How to Rock A Grainsack and Gingham Chair

Grainsack and Gingham go together like Authentic and Vintage! They are simply better together!

Seriously, what could possibly be better than a vintage chair updated with authentic grainsack and gingham! Let’s start at the beginning.

Here is a chair in dire need of some updating. It has great potential with its curves and spindles, but in it’s present state, it is sad, dull and dark.

The black pleather was doing it no favors. The wood was very dark and one arm had some sort of glue or residue on it. It was very splotchy and messy looking. I scraped and sanded this area, and found a small gouge in the wood. I assume the mess was trying to correct this flaw. Honestly I think it looks so much better now. I like furniture that shows some battle scars! It means it has lived life well!

Once the pleather was stripped, I primed the dark wood, then painted it with a griege latex paint I had on hand. A graphite paint and water glaze was used over the whole chair, but I wiped most of this off. I think a very light glazing works with the woods imperfections and the brush strokes to give the piece an aged patina. But a heavier hand on the details on the arms and legs showcase their personality.

Its funny that getting a chair to this point can actually take longer than upholstering it, priming, painting, glazing and dry time. But now its time for upholstery.

Grainsacks are true vintage fabrics. Its sad to know that someday, the supply will run out. I love everything about grainsacks, the texture, the strength of the fabric, the patches and repairs, and the time worn softness. Because of the price and scarcity of grainsacks, I usually will pair it with another fabric on upholstery projects. But the fabric has to be a good match for the grainsack. This gingham is perfect! The colors are spot on and the texture is very linen-like.

When I upholster a chair, I put a lot of thought into the design process. The stains, paints and glazes used, the fabrics and trims all have to work together to bring my vision to life. For me, it is a very intentional process.

The placement of the fabric is also an integral part of the design. For this chair, I knew the gingham on the seat had to be on the diagonal, while the fabric on the back of the chair had to be straight. I decided the shoulders of the chair needed the grainsack to wrap over the top with the solid piping replicating the curve.

While I was working on the chair, I was toying with the idea of a flirty little skirt. Once I had gotten this far, I could see this chair was in need of a little something extra.

So I added the pleated ruffle. Notice the check on the ruffle is straight in contrast with the diagonal seat. Intentional.

Although, I have definite design ideas, when I start a project, I love to let the project evolve. For instance, the idea to wrap the grainsack over the back of the chair and drop the piping down a little happened on the fly! And now the back is one of my favorite elements of this chair.

In total, it’s the fabric textures, colors and placement of the gingham that really make this chair rock.

And don’t you agree, this chair is totally rocking some grainsack and gingham?