I got a $1,000 chair for only $5 at a garage sale! Vintage Eero Saarinen executive chair #thrifting

FOUND WHAT!?! 😮 This may be one of my craziest garage sale finds yet. A Eero Saarinen for Knoll Executive Arm Chair in Emerald Green. I can’t believe I only paid $5 for this! Eero Saarinen is also the designer of the famous tulip chair. He’s an architectural genius, and I can now say I own an original piece by him! So cool. It literally pays to do your homework!

if you want the full list of supplies used for this lil mid century modern chair restoration
Here’s how I cleaned it up 👇🏼
+ cleaned using my upholstery cleaner
+ used Krud kutter to remove stains
+ used borax to remove stains
+ polished chrome legs with brasso!

What is your craziest garage sale find?! Let me know in the comments! 👇🏼

#eerosaarinen #mcm #thrifted #midcenturymodern #vintage #architect #midcenturymodern #thrifting

[dhrlh]

I would never be able to convince myself it was clean.

[adannataylor]

Damn. When she said the water was black, I didn't think she meant black.

[soundbytegoesnya]

You really shouldn't dump water that contains cleaners outside. It can runoff to other water supplies and affect your local eco system. They do make camping soaps that are safe to dump, but it's best to avoid dumping household cleaners! That chair turned out amazing, fantastic job!

[dutchstolp]

Nice you dumped that into nature like a pro!

[vanorsdelry]

If you soak the fabric over night, you will probably get a lot more of the stains out. Nice chair

[SheeshMaster]

Imagine youre the guy who sold the chair for $5 and see it relisted a week later for $1000 😂

[MadDog_Rules]

Suede shoe shampoo is actually really good for getting out deep rooted dirt. Spray it on, brush with a dry brush first and remove as much dirt as possible. Spray again, but this time wet the brush first. Then use the upholstery washer. Also to clean up chrome, wet some aluminium foil and lightly rub.

[jamesuk]

No sane human being is paying over $1000 for that 😂😂😂

[tashatoddman]

Please don't pour chemicals out into the ground, it's not good for the grass or trees or other plants around. Please just pour it down the toilet.

[picklesandoxfordcommas]

seeing the dirty water actually made me flinch 😭

[GlitterCk]

I learned about this designer in my graduate course on period decor. He is very influential in the furniture world. Crazy that the owners were unaware of its value!

[PetersPorsches]

I detail cars on the side, inwould personally use a drill brush and steam before a second extraction. Dr enzyme for any bio looking stains

[michaelheliotis]

Seeing how filthy that chair was, you definitely performed $995 worth of work on it.

[mattd]

An old carpet guy told me once that the temperature of the water is key because every degree over 110F doubles it's ability to clean. That's why legit carpet cleaning services use truck mounted cleaners because that water has to be HOT for best results.

[TheJchronic]

I sold one of my dad's old Swedish furniture on offup for $120, it was a West Nofa or something. The leather was in bad shape but she was really excited. I'm just happy it's not in my storage and has found new life

[cinnarapmon]

my aunt has collected a bunch of old post stamps with the picture of Eliel Saarinen (father of Eero Saarinen) and she loved the pictures of his old architecture, she sadly didn’t see her favorite, the helsinki centeral station in the original shape because of the continuation war bombings in '44 and a huge fire just 6 years later, she visited helsinki for the first time in '62 and was absolutely in awe when she saw the exterior!

[ahjah]

Amazing work and GREAT find! I hope you won’t mind me suggesting you pour the dirty chemical water down a drain instead of in the grass next time.

[flatflo]

Eero Saarinen (US pronunciation EH•row

SAH•ruh•nuhn) designed some fabulous structures. Best if which - in my humble Saint Louisan opinion - is our Gateway Arch!

[deborahbrookes-mangan]

No man! That chair needs some more cleaning before you use it. Nice one though!

[KoolBreeze]

Oxyclean and a fabric degreaser can be used. if there's any rust on the fabric you need acetic acid. Also, make the water as hot as you're machine can take. Then agitate rinse and repeat as necessary you should have no issue removing it all. From a retired carpet cleaner. There's more of that dirt in there you only got a tiny amount out once you're done that Scotchguard it and protect it from further stains and water penetration. Scotch guard is like a waterproof layer it's thin but it gives you enough time to take a paper towel and remove it before it can penetrate the fabric. 1 more tip if you ever find the need to remove wax from carpet or fabric all you need an Iron and non-waxed paper bags then turn the bags into waxed paper bags. Simply place the bag over the wax and iron. It's kinda fun. Cheers. ;)