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Wow, thank you all for your comments! Your support and opinions are hugely appreciated, I'm overwhelmed on the volume of responses, I will try to answer you all.
Keith:
thanks for the links, they are very useful. I did a lot of research on youtube and unfortunately there is a lot of useless crap can be found too, the methods cannot always be taken granted. I'm definitely ordering the books too.
Floyd:
I haven't thought about involving the chair in the ceremony, we are not at this stage yet :) there is a lot of talking and ideas, but nothing final, apart from an aim to have the wedding sometime in the summer 2017.
Steve:
I realised after stripping the chair that I may have "made a mistake" jumping into a project like this, but nr1. there is no going back, nr2. I enjoy challenges, even if they seem to be unachievable and feels depressing in the beginning. The research is still on to find a local upholsterer who knows a bit about antiques, not to have the job done by her/him, but to learn. After finding a few upholserer who suggested to throw it away and buy a new chair from the money I'm about to spend on tools, material and more importantly time, still haven't given up to find one who interested in passing some knowledge. So I have been looking for courses, but so far I only found modern upholstery courses with literally no interest in antique furniture restoration. Well, I have no intention of using IKEA techniques to restore the chair. I was suggested not to bother with the traditional way, but just use foam (no strings) and rather than getting upholsterer tools, just buy a hot glue gun... I'm sorry, but no way. I am more than happy to spend my money and time in a workshop and learn the craftmanship to do it properly.
Darren:
No restoration background I'm afraid. Watched youtube videos, searched on the internet and picked up a few books about upholstery. I am looking into learning from a professional rather than from my mistakes :) I will be asking you guys questions and will be posting regularly, to show the progress, if any :)
Gene:
I have a photo with our cat sitting on the chair prior to stripping, does it count? :) Apart from that, I have a few more photos of the half naked chair, just to help me remember how to put it together. My collection of tools are growing, various staple and tack removers, hammers and mallet, curvy needles, upholsterer needles, etc. Only the skills are missing :) I am hunting for local craftmen, unfortunately I am very close to London, it means everything needs to be done by tomorrow and it's not about restoration but making it look like new. Still seaching.
Kodydog:
I realised that the task I'm trying co complete is something that would make proud even a professional with several years of experience, so I probably came across a bit naive. The task itself both fascinating and scary. Not because it has to be perfect and has to look like it was done my a professional. It's impossible, because I don't have the skills and knowledge. Hands on heart, I will do my best to learn the upholsterer/restorer profession to a level I can deliver something that will make me proud and will last for decades. After calculating my available spare time and halving it, still have 1.400 hours to make it happen :) I can't go back now, you saw the state of the chair :) the practice starting tonight, when I attempt to reupholster the dining chairs. I haven't thought of becoming an upholsterer, I'm 40, but still don't know what I want to be. It's a project came up out of the blue and I jumped on it. Jumped too high :)
It's not a secret project and the "involvement" is already there :) I was told that the wood shouldn't be white, silver or gold. The preferences are dark brown or light brown and as it's still early days, no upholstery fabric design mentioned yet, but watch this space :)
Doyle:
I was born in Hungary, but living and working in the UK for the last 12 years. About education, I studied zoology but never dinished uni. after completing some manager courses and I spent the last two decades managing warehouses; stock control, people management, the whole 9 yards. I can do basic DIY but nothing extraordinary. Oh, and I practiced martial arts for 17 years. Really nothing that gives me a right to retouch an antique piece :) I bought some tools, but rather than keep buying new toys, I will find an upholsterer and learn from him, including learning what tools I really need. And I'm reupholstering the dining chairs on the weekend :) baby steps :)
Ben
Keith:
thanks for the links, they are very useful. I did a lot of research on youtube and unfortunately there is a lot of useless crap can be found too, the methods cannot always be taken granted. I'm definitely ordering the books too.
Floyd:
I haven't thought about involving the chair in the ceremony, we are not at this stage yet :) there is a lot of talking and ideas, but nothing final, apart from an aim to have the wedding sometime in the summer 2017.
Steve:
I realised after stripping the chair that I may have "made a mistake" jumping into a project like this, but nr1. there is no going back, nr2. I enjoy challenges, even if they seem to be unachievable and feels depressing in the beginning. The research is still on to find a local upholsterer who knows a bit about antiques, not to have the job done by her/him, but to learn. After finding a few upholserer who suggested to throw it away and buy a new chair from the money I'm about to spend on tools, material and more importantly time, still haven't given up to find one who interested in passing some knowledge. So I have been looking for courses, but so far I only found modern upholstery courses with literally no interest in antique furniture restoration. Well, I have no intention of using IKEA techniques to restore the chair. I was suggested not to bother with the traditional way, but just use foam (no strings) and rather than getting upholsterer tools, just buy a hot glue gun... I'm sorry, but no way. I am more than happy to spend my money and time in a workshop and learn the craftmanship to do it properly.
Darren:
No restoration background I'm afraid. Watched youtube videos, searched on the internet and picked up a few books about upholstery. I am looking into learning from a professional rather than from my mistakes :) I will be asking you guys questions and will be posting regularly, to show the progress, if any :)
Gene:
I have a photo with our cat sitting on the chair prior to stripping, does it count? :) Apart from that, I have a few more photos of the half naked chair, just to help me remember how to put it together. My collection of tools are growing, various staple and tack removers, hammers and mallet, curvy needles, upholsterer needles, etc. Only the skills are missing :) I am hunting for local craftmen, unfortunately I am very close to London, it means everything needs to be done by tomorrow and it's not about restoration but making it look like new. Still seaching.
Kodydog:
I realised that the task I'm trying co complete is something that would make proud even a professional with several years of experience, so I probably came across a bit naive. The task itself both fascinating and scary. Not because it has to be perfect and has to look like it was done my a professional. It's impossible, because I don't have the skills and knowledge. Hands on heart, I will do my best to learn the upholsterer/restorer profession to a level I can deliver something that will make me proud and will last for decades. After calculating my available spare time and halving it, still have 1.400 hours to make it happen :) I can't go back now, you saw the state of the chair :) the practice starting tonight, when I attempt to reupholster the dining chairs. I haven't thought of becoming an upholsterer, I'm 40, but still don't know what I want to be. It's a project came up out of the blue and I jumped on it. Jumped too high :)
It's not a secret project and the "involvement" is already there :) I was told that the wood shouldn't be white, silver or gold. The preferences are dark brown or light brown and as it's still early days, no upholstery fabric design mentioned yet, but watch this space :)
Doyle:
I was born in Hungary, but living and working in the UK for the last 12 years. About education, I studied zoology but never dinished uni. after completing some manager courses and I spent the last two decades managing warehouses; stock control, people management, the whole 9 yards. I can do basic DIY but nothing extraordinary. Oh, and I practiced martial arts for 17 years. Really nothing that gives me a right to retouch an antique piece :) I bought some tools, but rather than keep buying new toys, I will find an upholsterer and learn from him, including learning what tools I really need. And I'm reupholstering the dining chairs on the weekend :) baby steps :)
Ben