Here everything you need to know to restore your cabriolet chair like a pro.
What is a cabriolet chair ?
What we call a Cabriolet chair is originally this type of armchair. You can many size and shapes but this is always the same concept, it always have those tiny arms with padding we call “manchette” in french.
As you can see the back of this chair can have many shapes, usually curvy, it can be rounded (medallion shape), squared …
Fabric and finishes
- 1. 50 meter of fabric (140 centimeters wide) are enough.
- You need around 650 11mm nails (a whole box is 1000 anyway) OR 6.5 meters of trimmings like braid or double welting cord.
Working on a the frame
You will need to strip the chair (at least the fabric), maybe you need to glue back some parts or need to change something about the wood.
Link: Stripping and preparing the frame
Cabriolet chair project: traditional or modern upholstery ? Both maybe.
You have many options starting an upholstery project because they are many ways to upholster and to cover the same seat. Maybe you have to change everyting on your chair, maybe you can keep the back padding but need a new seat (springs or not? foam or natural fibers ?), maybe it’s just a covering project. So what is the plan ?
Let’s see all you can do it step by step. My advice is to try to know where you need to go with your project before even stripping to avoid any mistakes. Many of my students regreted stripping the armes straight away to realise later they were in perfect condition. Let’s give this chair a little atention.
Upholstering the seat of a cabriolet chair
Option 1 : With springs in the seat
Here every step and every tutorials you will need to create the seat of your chair using the french traditional springing techniques.
Option 2: Without springs in the seat
How to de the BACK of a cabriolet chair ?
The back of this kind of seat is always a picture back. It means that you will have to remove the back to cover it properly. Once again you can choose between traditional or modern techniques, natural fibers or foam.
- Picture back chair tutorial
- Medaillion picture back chair with foam an edge roll tutorial
- Well back traditional tutorial
- Well back foam tutorial
How to do the ARMS of a cabriolet chair ?
You can make them in foam, in cotton wadding or in horsehair. This last option is the best and the most traditional. Arms padding can last hundreds of years when made in horsehair.
Link: “How to create an arm“
How to COVER a cabriolet chair ?
Here the video tutorials already online for covering:
Some questions left ?
NEW TUTORIALS WILL BE ADDED SOON.
Please feel free to comment and use the forum to share your pictures so I can have a look at your chair !
