So, back to Emma\u2019s project\u2026 She had come across two smart chairs on eBay almost 10 years ago. I have to say she\u2019d bought well and spotted the potential in what are actually very desirable pieces. For just \u00a3100, Emma picked up what she thought was Parker Knolls. While this is a good, solid name in itself, the reality is way better. I happened to notice an engraved marking on the back leg when I gave them an inspection. Further investigation (and a little help from Matt Dixon at Tall Boy Interiors) revealed that they are in fact late mid to late 19th Century Cornelius V Smith chairs. I mean, wow!<\/p>\n
![\"19th](\"http:\/\/test.vintiqueupholstery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/19th-Century-Cornelius-V-Smith-engraving.jpeg\")
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Pieces from this eminent London cabinet-maker usually come with a much higher price tag. And, more to the point, if restored well, Emma\u2019s \u00a3100 chairs could be in the realms of fetching over \u00a32k. The lesson here is that, as a beginner, do you really want to risk making rookie mistakes on such a high-value item? Thought not. So, as well as choosing a practical project, you might want to consider the inherent worth in your piece too. In other words \u2013 do your research!<\/p>\n
![\"19th](\"http:\/\/test.vintiqueupholstery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Before-shot-of-arm-chair-.jpeg\")
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2) Don\u2019t overstretch yourself<\/strong><\/p>\n From decorating a cake to building a house, it\u2019s all too easy to think that YouTube can teach you anything. But when it comes to upholstery, nothing beats the hands-on training you get from a professional course or class. There is all kind of dimensions involved in stripping back an item of furniture then essentially rebuilding it. And every piece is different. Traditional upholstery is a whole new realm and you\u2019ll want a qualified tutor showing you how each step is properly achieved before having a go yourself.<\/p>\n The best way to learn upholstery is by enrolling for some training, then gradually developing your skillset by tackling more complex projects over time. If you\u2019ve got something exceptional that you\u2019re dying to revamp either wait until you\u2019re more skilled or get expert advice and leave it in the hands of a specialised and qualified upholsterer.<\/p>\n 3) Don\u2019t throw anything away<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s so important \u2013 especially as a beginner – to keep every single element of what you strip away. Everything you take away provides a reference point and almost a road map for when you\u2019re putting it back together. I also advise taking pictures at every stage so you can replicate important details and finishes. You may think you\u2019ll remember, but often the nuts and bolts get forgotten once they\u2019re taken away.<\/p>\n It\u2019s worth knowing too that you don\u2019t always need to strip everything back to its bare bones. With Emma\u2019s chair, not only had she thrown everything away, but she\u2019d also probably removed far more than necessary, which gave her an even bigger challenge than she\u2019d expected. Not every chair needs its guts ripped out. As you become more accomplished, you\u2019ll know when to leave things alone. <\/p>\n 4) Do choose the right materials<\/strong><\/p>\n There are so many upholstery sundries and supplies to get your head around when you\u2019re first starting out. From webbings to horsehair, foam and fillings, trims and tacks, there\u2019s a huge choice and they all do different things. No wonder this is an area where some of the biggest mistakes happen. In this case, the webbing Emma had selected wasn\u2019t strong enough for the size of the seat and not applied correctly on all webs, and to make matters worse, the tension wasn\u2019t strong enough. She made a great attempt at tying the springs, but sadly no tension on the springs and the wrong cord meant the seat was like a trampoline. To be fair, that\u2019s the kind of stuff you only really learn through hands-on tuition.<\/p>\n Equally, fabric choice can be a minefield and it can be years before you\u2019re deciding with confidence. Emma selected velvet, which is a tricky material to start with \u2013 you have to factor in the lay of the pile and it\u2019s not as forgiving as some other textiles. At \u00a318 a metre, the velvet Emma chose was the too low budget for the task in hand and it wasn\u2019t an ideal match. In isolation, there are many things Emma did well, but others \u2013 way beyond a beginner\u2019s capability \u2013 let the overall finish down.<\/p>\n 5) Do respect the heritage<\/strong><\/p>\n Over time you get to learn the things that are intrinsic to a piece\u2019s design and the aspects that preserve its heritage. In my opinion, you should never change details that are linked to a piece\u2019s provenance. There are always reasons why things are designed a certain way and you shouldn\u2019t mess with that. Of course, there are things you can adapt to, but knowing when, where and why is a skill that is acquired over time. The risk with Emma\u2019s piece \u2013 such a special chair with a real sense of history – is that you can scrap any value by adjusting a tiny feature.<\/p>\n You may have already guessed, but the story of Emma\u2019s chairs ends with her bringing them to me to be fixed. I admire her for having a go at upholstering them, but by her own admission, they were beyond her capability. The good news is that by having a go, Emma has decided that she wants to go and get trained properly. She signed up to my Virtual Vintique: Upholstery Uncovered guide and it\u2019s given her the spark to continue. Just next time on something a little more straightforward!<\/p>\n (This blog post is published with thanks to Emma for allowing me to share the story of her chairs).<\/em><\/p>\n Find out more about Virtual Vintique: Upholstery Uncovered here<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you need help with a simple or perhaps more sophisticated upholstery project,\u00a0drop me a line for an initial, no-obligation quote by filling in the\u00a0online contact form<\/a>. Alternatively, you can email me directly at\u00a0hello@test.vintiqueupholstery.com<\/a>\u00a0or call me on\u00a007764 182 783<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I\u2019m ALL for people having a go at upholstery themselves […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":31252,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41,29,44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-upholstery-tips","category-vintique-upholstery-news","category-virtual-vintique"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
\u201cNot every chair needs its guts ripped out. As you become more accomplished, you\u2019ll know when to leave things alone.\u201d<\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n
![\"Base](\"http:\/\/test.vintiqueupholstery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Base-springs-in-seat.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"19th](\"http:\/\/test.vintiqueupholstery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/19th-Century-Cornelius-V-Smith-arm-chair-material-.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nAsk an expert<\/h2>\n