chair – Artisan Upholstery Studio

Updating an 80s Swivel Rocker

We are all familiar with the 1980s era swivel rocker. Famously outfitted in pink velvet, they must have been at the height of popularity a few decades ago, because there are a lot of these chairs up for sale on Kijiji currently. Oh, they come in other colours; I’ve seen orange, silver and blue, butContinue reading “Updating an 80s Swivel Rocker”

Salvaging a Sleepy Hollow Chair

When I was first presented with this chair – a Sleepy Hollow gone wrong! – I was a little horrified. This was, supposedly, a “professional” job done by some guys who actually charged for this third-rate workmanship. I felt very sorry for this client, and wanted to do my very best to salvage this could-beContinue reading “Salvaging a Sleepy Hollow Chair”

Re-Styling a Classic Kroehler

There was recently some discussion on my Facebook page about whether or not a classic Kroehler chair needed to be reupholstered, or if it was perfect in its original state. The two schools of thought seem to be: 1. Vintage furniture ought to remain intact and as original as possible in order to preserve itsContinue reading “Re-Styling a Classic Kroehler”

DIY: Upholstering a Small Side Chair

If you’ve been wanting to try your hand at upholstery, a small side chair is a great way to start. Unlike a Parsons chair, (view my tutorial of one here), this chair has arms to cut around, and a border (yours may not) so it is a bit more complicated. Begin by stripping the chair,Continue reading “DIY: Upholstering a Small Side Chair”

Working With Velvet: Tips and Tricks

Velvet is a classic fabric, and will always be a favourite choice for certain styles of furniture, however, upholstering with velvet can be tricky. If you’re up for the challenge, here are a few things to consider when upholstering with velvet. Velvet Terminology: Nap refers to the direction that the fibers lay. Every velvet hasContinue reading “Working With Velvet: Tips and Tricks”