Step by step dining chair

Dining chair refurbishment

This is a very common dining chair style often with a leather facing which is sub standard and that has quickly degraded. These pictures show what can be done.

Stripping the frame

Dining chair refurbishment

In this example we re-upholstered a set of 6 dining chairs which had been given to the customer. The materials and construction often show a lot of cost cutting

Preparing the frame

Dining chair refurbishment

Preparing the frame

The customer wanted the chair backs to be made a different shape. This is no problem and any modifications can be carried out according to requirements

Preparing the frame

Building up the new seat

Preparing the frame

Whether its a stool or a sofa there is no point re-upholstering a broken or wobbly frame. We will carry out necessary frame repairs and replace springs or webbing as needed

Building up the new seat

We don't cut any corners when building up a seat for maximum comfort and longevity. If you can feel the wood of the frame then there isn't enough foam or the right type

Building the seat and back

Building up the new seat

Often we put additional frame modifications where the original manufacturer has cut corners. In this case an extra rail to support the back webbing

Creating the back

Applying the top fabric

Creating the back

The blue foam is for structure and the pink for comfort. There are several different back options including deep buttoning (not used in this example),

Finishing touches

Applying the top fabric

Creating the back

High density white foam gives further isolation from the wood frame. We always use polyester wrap for a better finish. Templating to ensure a perfect fit

Applying the top fabric

These chairs were carefully templated to ensure they were a matching set. The fabric is trial fitted onto the frame before being securely attached

Some final details

Applying the decorative backs

Applying the top fabric

The customer wanted to incorporate an exciting and daring back panel. The first step was to add contrasting pink piping. There is a card back panel to give a solid feel.

Applying the decorative backs

In these pictures the back is being prepared to securely attach the decorative back panel

The finished chairs

Applying the decorative backs

And here are the finished chairs. Black linings were included on the bottoms (not shown). All our furnishings are returned to customers fully wrapped in polythene

Step by step traditional dining chairs

Inappropriate beginnings

We very often take in furniture that has not been done properly by previous "upholsterers". This set of 12 18th century chairs done with foam was a case in point

Wrong previous materials

Inappropriate beginnings

However carefully the previous work had been done the chairs were ruined and had to be redone

Start with the frame

Inappropriate beginnings

Start with the frame

Often less reputable upholsterers cover up problems which they are not able to or not willing to address

Replace rotten wood

Traditional techniques

Start with the frame

In this example all the rotten wood was replaced using the same quality timber as the original

All new materials

Traditional techniques

A quality seat starts with quality materials

Traditional techniques

The seat has to be built up in layers stitched together

Coir fibre

Traditional joinery

Batch production

This is coir fibre used instead of horse hair as a cheaper and kinder alternative

Batch production

Traditional joinery

Batch production

All the dining chairs were done together to ensure consistency of size and shape

Traditional joinery

New timber used where needed

Illustrated use of traditional joinery techniques and high quality timber to match original

New timber used where needed

Example of a drop in seat made to the highest standard using traditional techniques and quality timber

Webbing and hessian

New timber used where needed

Webbing and hessian

Traditional webbing and hessian applied before building up the seats using the same methods as with the normal dining chairs

Completed chairs

New timber used where needed

Webbing and hessian

There were 2 carvers with drop in seats and 10 dining chairs with stuffed over seats. Both carvers had new drop in frames