This chair needed to be rebuilt from the frame upwards. The client chose a bright yellow velvet from Linwood.
Two Hall Chairs - Rebuild
These chairs needed to be redone from the frame upwards.
Sofa - Loose Cover
The client wanted a new loose cover for this sofa.
Office Chairs - Recover
The client wanted these three chair recovered with something more durable for the office environment they were used in.
Two sprung units - Recover
The upholstery on both chairs were in structurally good condition, so they just need updating with a new top fabric.
Lampshade Restoration
This lamp stand had great sentimental value to the client and they wanted the shade to be re-covered as it was looking very tired. It was recovered in a silk dupion from Bennet Silks.
AMUSF - Stage 2 Modern Chair
In 2024 I finished the AMUSF stage 2 training - this was the modern chair project. It was covered in a vintage fabric, but I didn’t have enough to cover the sides and back, so I used a vibrant green velvet from Linwood. The client (my mum!) was very happy with the finished piece. This piece was given a distinction.
Open Frame Sofa - Restoration
The webbing on this sofa had failed and the seat was sagging in the middle. The client couldn’t find a fabric that they liked more than what was on the piece already. So in order to save the current fabric - all the layers of the upholstery were lifted off the frame to access the webbing and springs. Once rewebbed and the springs relashed - the original seat pad and top fabric were placed back on top and secured back into place. It looked as though nothing had been done to the sofa - unless you looked underneath at the new webbing.
Modern Dining Chairs - Recover
This was a straightforward recover as the foam didn’t need replacing.
Button Back Nursing Chair - Recover
This was a recover - the chair wasn’t going to be used so the client just wanted it to be smartened up. The top gingham was changed for a nice Linwood fabric. I don’t have a picture of the finished piece, but you get the idea!
Dining Chairs - Rebuild
Re build of 10 early 19th century dining chairs. eight of the chairs were sprung - they needed to be rewebbed and re sprung - so all of the upholstery had to come off. The seat pads were in good condition so they could be reused. The client chose a fabric from Just Fabrics.
Parker Knoll - Rebuild
This chair needed to be rebuild from the frame upwards. Both arms had broken away and needed to be reattached, which meant all of the old upholstery needed to be removed to access the frame. The client chose a wool tweed by Bute Fabrics.
Footstool - Recover
This footstool was a straightforward recover. The structure of the upholstery was in good condition so it just needed the top fabric changing.
Opening the workshop…
After closing the shop my plan was to transform Collate into an upholstery, restoration and soft furnishings business under the same name.
And in April I converted what was the shop base, into a small, but perfectly formed workshop. I call this ‘The Shed’. I officially opened the doors to business in the same month, and so far so good. Work is trickling in, which is just enough to contend with in regards to my other commitments (gardening for Grace and helping to care for my stepfather who has advancing Alzheimer’s) It seems as though there are lots of people looking for upholsterers and lots looking for box cushions to be made!
If you would like to get in touch to discuss your project please use the contact page here
End of an Era…
The Bricks & Mortar shop in Axminster has now closed. I had the most wonderful time running the shop, but unfortunately the current economic climate gave me no choice but to close the doors. This year (2022) has been the hardest so far, even worse than Covid… the cost of living crisis has left the independent highstreet out in the cold. The rise in electricity bills is crippling with no cap on business utilities. We have been offered no help from the government. The fall in foot fall was inevitable.
I will remember my beautiful shop very fondly, and I am extremely proud of what I created. But it is now time to move forward to pastures new. Onwards and upwards!
I have always been an advocate for the indie highstreet, and even though I am no longer part of it I will continue to do what I can to support it. I will spend what money I have with the small businesses in my local towns. And I suggest you do them same… Who would you rather give your hard earned cash to, Mr Supermarket who really doesn’t give a damn about you, or Miss Greengrocer who knows your name, will pack your order personally and order you extra locally grown brussel sprouts?
We as a conscious consumers, are far more powerful that we realise…
