Rattan Rescued from Rambunctious Rugrat - photos added 5-30

A little history: In 1953 my husband's parents, Jack & Kay, relocated from the Quad Cities to KC to buy the area's first Dairy Queen Franchise. At that time they purchased a rattan furniture set for their glass front porch.

In 1990 they sold their home to move into an apartment and gave the furniture to my husband who then spent the extra $ to change his front porch from screen to glass.

In 1997 he got divorced and the only furniture he got to take with him was the rattan set. Since then it's been in the house he now rents to his son (a new father). Joe, great grandson of Jack & Kay, is now 2 years old and a nonstop climber.

He was afraid it wasn't going to survive Joe's assualts, so we traded the Spanish Inquistion furniture (trailer park roadkill) from my basement's rumpus room for the rattan.

After I talk my mom into helping me reappolster it I will post photos. It also needs some of the lashing replaced.

The set includes a divan, side chair, ottoman, coffee table, 3 nesting tables, dining table and 4 chairs.

The labels on the bottom of all the pieces say: CALIF-ASIA Quality Rattan Furniture, 6818 Avalon Blvd. Los Angeles, Made in the Phillipines.

[ Edited by: kctiki on 2004-05-30 20:41 ]

Would love to see the photos. Good luck with the project. Hope Mom says ok and it goes quickly. And the terrible 2's will be over before you know it!
Is the "lashing" made of a natural material or is it a plastic? We also have some rattan furniture that needs some replacement plastic lashing. The pieces are made by Tropitan. Does anyone have a source for that type of ribbed 3 or 4 band plastic??

If Mom balks at helping me with the reupholstering, I'll just remind her of when my brother came home from kindergarten and asked, "Mom, would you sew me a chicken suit?" She said, "Does it look like I have TIME to sew you a chicken suit?!" and that was that. Three weeks later she sat thru his Kindergarten class's production of Chicken Little and he only had a lousy part in the chorus because HIS mom wouldn't make him a chicken costume.

The lashing (or whatever its called) is natural. I'm hoping to find a book in the libary that explains how to repair and replace it. Or maybe someone here on Tiki Central has some tips on how to do that.

Photos have been added to the first post. Mom did not help with the reupholstering as the drive back & forth to her place is too long.

I'm not the world's best seamstress but luckily I got the fabric from a dealer who sells bolt ends for a steal.

[ Edited by: TNTiki on 2004-11-06 16:31 ]

Here are some links of other TC rattan sets. there are some great ideas.
http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic-new.php?topic=6427&forum=5
http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic-new.php?topic=5135&forum=6
http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic-new.php?topic=6918&forum=6
http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic-new.php?topic=5915&forum=5
Here are some fabric links. Melina is real pricey, but, she has a cool website. Fullbugs is more resonable and Shelley buys there all the time.
http://www.hawaiianfabric.com/
http://www.melinamade.com/Fabrics/swatch4.html
http://www.barkclothhawaii.com/
Here is a wicker set I did. this is some of the lashing. I got mine at oceanic arts, $8.00, they sell it at Franks too. I've never done it, but, I understand you soak it for 24 hours and then using little brads you nail one end place then wrap it then nail the other end off. I'l post pics when I do it.



Franks and OA
http://www.franksupply.com/
http://www.oceanicarts.net/
Great set KC, it looks cool.

[ Edited by: Alnshely on 2004-05-31 09:09 ]

I understand you soak it for 24 hours and then using little brads you nail one end place then wrap it then nail the other end off

Yes, that's correct. Soaking it makes it easier to work with so it won't crack or splinter while you wrap it. You can also use wood glue or titebond glue and overlap the begginning and tuck under the end if it's going to be just wrapped around. However, if you're connecting joints in furniture, you do have to nail some pieces.

Your rattan furniture looks great! you did a great job on the reupholstery

Alnshelly - thanks for all those great links!

"Hey, at least I'm housebroken."

[ Edited by: polynesiac on 2004-05-31 16:58 ]

Thanks Alnshelly & Polynesiac for the info on rattan repair. I just ordered 2 rattan furniture wrapping repair kits from franksupply.com.

Now I don't have any excuse not to "wrap up" this project.