Are you surprised we went thrifting again? I’m not. These chairs originally retailed at $90 each — $180 for the pair — then were marked down to $70 apiece. With an additional 50% off at the register, we ended up paying just $35 per chair, $70 for both. Considering similar metal versions at Ballard run about $199 each and rattan-style chairs can be $249 apiece, this felt like a really smart find.
They’re surprisingly sturdy. I expected a rickety mess with flattened cushions — which would explain the low price — but they held up well when I sat down. The cushions were firmer than I imagined and the frames felt solid. I did the full sales pitch routine: “Wow, John, these are really nice,” followed by a little pacing, a chin scratch, and a long list of all the places these chairs could go. After a bit of convincing — and because we have a rule that neither of us buys anything unless we both genuinely like it — John agreed and we walked them up to the cashier. I’ll admit I was pretty excited about the score.
To be fair, John wasn’t as openly giddy as I was, but that’s par for the course. I tend to get unreservedly enthusiastic about things, which I know can be a lot for some people. The important part is that we both sign off on purchases, so if he’d hated them they wouldn’t have come home with us. He’s the one who frequently vetoes potential projects, and that balance has saved us from a few impulse disasters. Happily, after talking through the possibilities for a makeover, John was on board — and that meant these chairs were coming home.
It’s hard to tell in the photos, but the chairs are actually a deep navy color with a fair amount of chipping and a few scratches. Those imperfections don’t bother us; they’re part of the charm and make the chairs a great candidate for a refresh. Our plan is to repaint the frames and reupholster the cushions in something fun and fresh. We’ll document the whole process with photos and share the step-by-step when we get to it.
We haven’t decided on the final color or the permanent location yet. Most likely they’ll become new desk chairs in the office since they’re so comfortable — and then we can sell the kitchen chairs we’re using now when we build that DIY kitchen island down the line. For now we’ll probably sit on them as-is while we focus on a few higher-priority projects, like the guest bedroom that’s on our to-do list. Still, I’ve always had a soft spot for lattice-style, chippendale-inspired chairs, so I’m delighted to have found a pair that fit that aesthetic.
You’re probably wondering where we found them. They came from a local antique shop called the Midlothian Antique Center, tucked next to Hancock Fabrics. We actually went in looking for clearance fabric scraps for a separate sewing project, but I couldn’t resist dragging John next door “just to look.” Ten minutes later he was maneuvering both chairs into the car like a champ, and I spent the drive home plotting color and fabric options while he likely zoned out thinking about sandwiches or whether the car needs washing.
On a related note, I still have an old rocker waiting for attention. It’s partially stripped — about 15% finished — with the old fabric and tacks removed and waiting to be sanded, stained, and reupholstered. I’ll post photos when that one is fully transformed.
All in all, the thrifted chairs were a great score: affordable, solid, and full of potential. We’re looking forward to giving them new life and sharing the makeover when it’s complete.