE to follow The Non-Consumer Advocate on Instagram.
Click HERE to join The Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook group.
Click HERE to follow The Non-Consumer Advocate on Pinterest.
Like this post? Then please share it with your friends!
Like this:
Like Loading...
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
What projects would you recommend for a beginner?
Wow, they look incredible, Katy!
Thanks for the cleaning and refurbishing tips too. I have a pilling shaver, but I never thought of using Bar Keepers friend for cleaning chrome legs and such.
I’m a refurbish/cleaner upper too. I hate getting rid of useful things. We haven’t bought new furniture in years, because what we have is still in great shape. I’m not one to redecorate often at all. I might change out window coverings, paint something or move furniture around, but I choose a lot of basic colors – so things here have a home for years.
I’m always amazed at the stuff you are able to sell. My mom used to buy furniture at junk stores when I was a kid and refurnish them, but they turned from dusty crud covered scarey stuff into beautiful heirloom oak, cherry, and walnut treasures. I’ll just make sure I never have to put anyone through university. I have to laugh, I think plastic and chrome furnitue belongs in a landfill. You are doing a service if you can keep everyone who wants that supplied so it is never manufactured again.
Re: Tia’s comment: Although I too have only limited enthusiasm for the Eames chair look, I think that in furniture as in clothes, fashions are a case of “whatever goes around comes around.” My own taste (as a 60-something) is for natural-looking wood, and, like Tia’s mom, DH and I restored quite a few dusty old painted wood pieces back in our day. However, natural wood seems to be out of fashion at the moment. But, hey, perhaps it’ll be back in style before our estate sale rolls around!
In any case, I’m simply amazed at the job Katy has done, and applaud her trashpicking/restoration efforts. Anything she and all the rest of us can do to keep stuff out of the landfill and make an honest dollar is OK with me.
Yeah. Plus, since I just see “junk” from my perspective, which is “what I like”, the picture of nonconsumerism is incomplete. Katy has educated herself to know what is salvagable and saves a lot more stuff from the landfill. Plus two guys get their schooling without the burden of HUGE student loan debt, and someone gets something they treasure that is all spiffied up and at a reasonable price.
I get the same reaction when I look at the website of the guy who makes at least a couple of thousand bucks a month on salvaged stuff from trash. You sold that? and for that much? It’s some kinda smart and dedication way beyond my level of “I found this bench for a buck and painted it and put pillows on it”. It’s pretty. hehe.
They look beautiful, great job!
Foil works great. I use fine steel wool on particularly stubborn hubcaps.
I save aluminum foil to clean and polish chrome. All you need is a bit of water with it.
Absolutely Fabulous! Do you own the little Green Machine? This derail has slipped my mind.
Brilliant job, Katy. They look great.
Well done. I love to see things brought back to life. I have a handheld Bissell steamer also, and find it incredibly useful!
Wowza, you got those chairs sparkling like new! I love them! Thanks for the tips. 🙂
Awesome job, Katy!!!
Thanks!
Katy
Those chairs look awesome!
The chairs turned out great. Good eye. Do let us know when you sell them. Your area is very eclectic and I bet a buyer is looking for what you’ve got.
Wow! They’re not my favorite style, but those chairs look fantastic. Well done!
The chairs look great, even though they’re not really my style. I recently adopted a dog, and noticed that as I was walking him around the neighborhood, there is a LOT of reusable trash out there. Wow. I have picked up a handful of things on occasion in the past, but now, I may start looking for particular things to resell.
I kinda dig the style of the chairs but my house was built in 1950 and they go with my house style. When I finish restoring my house, I am going to have formica countertops, probably pink or yellow cabinets, etc., that would have been the style of the house when built…
That sounds super cute. I would recommend that you check out the blog retrorenovations.com for midcentury ideas and inspiration.
Those chairs! What a terrific project!
I just rescued a small metal plant stand from beside the dumpster. Sprayed it with alcohol (bed bug protection) and gave it a good wash before putting it on my porch. And now it holds my herbs.
{ 1 trackback }