Restoring a chair (pic)

[EssentialHummus]

I've been gifted this very well used but lovely nursing chair (bought second-hand in the 1920s, so no idea of its age or origins).

I have found a local company to re-upholster, but wanted to restore the wood first. From googling it seems like the method is clean, sand, apply wood stain?

Has anyone done similar and do you have any advice?

I've done this. My advice would be if you can leave the wood it like it is. This kind of job is probably ten times longuer than your more generous estimate. See if you can find a fabric that complements the worn look of the wood. Part of the charm of thechair is it's age.

If you really must do it you have to be mega determined and have time on your hands.

I've done it ane am about to do it with another chair. In fact I've done (and am doing) the whole thing myself. It is hard work but worth it and very satisfying in the end to have a chair you've restored. I absolutely would sort the wood out... it looks a bit manky in the pic.

If you're going for the same colour of wood stain, then a light sand might be sufficient. I'm really surprised it's that old - I would have thought it's a lot newer.

If you are trying to save time then the sanding tools can help a lot. The larger areas are not the problem, its the fiddly bits that take forever where for example the arm meets the back. You might need to use a product to lift the bulk of the varnish first and then let it dry out again before sanding.

Get yourself some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, have a practice and go for it. The chair will need to be painted before recovering so make sure the painted areas are protected. Don't spend a fortune on fabric and labour just to have the same old 'show wood' on display. Good luck!

www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/colron-furniture-stripper---500ml-322874
Get someone else to strip it with this it won't take very long at all then rub it with linseed oil.
Or just clean it thoroughly so it retains its character.
Annie Sloane chalk paint is a doddle too. No prep needed.

I did a small dresser in a day with that stripper.

If it's only the arms that are really worn, I would strip them and restain/varnish them. The rest i would just give a good clean.

Personally, I think chalk paint would look a bit crap on that chair.

I wouldn't use chalk paint on it either, personally, and I'm a fan (not distressed though that's daft).
Basically, do you want it to look old or as if you've just bought it?

Wow, lots of replies! Thanks everyone.

I'd like basically the same colour of wood stain, but I'm looking to address the very faded arms.

It sounds like soup and sail's strip and re-stain method is the way to go.

The upholsterer can also restore the wood, for a cost of course, so I feel like there's no harm in my trying to do it myself first.

JoJo - it was a gift from a friend, whose grandad bought it second-hand in Wales in the 1920s. Grandad is still with us and has verified - he had it re-upholstered in the 60s, in the current fabric. It will, hopefully, be a nursing chair for us.

I've stripped several brown items of furniture and it is a pain which is why I would go for just the arms and hope for the best.

I have a chaise longue lounging in the garage at the moment. It's been there for 2 years because I got bored with it!