Metropolitan Swivel Chair

There is something special about a chair with a strong personality. This Metropolitan Swivel Chair certainly has one. With its tall, tapered back, generously wide seat and distinctive swivel base, the chair has a sculptural quality that makes it as much a piece of furniture as it is a statement piece.

Working with the original shape

The chair arrived in its original grey upholstery  worn but structurally sound. Its sculptural form, with that distinctive wide base and tall tapered back, was always going to be the starting point. The aim was never to disguise the shape, but to celebrate it.

Stripped back to the bones

Before any new fabric could go on, the original upholstery was removed entirely, revealing the chair's cream shell and wadding beneath. A clean slate  and a chance to see the true form of the piece.

For this restoration, the chair was fully upholstered by hand by Karin, using a combination of vintage fabrics that bring together colour, texture and pattern.

Green & tartan

The main seating area is covered in a rich moss-green textured fabric, creating a soft and inviting contrast against the orange and brown vintage tartan used around the outside of the chair.

Rather than trying to make the chair look new, the aim was to give it a fresh life while keeping its original character.

Handmade detail

The transition between the green fabric and tartan creates a strong visual line around the chair, while the small coloured dressmaker pins add an unexpected and personal detail to the seams. These little touches are part of what makes the finished chair feel personal rather than mass-produced.