If the chair needs sprucing up under the fabric as well, I think you should expect to pay between $250 and $350 for the job. If you want nail heads like the one in your picture, more.

Thanks, bronwynsmom...not bad at all...no nailheads--I forgot to mention that difference. Hmmmm...

That chair in the Century ad is just fabulous. It has beautiful lines.

Reupholstery prices vary so much, depending on region and the person you choose.

A few years back, I was quoted $1,200 for a small sofa and that was using my own fabric. They also factor in profit using their own materials, so labor would probably be more if it's a COM.

That is comparable to a chair that I recently paid $450 for the chair & $250 for the ottoman to recover (labor only - I supplied the fabric). I am in the suburbs of Chicago, so i expect prices will vary regionally. With higher quality pieces such as Century, it certainly is more cost effective than purchasing new.

Yikes.
I forgot to think about region.

Ah, good points, jen and parma. Yes, it was sad to see that faded beauty sitting there...there's *no way* I could use it unless it's reupholstered, but the lines are so graceful. It would be the perfect finish for our living-room-to-be (once it's emptied of tile and boxes that are being stored there while we're doing other parts of the house!), along with some (nice) walnut modern furniture with loose cushions.

bronwynsmom, we're in Portland OR so it won't be as inexpensive as if we lived in the SE, for example, but less than Chicago, I think. Well, off to find upholsterers(after taking DH to see the chair--if he doesn't like it, it's off anyway). I just wanted to do a little pre-research before interacting with upholsterers directly...thanks very much!

In Florida, it would have been about $500 + $250 I think. The world was different then, but I always felt it was good value to reupholster a high-quality chair with fabric I actually liked...not just something I was settling for at the store.

I think that's a great transitional style. It will go with anything! I say, go for it! :-)

$500 + $300 in my locale, greater Philadelphia. Our real estate prices are a bit less than yours in Portland so I don't know how that relates to other prices.

I payed $400.00 plus fabric for a large sofa and she put the horse hair back in it and it turned out gorgeous. I payed $350.00 for a chair and an ottoman plus fabric but this was six years ago from a local woman and her husband. I live in Alabama.

Ah, well...by the time I got Dh to see it yesterday it was gone. Of course. Which is probably for the best. Maybe it was someone who has upholstery skills her/himself. And it reaffirms my rule: if you see anything there that actually looks worthwhile, *buy it right then* because someone else will notice it if you wait.

But I've learned from this thread and will have the knowledge for next time -- thank you, folks :)

Oooh...bummer. Happens to the best of us! Next time...

Yeah...it's a bit unfortunate but then again I really need to become more realistic about how many plans/projects, even if they're things like finding fabric and a good upholsterer, I can have on the docket at any one time. Maybe the universe was sending me a message...