Young House Love

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Buying A Thrift Store Egg Chair

I have been obsessed with egg chairs for at least a decade since seeing this hanging one in Domino magazine back in college and this guy from Marie Claire Maison (their French house-related magazine) who has also been in my desktop inspiration folder for at least five years.

So as you can imagine, every time I’m in a thrift store I’m on the eternal egg chair hunt. I dream of hanging one in our sunroom next to the daybed for Clara (or me) to swing around in without killing ourselves. Not sure if we can handle it, but the universe has taken some safety measures and insured that every time I look I have no luck. Yup. So far, no dice. I did get close once (imagine me telling this story like a gal who leans in and whispers that she once nearly caught some mythological creature like Bigfoot or Nessie).

The year was 2011. I saw a picture on cragislist with a giant collection of items that were for sale at a local thrift store. There among the junk was the most amazing egg chair I ever saw. I dove for the phone, knocking books off my desk and pencils to the floor. I probably made some sort of sound like “gaaahhhhh” or “woooooooooo.” When someone answered I said “Egg chair” and panted like a dog. Seriously, I momentarily lost my mind. The woman was very nice but said “oh yeah, as soon as we posted that it sold.” I hope I said goodbye and thanked her but I honestly don’t remember anything after that sentence. I blacked out.

Since then I’ve always been keeping an eye out – even from mainstream stores with higher price tags. For example, Pier 1 now sells this hanging chair for $280:

Swing Chair 280

They also sell this Papasan guy for $80 (they’re known to pop up in dorm rooms and is a little too “reclined” and “wide” to really be as egg-ish as I’d like). So let’s just say the guy above is more my speed and the guy below is more in my price range. Such is life.

Papasan Chair 80

They also sell this guy, who is sort of like Sir Papasan’s fancy cousin who spent the summer in Europe and came back with some swagger. The shape is definitely more egg-ish, but the cushion is a little too frumpy for me (is anyone else getting maxi pad?).

Swinging 179

Fast forward to a recent thrift store run when we popped into about five of our favorite local places (I snapped lots of photos so we’ll have to write that whole adventure up for you as soon as we can size all the pics). Anyway, at the third place I walked by this little set of two chairs and I took this picture. End of story.

Egg Chair 1

Then I got home and uploaded everything and had this “what the heck was I thinking?!” moment when I realized both of those guys above were:

  • very egg-ish
  • in my price range
  • in need of love (which is actually a selling point for me)
  • marginally harder to get hurt on than a hanging egg chair (which is a good thing, since something swinging might spell disaster for uncoordinated runs-in-the-family gals like me and Clara)

So I did the following:

  • lunged towards John who was typing at his desk next to me
  • probably made some sound like “meeeeeeeeeeeep” or “haaaaaaaaaaaaah”
  • pointed to the picture on my screen of the two egg chairs
  • said “can these fit in our car?”
  • convinced John at least one could fit in our car
  • grabbed the kid and ran to the car so fast that we were all strapped in and ready to go when John sauntered up a minute later and started the engine

Oh yeah, it was on. About twenty minutes later we were back at Goodwill and you’re not even going to believe it. The guy on the right was gone. Sold. Sadness. But the guy on the left was still there! And very much egg-ish. And very much in our budget. As in: thirty beans total. And get this- it even swivels!!! So the wind can still be in my hair while the chair is safely planted on the floor of the sunroom. Basically it was very much like buying the Pier 1 Swivel Chair above for $179 but for 150 bucks less, and I’ll get to freshen it up and put my own spin on it (pun intended) with some new pillows instead of anything resembling a giant feminine hygiene product.

Egg Chair2

Sidenote: I totally made an omelette for dinner to celebrate my little egg chair coup. Is that sick of me? Like I was eating his ancestors or something?

I should have taken a photo of John sitting in it for scale, but the back goes up to his shoulder blades  (and he’s 6′ tall). So it’s not a child-sized chair, although it’ll definitely be Clara-friendly (and me-friendly since I plan to set up camp in this chair for the next 20-30 years). This picture of it on a low coffee table in the sunroom doesn’t help with the whole scale thing, but you can see the potential right? He has good lines I think. Good egg-ish lines. Of course that cushion was grody and should not have even been brought into the house, but it has since been relegated to the carport. And you can see the shape even better without it. Me-ow, right?

  Egg Chair3

After playing around with some pillows (which look crazy, but gave me a general idea of what I think could work), I’ve decided I’ll make or find a better fitting seat cushion and then just add a casual back cushion. But it’ll be taller than the little pillow in the picture below because I want the back to be as comfy as the bottom.

Egg Chair4

Will keep you posted for sure. Oh and you know I’m going to freshen this guy up beyond just adding some cushions right?

Egg Chair5

Might have already started on that actually. More details in a few days when he’s all dry and ready for his close up. And of course amid egg chair happy dances work slowly continues on the deck…

Deck Tease

… so we should be back with an update on that front next week for ya. Inch, inch, inch…

Psst- We announced this week’s big giveaway winner. Click here to see if it’s you.

Comments

  2. Kristin says

    My two year old kept saying ‘my house!’ while looking at the deck photo. We barely have brick, our house is blue, and we aren’t building a deck. What a nut. Though I wouldn’t be too unhappy if your house was outhouse (or at least you guys redesigned our house. I’m always blown away by how an idea you have almost always looks AWESOME!!)

    Reply

  5. Chelsea says

    “anything resembling a giant feminine hygiene product.”—made me literally laugh out loud. Can’t wait to see what fabulousness (word?) comes of this!! :)

    Reply

  8. Kim says

    So I bought a chair that looks like one on the right. And I have to tell you finding a cushion for these chairs is not easy! I finally found one that kinda worked on my chair at Pier 1. Its round and then I have a lumbar pillow on the back. I also had to add some extra foam under it so it wouldnt dip too low…

    I liked that I could see the lines of the chair and its still comfy.

    You can see it here… http://www.keller-creative.com/2012/05/southern-screened-in-porch.html

    Reply

  9. Elizabeth says

    My roommate and I had a papasan chair in our college apartment. It was a hand-me-down from someone graduating (all the best college furniture is acquired this way!) and eventually the base broke…so we just sat in it on the floor and re-christened it the “cereal bowl!”

    Good times.

    Reply

  11. Margaret says

    With its original cushion it kind of looks like it’s blowing raspberries at you. Hah!

    We have a pampasan chair that my husband bought in college and refuses to get rid of. Those are just as hazardous as the swinging chairs, believe me! I can’t tell you how many times the dog or I will try to sit in it and it just falls over. They aren’t made for shorties.

    Reply

  12. Loren says

    This is totally random, but since you mentioned your sunroom….do you have heat and air hooked up out there? We have a sunroom that has no insulation and are looking for an efficient wAy to heat and cool. Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      It has its own heating/cooling system in there (just a small window unit that also does heat as well as AC). Wish it was on the same system as the rest of the house but it’s better than nothing!

      xo,
      s

  14. Barb says

    What about using a round dogbed for the cushion – would that be too weird? We have a round, floppy, cushy one in our bedroom (I recently recovered it in a damask-like fabric) and that’s the first thing that came to my mind when I saw the shape of your chair.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That’s definitely another possibility! Might be too puffy/big but once it’s dry I’m just going to try a bunch of things and take photos of whatever works for you guys!

      xo,
      s

  15. Karen says

    I was thinking that it looks less feminine hygiene, but more like a large mouth and tongue. Go ahead, picture it ;-). I love it though. The lines are stunning and I can’t wait to see how you update it!

    Reply

  16. Kirsten says

    Love this post, especially: “sort of like Sir Papasan’s fancy cousin who spent the summer in Europe and came back with some swagger.” I snorted with glee! Congrats on your find!

    Reply

  17. Kala M. says

    My parents used to have one of those hanging egg chairs. Except ours wasn’t perfectly oval, it curved in a bit on the sides. We called it the peanut chair. However the best part was ours was free standing. You just had to make sure you didn’t swing too hard of the base would start rocking a little. My sister took it when she moved in with her husband. Then one day her husband decided he didn’t want it anymore so they threw it out. Mom and I were so pissed we loved that chair.

    Reply

  18. Sherry says

    too funny – i have been looking at a hanging chair – i think it would be fun in a quiet corner for reading or sewing. however, i can probably find 3 or 4 for sale on craigslist at any time. but campaign furniture with the brass corners is scarce like hen’s teeth. funny how furniture styles can be local as well, eh? have fun with your chair :)

    Reply

    • Sherry says

      really? – i think i just stopped breathing. but something tells me that shipping between Richmond and Vancouver, BC would be cost-prohibative :) Still doesn’t stop me from sobbing quietly into my coffee . .

  20. Heather Flint says

    Woooooooo hoo!! I’m so “egg”static and “egg”cited for you Sherry!!!! I’m going to go “scramble” around town trying to find one now. Hopefully I can find one like you did, so I don’t have to “shell”out a bunch of money. “Omlettin” my fiance know that there will be an egg chair in our house soon, and it will be glorious!!! can’t wait to see how your chair turns out, this post was so funny, you really “cracked” me up! oh my…someone please stop me, LOL!!

    Reply

  21. Cara W says

    …. they are the eggmen!
    I am the walrus! Coo coo ca choo! Coo coo ca choo!!

    I just had to finish that for you – one of my fav Beatles songs! :)

    Reply

  22. Darcy says

    SOO CUTE!!! I totally love him — I would have never seen his potential past the grody cushion (and when I read your description, I actually snorted — you made me SNORT, Sherry!!!)

    I can’t wait to see what you do to Ms. Egg-Egg! (thats what my son calls em!)

    Reply

  23. Mary says

    I don’t have time to read the comments so sorry if these have both been mentioned but-

    * Ikea has a hanging one for $80. It’s not quite ‘eggy’ (rounded) enough to be comfy for an adult but it’s cute as heck. We have it on our back porch. I’ve seen the blue on in a designer home.

    * Emily Henderson just did a show with the most AMAZING print papasan chair for a family with kids. I bet you could buy that cushion for that chair, or some other great cushion from wherever she found it.

    I want a real egg chair too. So cute!

    Reply

  25. Rosie B. says

    Lady, you crack me up! What a cool find. I can’t wait to see the remake. Hanging egg chairs always remind me of a college boyfriend’s dorm room … and the rest of that story is probably too “maow chicka” for YHL. ;)

    I have a technical/blogger question for ya – your first two photos reference magazine sources – as if you scanned them from tear pages. Did you? I have lots of tear pages on hand from very old sources and have hesitated in using them on my blog because I worry about copyright infringement. I know you aren’t a lawyer, but what’s your take on this? Obviously you’ve come to terms with it, so I’m interested in your process! Do you request permission to use them?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We always link to the source, whether we grab an image from a website or scan it/photograph it from a magazine (many of which now have Pin It buttons, so it’s clear that they like image sharing). That way we’re crediting the originator very clearly right within the post (and we’ve actually heard from folks at places like Domino and Marie Claire who are flattered to be mentioned/linked to). We’re the same about our images – completely flattered whenever anyone uses any image as long as they link back over to us to credit us. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  26. Christina Miller says

    Okay, this post cracks me up. My parents have had those exact same chairs since the 70’s. I have been begging my mom to get rid of them since I was in grade school (early 90’s). To her credit, she did have the cushions re-upholstered in 2004 from the original gold and avocado to a less decade specific neutral. Maybe I can convince her to send them your way, haha.

    Reply

  28. Sabrina says

    You make me laugh. I usually let out a squeee or meeeeeeeeeeerrrr! Hubby thinks I’m nuts lol I distinctly remember my grandmother having a hanging egg chair that she macramed (sp) herself.

    Reply

  29. Jess J. says

    I think Pierone sells a cushion for their hanging egg chair that could work very simply inserted in your new one. :) Love it! Good score.

    Reply

  30. Lauren Nicole says

    My family has owned a chair very similar to the third Pier One option above for as long as I can remember. Everyone fights over that chair. My mom gave it to my sister for her apartment and my dad desperately wants it back, so now it’s a bit of a war over the chair. Those chairs are seriously so comfy!

    Reply

  31. Tracy says

    This post reminds me of the Pier 1 “find what speaks to you” commercial… and now I keep saying “RAINBOW SOCK MONKEY, YAY!” over and over. My officemate is giving me odd looks.

    Oh my – yep, totally looks like a maxi pad.

    Have fun!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha- the funny thing to us is that we used that rainbow sock monkey in our book (you can play where’s waldo to try to find it) so it’s one of our favorite commercials! Haha. He spoke to us so much that he made it into the book!

      xo
      s

  32. Rachel says

    i look forward to your post everyday and today you made me laugh out loud which i so appreciated! i especially loved your sound effects! meeeep! congrats on your chair : )

    Reply

  33. Natalie S. says

    David Netto’s and Ione Sky’s place in California is one of my favorite design inspirations too! I love David Netto’s decorating style. And your egg chair looks like it has amazing potential. Good luck with putting together the perfect cushions for it.

    Reply

  37. Julia says

    I’m glad the one of the right was sold when you returned, because I like the shape of the one you bought so much better! How nice of the Goodwill folks to hide your chair behind a giant maxi-pad, thus concealing it from potential buyers in time for you to return and get it! :)

    Reply

  38. Erin C. says

    We have two chairs like that in our living room. We got them from my husband’s grandparents for free so I didn’t feel bad having an upholsterer make new cushions for them in a great grey and white chevron stripe. I love them because they swivel and I can see all angles of the living room to see what my kids are getting into at any given time.

    Reply

  39. Stephanie says

    Sherry, this post was freaking hysterical. I love how you were just so excited and you kept it totally real. I also love the chair and can’t wait to see what you do with it.

    I’m trying to take my cues from you in my new place with re-purposing things so I love seeing how you guys give something new life. Right now, I’m trying to decide what to do with a dresser. I took it from my grandmothers house and have a perfect spot for it in my room. Can’t decide if I want to paint/stain and what color.

    Reply

  40. Melissa says

    Sherry,
    I am completely loving your fake-egg chair. I cannot help but imagine it spray painted a happy color, but here is another thought: could you find some strong wide fabric or even heavy rope to weave through the inner vertical supports? That would provide you more support for bodies and less chance of Clara falling through! (Bean safety first:)
    Melissa

    Reply

  41. Laurie says

    Oh that chair brought back memories! My husband and I had one just like it when we first got married. We had a German Shepherd who loved to sleep on it. Then she ate the cushion but still slept on the wood seat. Then she ate the wood seat out of the center but still tried to sleep on it. It was her “go to spot” when she was in trouble (i.e. eating our chair!) but after the cushion and seat was eaten out she just sat on the ground in the center of it and it looked like a giant Saturn ring around her neck. Can’t wait to see your “after.” I have no doubt it will be amazing.

    Reply

  42. Kate K says

    Coo Coo Ca Choo! (Or however the Beatles spell that :D)

    I have to say that I absolutely loved reading this–your excitement was hilarious and adorable and absolutely hit close to home. Everyone has that item that they want desperately (for me, an antique wrought iron bed and an old, pull down school map.) Isn’t it lovely that you found it. I can’t wait to see how you transform your newest find!

    Reply

  43. Gretchen says

    Sherry, I loved your post since I have also been obsessed with egg chairs for quite a while but never seem to find the right one (aka, affordable and adorable). In fact, this was my very first pin on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/pin/42854633923679426/

    I couldn’t find out where this particular chair is from (somewhere in Europe?) and it drove me nearly nuts! But I’m betting you’ll love the look of this eggish chair, so I had to share.

    Best,
    Gretchen

    Reply

  45. Sarah says

    My husband and I tried out the Pier 1 “egg chair” a couple weeks ago. He was in LOVE with it…I was as well…just not in love with the price! He sat outside in the display chair for at least ten minutes until I broke his heart and told him that we would keep our eyes peeled for a similar, yet cheaper, alternative!

    Reply

  46. Barbara says

    But, Is it missing some rattan or whatever that is wrapped around the sides? Are you going to fix that?

    Reply

  47. Koliti says

    Sherry, your writing style puts the most wonderful visuals in my head! Hysterical! I was surprised that you waited for John in the car – I was thinking that by the time John got to the driveway all he would see was a little poof of smoke.

    Speaking of poofs – if you can make a poof then you’re going to make the perfect cushion for your egg-chair.

    Seems like he’s your “Cabana Boy Chair” – can’t wait to see you sippin’ (your umbrella drink), sittin’ & swivelin’.

    Reply

  50. Lindsay says

    Very cool egg chair! And…keep an eye out for a child-size one to match! My mom-in-law has one exactly like this one but it is child size! So, they are out there somewhere!!

    Reply

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