“She thought we bought her a brand new chair.” This worn-out Soviet-era armchair was falling apart—until a careful restoration brought it back to life 🪑✨ See the stunning result in the article 👇💚
Not long ago, furniture was built to last. Many of our grandparents still have pieces from the ’80s—or even earlier—that have stood the test of time. Armchairs, in particular, were known for their sturdy design and unique craftsmanship.
These relics aren’t just old chairs—they’re antique-quality furniture. And instead of tossing them out, they deserve to be restored.
My mother-in-law still owns two such chairs. I already refinished one, which now sits like a vintage display piece in her living room—though she still watches TV in the older one. We offered her a new chair and took the worn-out favorite to restore.
Removing the original upholstery wasn’t easy. It was held down with steel nails and glue—clear signs of solid Soviet-era craftsmanship. The seat was bolted to a wooden frame with six bolts and three additional nails holding the padding.
To our surprise, the old foam was still in decent shape—just a bit yellow and compressed. We replaced it with new 4 cm foam and secured it. I bought 80 cm of new upholstery in several colors and refinished the worn black armrests by sanding off the paint drips.
The new fabric closely matched the original. I attached it to the frame, which was made of tough wood—possibly even maple. Then I reassembled the chair, using long screws instead of nails to secure the seat.
Everything fit back together easily—the holes were still in place, and the fabric stretched well. When we returned the chair, my mother-in-law was convinced it was brand new.
