Before & After: La Fonda chair

A couple of months ago, I shared a Alexander Girard office chair that we reupholstered in cashmere, leather and cowhide hair. The same client had us restore & reupholster a set of 12 La Fonda chairs, to be used as dining room seating, in the same upholstery. The client has been collecting La Fonda chairs from every known source to acquire enough for his dining room and as they are difficult to find, this process has taken a while!

The La Fonda chair was designed by the Eames office as a special commission for the La Fonda del Sol restaurant in New York City in 1961. Alexander Girard designed the restaurant, as well as a good deal of the interior decor, and requested that the backs of the dining chairs not protrude above the table tops.

Before

This is a classic chair, but not without its' challenges. The foam is completely molded in soft curves and the fabric is tightly upholstered, like a second skin, to the piece.

The exterior fabric (cowhide hair) has to be upholstered around the shock mounts with care so the hair direction stays consistent.

The bases, originally cast aluminum, were all updated with a bronze finish.

after

These are spectacular chairs, and will look outstanding in our clients' modern dining room.