The wire avoidance scheme sounds well advised. I hit up a bunch of yard sales where I found vintage office furniture for next to nothing. So I have some chairs. The Steelcase one is the most comfortable. People would put stuff out on the curb, or schools would toss stuff into dumpsters. Perfectly good furniture. I'd remove it and give it a new home. Herman Miller polyester resin shell chairs, Knoll office chairs. I didn't keep all of them and I keep promising my husband I'll get rid of some of them, but I have chairs. I love a good chair. Most of them are pretty uncomfortable if you spend any time in them.
I picked up a chair from the local disposal site -- a teak deck chair that someone had painted hideous yellow. Why they didn't leave the natural wood alone is a mystery, but it's got layers of white and yellow paint. I sanded it as best I could, and for the folding bits, I've had to remove the paint with a chisel since it's interfering with the smooth operation of the folding function. I have a little more work to do on it, and then it will be usable. It's going to be blue. I hate that I had to paint it. I have to find some cushions for it.
Furniture here is crazy expensive and it's poorly made and designed. My husband calls it "modern wank." Like it belongs in Harry Enfield's "I saw you coming" boutique. When IKEA is a step up in quality, you know you're in trouble.
