About 45 years ago I bought my Balans Kneeling Chair. Loved it from the get-go.

You can see it’s a minimalist design –  first introduced at the Scandinavian Furniture Fair in Copenhagen in 1979, Variable was one of the first prototypes derived from the Balans concept, by Hans Christian Mengshoel. I bought mine at the Danish House on the St. Margaret’s Bay Road (that store is long gone). I must have bought in ’79 or ’80. It’s travelled with me wherever I’ve lived.

It’s amazing to sit/kneel on. Although there is no back, you’re forced to sit in such a way that your lower back is supported. I’ve used it at my computer desk – even designed my desk surface height so that when I’m on this seat the desk height is perfect for my back and arm length. I can sit on the chair for long spells.

However, my Balans chair is showing its age – it’s been getting creaky. I’ve tightened the bolts regularly (one of the bolts in the cross piece is stripped and won’t fully tighten any more) but the creaking hasn’t completely gone away. I’ve even glued the cross piece to stabilize it better; that hasn’t helped. So I decided to replace it.

A quick search located me several variations on the chair – some original ones from Varier (the original maker) although not with the stained birch colour I have and for lots of money! I checked around for a knock-off. They’re out there. I found one on Amazon

Same base height as my Balans chair but the overall chair height was likely a problem. I ordered one anyway (not too expensive) and it arrived within a couple of days. I had no trouble assembling it. Next, I tried it out. The 4″ padding turned out to be 3″ too high! My desk and all of my sewing tables were built to be 3″ lower than a standard table top – this chair with all that padding had me sitting higher than was comfortable.

I could return the chair, but rather than go through that hassle, I decided to reupholster it. First I checked with a local upholstering company (I’ve used them before) – I didn’t need new fabric, just wanted to have the seat and kneeling pads reconfigured with 1″ foam and the fabric reattached. I was quoted a price that was more than I’d paid for the chair. I decided to tackle the job myself.

It wasn’t difficult removing the staples from the undercover. I decided, rather than fighting the remaining staples attaching the fabric to the plywood seat (and there were a lot of them), to cut the fabric away. With some effort I was able to remove the 4″ piece of composite foam. I replaced it with a 1″ polyester woven batting and reattached the fabric. Now I have a usable chair.

I also removed the front stabilizing bar – it got in the way of my feet. I’m still deciding whether to remove the second stretcher – I’ll leave it there for now.

I was short a sewing chair for my serger/coverstitch sewing machines (I have two Humanscale Pony Saddle Seats – one at each of the other sewing stations). I tried this chair there. With the seat lower, it feels right. So that’s where it sits for now.

I’ve decided to give my original seat a facelift. I’ve dug out some upholstery fabric leftovers – there’s enough of the fabric I have currently on that seat to redo it. I’ll tighten all the bolts one more time. I’m guessing my original Balans chair may have another 45 years of life in it yet!