Recover or Reupholster?
If a sofa or chair is in good shape on the inside and all it needs is a fresh new fabric on the outside, that’srecovering. When a piece needs work on the inside, either partially or totally (new webbing, re-tied springs, new fillings, re-cushioning) that’s reupholstering. Both are the province of the upholsterer, marine fabricator or auto trimmer.
The upholsterer works from the frame, up… much the way the furniture maker does. So, if your old piece has a good frame, there’s some significant initial saving to be had. Using modern materials with traditional skills can provide you with results that are even better than the original. In the hands of a good professional, you can get a full measure of value for your money, and quality that’s hard to match.
Reupholstery or restoration is one of the few professions in the domain of the hand skills that is alive and well in the assembly line age. So, if you have a lumpy old sofa, or a frayed chair that’s beginning to shed its stuffing, take another look before dismissing it as a “has been”. It could be the beginning of a beautiful new piece. This recycling of quality furniture will bring much pleasure in seeing a fashionable new piece bounce back out of the old one.
If your old sofa (or chair) frame has stood up for ten years or more, it’s probably good or it wouldn’t have lasted that long. Good frames don’t wear out. Over the years a good wood frame has jumped 100% OR MORE IN PRICE. |
Hardwood, The Key to a Quality Frame
Good frames are made of hardwood – oak, maple, ash, alder or mahogany. These woods are strong and enduring and the upholsterer can tell them by their weight. They’re heavy! That’s why salespeople will often lift up one end of a sofa when showing it to a customer. They are indicating a quality feature of the furniture, which is the frame’s weight. You can do some testing yourself by lifting pieces similar to your own and comparing to see how they feel
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