Our apartment is mostly filled with thrift store and craigslist finds. We love mid century pieces and lately we’ve been thinking a lot about a pair of vintage mid century chairs we’ve had for a while. One chair was found on craigslist and the other was found on the opposite side of town at a thrift store. It feels good to have them together as a pair, “reunited and it feels so good” but they’re in rough shape. The bones are perfect, everything functions great, they swivel and rock, plus the arms and legs are solid wood.
Andrew has since refinished the wood on the pink chair. It looks so beautiful, but it only highlights the fact that we really need to get them reupholstered. What you can’t see is the giant rip in the seat that’s currently covered by a blanket. Sadly it’s not in our budget, but a girl can dream!
Here’s what they currently look like:
The wood on the pink chair was sanded down and coated with several thin layers of danish oil. We wanted the wood grain to really shine through. It originally looked as dark and dull as the arms and legs on the chair below.
Hopefully someday when we have the budget, we’ll get them reupholstered in a modern textured fabric. I’m thinking a neutral grey that will give plenty of flexibility to display colourful patterned throw pillows.
Here’s some inspiration I’ve been gathering on pinterest of mid century modern chairs in grey, I guess you could called it “chairspiration”
I just stumbled across your blog looking for ‘chairspiration’ for my recently found mid century chair. I have the mustard one and funny enough I’m not far from Vancouver either. Looking forward to an update if you decide to reupholster them.
I like your style, I’ll pin this
Hi Robyn, I’m about to share a blog post with the full before and after. After about a year it finally happened! They turned out amazing, I couldn’t be happier.
Beautiful, aren’t they? I’ve recently acquired a similar chair! Does yours rock band and forth as well? Also, I’m so curious if you know the designer? Would you happen to have an idea?
Yes mine do rock back and forth, they also swivel. I’m not sure who the designer is, if you ever find out, I’d love to know!
Hmm, never bothered to check if mine swivels. I’ll have it a go when I go back to storage!
I did some digging around and found nothing. My friend, however, was able to track them down rather quickly. It’s by a Canadian furniture co. called Bogdon & Gross based in Walkerton, ON. Yours is from 1968 according to an image they’ve posted on their FB page.
Oh wow thanks so much for sharing! I checked out their facebook page, so fun seeing the retro photo. I love my chairs even more now!
Bogdon&Gross
Furniture Company LTD
Walkerton- Hanover- Ontario Canada
Your chair is a Bogdon &Gross made in Walkerton On. I just got one exactly like yours with maker label still attached.
Thank you! I have since found the brand. It seems to be somewhat common in Canada but the condition of them are all different. Some have different legs and arm styles. It’s so fun to see! Worth reupholstering, they sure don’t make furniture like they used to. The swivel feature on ours are so smooth still.
I found one in a thrift store with almost the same pattern as the pink chair, but in gold. Had the classic mismatched legs. Paid $5.00 for it. Just recently flipped it over to see if legs needed tightening. Noticed the old card stapled on the inside with “Bogdon & Gross”. After researching the name, no more using it as a spare video game chair !! Very excited to find it.
So cool that you found one and such a good deal at $5! I love how they swivel and rock. Thanks for sharing!
I have an original Bogdan and gross with their Name, City, and Provence located on the back of the chair everything is wood except the bottom which is the made out of metal. The material is oh so groovy and a falling apart I believe it’s made out of wool edit sort of rocks and swivels I was thinking of throwing it out, now I think I’ve changed my mind. Will needs to be refurbished. Should I keep it just because of the name?
So cool that you have them. I would totally keep them and reupholster them. Furniture these days is not made like they did back in the day. I don’t know if they have actual value because of the name, I just think they are a solid quality piece of furniture. You will love them for years to come if you get them recovered, just make sure to choose a quality fabric.
We purchased an old house and this old rocking chair (platform rocker) came with it. It’s a Bogdon & Gross and we aren’t sure anyone ever sat in it. It’s dusty and has a couple stains on it which we are having cleaned tomorrow. The fabric is slightly sun faded but otherwise it’s mint.
That’s so lucky, it’s totally a great chair, we sit in ours everyday and they really hold up nicely. Thanks for sharing!
I have the same chair in a orangy red colour, rocks, swivels etc. Got it for $25!
I’m just researching getting it reupholstered at a place here in North Van- will let you know how it goes- what it costs!
Very cool! I got both of mine reupholstered at Luxcious in Vancouver. But I’ve since found someone that can do it for a slightly better price and doesn’t have a long waitlist. I’d love to see photos when it’s done, feel free to email me!
Hello! I just got one of these chairs and am stripping it down. I’m wondering if you know what type of wood it is. It’s very light underneath the brown stain. To me it almost looks and feels like pine. But I noticed you got yours to a beautiful rich brown with just Danish oil and another comment elsewhere saying B&G furniture are all maple and beech.
I am looking to purchase but no luck so far if anyone has a lead their willing to share please message me