Vintage Ethan Allen Chairs for our Living Room

There has been a change in our living room! Vintage Ethan Allen chairs are now providing cush for our tushes!

I’ve been idly on the hunt for high quality chairs for our living room. I wanted chairs that would stand the test of time from a style and quality perspective, but also be comfortable to sit in.

Comfort is VERY important around here!

I loved the look and function of the recliner chairs I bought for a quick fix in our living room, but I also regretted that purchase. The recliners just didn’t feel sturdy enough to stand the test of everyday, heavy use.

That’s the difference between cheaply made and high quality furniture.

One day while I was killing time scrolling through shopping with purpose on Facebook Marketplace, I found two vintage Ethan Allen chairs. I’ve been hesitant to use Facebook Marketplace for months after a bad selling experience, but I’ve started dipping my toe in the water for buying.

These chairs came from a home in a swanky part of New Jersey. When Handy Husband and I showed up to buy the chairs, we realized they were for sale because the owner was moving.

We had the loveliest conversation with the woman who owned the chairs. I think we were there for at least half an hour! That’s a long time to have a masked conversation with a stranger.

She had lived in her home for over 30 years and you could tell that selling was hard because there were so many memories associated with the place. Even though she was off to enjoy fabulous adventures, it was an emotional experience to leave behind the home and neighborhood where she had raised her children.

As it turns out, she bought these Ethan Allen chairs new 35 years ago. She paid $1,200 for the set of chairs in 1985. (Like I said, we had a long and lovely conversation!) In today’s dollars that would be $2,928.48. Inflation is a wild thing, isn’t it?

I paid $150 for the pair.

The now vintage Ethan Allen chairs sat in her formal living room that entire time and were rarely used.

How many formal living rooms rarely get used? 99.9% of them, I’d say.

I love it when I’m buying something used and the seller goes out of their way to describe in the listing the environment that the furniture has been sitting in. Common descriptions are a smoke-free or pet-free home. This seller went the extra mile and told me no kids had spit up on these chairs either.

Hahahahaha!

That little bit of oversharing actually made me feel good.

My kids spit up on everything when they were babies!

No one warns you that first year of parenthood is all about the bodily fluids.

These vintage Ethan Allen chairs are navy blue with a yellow fleck and I love how the slight pattern play works with my rug and leather couch. I’m slowly getting that layered look in my living room that I love so much.

The chairs ARE a little bit faded. That’s why I have to keep those arm covers on.

However, I really don’t mind that fact because they faded uniformly, so it isn’t obvious unless I whip off those arm covers point it out.

It did take me some time to visually get used to the fact that these chairs have a lower profile than the high-backed chairs that were positioned there before. The good news is this gives us a better view into the sunporch when the doors are open. The bad news is I spent a week questioning whether the chairs were too short!

The great thing about quality furniture like these vintage Ethan Allen chairs is that they are excellent candidates for reupholstering. Reupholstering isn’t cheap, so if you’re going to do that, it needs to be on furniture that is worth recovering.

I’m guessing I won’t ever reupholster them. I know myself too well and while I like these chairs, I’m not sure I like them enough to spend that kind of money.

I’ll probably just sell them when I’m ready for a change.

I’m pretty sure I can make my $150 back.

Especially if no one spits up on them.

Because we had such a delightful encounter with the seller of these chairs and I knew she was feeling all the emotions about moving, I texted her a picture of the chairs in their new home.

She replied, “I’m so glad these chairs went to a good home. Enjoy them in good health and happiness.”

Isn’t that the sweetest?

I’m so grateful our paths crossed in this big, beautiful world. Connections between strangers hold a different sort of weight with me. There’s no obligation to be kind because they have to maintain a relationship with you.

When you are the recipient of a stranger’s kindness because that’s who they are at their core, it warms you from the inside out.

Room Sources:

Wood Side Table: Thrifted

Round Marble Side Table: Hobby Lobby

Gold and Leather Stool: HomeGoods

Coffee Table: Thrifted with a DIY makeover

Couch: Amazon Rivet Andrews Leather Sofa, 82″W, Cognac (Would buy again. We still love the value for the price on this couch.)

Rug: Amazon Safavieh Monaco Collection MNC243N 8′ x 10′, Navy/Light Blue (Always thrilled with Safavieh brand rugs.)

Brass Ash Bucket: Thrifted from a flea market

Yellow Blanket: Our new favorite! Amazon LOMAO Flannel Blanket with Pompom Fringe

Brass Lamp: Thrifted

P.S. I’m keeping the recliner chairs that were in the living room and I’m using them for a seating area in my bedroom. I really do love the look of them and had the perfect spot for them in our bedroom. 

Thanks for being here today! It made my day and I hope it was a bright spot in yours as well. Here are some other posts you might enjoy.

Converting our Round Dining Table to a Coffee Table

What We Think of our Amazon Brand Leather Couch 6 Months In

Thrifting: Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market in Connecticut

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