Old Dining Room Chairs + Salvaged Fabric = Fabulous New Dining Chairs!! (possibly)

Do you remember a while back when I posted different ideas I had for my two dining chairs? Many of you suggested using the valance fabric to upholster those chairs, which I hadn’t even thought of at the time. It would look something like this:

I do love the idea of having pattern on the chairs, but I haven’t jumped on this project for two reason: (1) I’m still not convinced that these are the best chairs to use, as they’re not comfortable at all, and (2) I’m also not convinced that the valance fabric is the best choice, as it really is drapery fabric, and I would prefer to use an upholstery fabric that’s thicker and stronger, at least for the seats of the chairs.

Then a thought occurred to me. Do you remember these chairs that I scored for $4 each at a garage sale a couple of months back?

And do you remember how I was lamenting about how the fabric was perfect for my little condo, but it has been used as a scratching post by at least one cat, and so the chairs had to be reupholstered?

Well, rather than throw away the oh-so-perfect fabric, I think I’m going to try to salvage as much as possible and use it on the seats of the chairs, and then for two pillows on the banquette.

I really do love the idea of adding a different fabric with added texture to the area. So, I think I’ll try it. There should be plenty of fabric–the back panels on each chair, plus the top and bottom of each seat cushion. Those are all pretty big areas with (hopefully) plenty of salvageable fabric.

And what a bargain, huh? All of the comparable fabric I’ve found has been priced at well over $100/yard (and that’s wholesale pricing…yikes!!), and I haven’t been able to find any new fabric that goes in my little eating area as perfectly as the fabric on the chairs. So it seems that it’s meant to be!

Now the last remaining question…Do I want to use these chairs?

Or do I want to hold out for new ones? And by “new”, of course, I mean garage sale or Craigslist chairs. The problem with that idea is that the only type of dining chairs that I ever seem to find in my area are these dime-a-dozen spindle back chairs.

Uugghh…That’s not quite what I’m looking for.