Kelly's Upholstery Bellingham, Washington

Contact Kelly's Upholstery    •   Kelly's Upholstery is a Member of Sustainable Connections

Antique Upholstery and Restoration

I can create an exact reproduction of your antique upholstered furniture using the old-school conventional stuffing materials and techniques, using eight-way hand-tied coil springs, and traditional natural fibers such as jute webbing, horsehair, burlap, cotton, and muslin.

First, every antique piece is completely stripped of its old upholstery; the frame is checked and repaired, or if needed, reinforced. The finished exposed wood is cleaned and any touch-up work is done.

Above, tufting and sofa completed. Below, back view of tufting in progress.

The hallmark of quality furniture, be it an antique or an expensive high-end new piece, is the use of hand-tied coil springs. Double-cone coil springs, tied eight ways with an Italian jute, provide a deep, comfortable and resilient seat. Supporting the springs with top grade jute webbing is essential to the durability of a chair.

Back to top

Before.                                After.

This hand-made craftsmanship is time consuming but tends to be more aesthetically pleasing. The old-fashioned filling techniques are well worth the extra effort and expense when restoring an antique piece of furniture.