Of course. I agree it is important to sit in any chair first, prior to buying it. I can not see how people buy chairs online, without actually sitting on it. If you find chairs you like, get them finished in the fabric of your choice!

When we last bought chairs we special ordered from a HUGE fan deck of fabrics. Are you sure they can't do this for you?

We did it with DH's reading chair. He loved the fit and comfort of the chair - it was a swivel chair with a very supportive back but he wasn't thrilled with the available fabrics. So he picked the one he thought would look OK in the bedroom but once it arrived we immediately decided to have it changed.

IMO, you are paying for the chairs almost twice. So, no I don't think it is worth it. I know the chairs in stock are not in a fabric you like, so choose from one from fabrics available and just wait it out until delivered.

BTW, can you show is the chair you love and the make?

In a heartbeat.

Only stipulations would be if it's affordable, which it sounds like it is and if the timing works which also seems to be the case.

For furniture that is literally going to be used every single day paying more, even for something not strictly necessary in terms of utility, is a no brainer.

Reupholster those chairs and enjoy them!

First, be sure the fabric you want for your chairs is available and your upholsterer is also available.

Before buying new chairs to reupholster, I would have to visit every used furniture consignment shop in my area to see I might find some at a better price.

Good luck!

I probably would get caught up in the cost and seeming frivolous or wasteful, and might continue looking and probably not finding what I want. I would probably then settle for something.

That said, I think you should get the chairs that are comfortable and could be received soon, as long as you do know the fabric that would be perfect and have a good upholsterer.

That way you will be enjoying it soon.

I'm looking for a lounge chair that will be used daily. The one I think will work is very solid but the leather is not the right color or quality I want. In terms of selecting the fabric with the store this would be a special order and back to the long wait.

First thing in the morning I'm calling the upholster and checking out cost. I'm so ready to move on.

Remember you have to find the right fabric and then tou might have to wait for that too. Buying these chairs wouldn’t be the end of the journey.

I am going through something similar. After decorating an entire house down in Florida, I have found that nothing is as comfortable as my old Ethan Allen furniture up north.

I have to have that old furniture reuphostered in the near furniture. We both like the comfort and although the fabric is worth, the cushions are not.

Yes it will cost twice. But I already know they can't be replaced with same comfortable cushions.

I say if everything aligns, and you can afford it, do it.

ETA, I spend a ridiculous amount to have matching throw pillow made for my bed. But, I use them and enjoy them.

I've only done that with dining chairs and stools that only needed the seats reupholstered, and I could do that easily myself. For fully upholstered sofas, I've just made slipcovers.

If you say it is within your budget, then I think it is a great idea. I would never want to live with fabric that I did not like, and comfort is also extremely important.

I probably wouldn’t if the choice was just between waiting and getting what I want immediately.

I got a Bernhardt leather loveseat, not new...and not made any more. I purchased a FULL cowhide. It was the color, size and style I wanted. Viola! I did the upholstery....it was damaged. I've never done it with NEW pieces...but....I would if I needed the pieces. GO for it and enjoy! I should add....I'm a nut about Sunbrella fabrics. So if I upholstered it in Sunbrella.....YES...YES....YES!

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Not only would I, but I did reupholster four brand new, very pricey chairs. Two martha Washington chairs and two wood faux bamboo pull up chairs were all bought with the intention of reupholstering them.

If the cost is acceptable to you, absolutely. Right now the delays on furniture are crazy so if you found something in stock and have a good upholsterer to make the changes, it just makes sense.

Yes, if you have a good upholsterer and cost isn't a problem. I would emphasize to the upholstery person that you want them to feel as much like they do now as possible. The type of fabric can affect the feel- how stretchy or taut the fabric is, etc.

Yes, I would and I did. But we did bring the chairs (Ethan Allen) home and live with them for six months so that I knew what colours and look in the upholstery that I wanted to choose. We also bought a settee and I had the cushion on it recovered as well.

Why wouldn't you just have the upholsterer do a "new" chair for you in exactly the style, configuration, fabric that you want.

It would probably be less expensive than buying a chair and having it reupholstered and the quality might even be better as you can specify hand tied and whatever stuffing you want.

When I remodeled I had all the new upholstered pieces done by the upholsterer who also reupholsered some of my older chairs. I only kept the older chairs because they have beautiful wood showing that couldn't be replicated in a new piece.

Helen are you suggesting that the upholsterer build a new chair? I don't think they do this.

Yes. An upholsterer can do a completely custom piece entirely to your specifications. My sofa, two occasional chairs, my bed and a chaise were all custom. He also reupholstered three chairs but these had very distinctive wood.

I went to the shop to try out the way different configurations felt. I did have pictures of the pieces I liked as inspiration. I am currently waiting for delivery of two occasional chairs which are being done. I had liked two Baker chairs but the cost for those wouid have been $8000 for each chair and having them done is not cheap but still less than buying from Baker would have been and Baker didn’t have the leather color I wanted.

Many retail places also have what is called COM where you supply the material. I had that done years ago for two sofas. It is not inexpensive though as it generally costs more than the most expensive of the fabric choices but it is a possibility if that option exists and you want to have the sofa made by the factory.

I did purchase dining room chairs and had them immediately covered with fabric of my choice because I didn’t like any of the limited choices. However the legs were the distinctive design motif of thise chairs and couldn’t be duplicated by an upholsterer so I had to buy them for their frames 🤷‍♀️

The upholsterer I used when we lived in IL could also build furniture and restore finishes on cabinetry as well as make slip covers, cushions and general reupholstery work. But that is not the way all or even most upholsterers work. I have not found anyone where we live now remotely capable of building furniture from the frame up.

I have a wonderful upholsterer. He can fix items, add webbing, stuffing, make slipcovers etc., etc., but he does not "build" furniture. (He will also make me 20 x 20 pillow covers with zipper and cording/piping for less than $20 each!!)

Are you not able to order the chair in a custom fabric?