Upholstery Questions, Answered
The things people ask most often. If yours isn't here, just send me a message.
Cost & Timing
How much does professional furniture reupholstery cost?
Because every piece of furniture is unique in its design, details, and complexity, it's very difficult to give a one-size-fits-all answer to pricing. For example, the term "dining chair" can vary widely in complexity: a chair with a single bottom that's just a flat piece of fabric differs vastly from one upholstered top to bottom with complex tufting, piping, multiple curves, or exposed wood details. This means that even dining chairs can range wildly in labor time.
A good way to get a general idea of your labor cost is to consider the yardage needed. For example, a chair with two box cushions will take around two yards of fabric, whereas an L-shaped sectional sofa could take upwards of 20 yards. With fabric prices generally ranging between $60 and $180+ per yard, material choice is often the main differentiating factor in the overall cost of the project.
This will depend on the complexity of the piece and the time of year, as winter tends to be a little busier than the summer months. Often, I can fit smaller jobs in between bigger ones while waiting for fabric to arrive. Because my schedule is always shifting, I will provide a specific time estimate when you reach out. As a general rule, most projects take between one to three weeks, including the time needed for supplies to arrive.
What is the typical turnaround time?
Is it worth reupholstering, or should I just buy new?
There is both monetary and emotional or heirloom value to consider. A good majority of the time, reupholstering a piece of furniture is a better investment than buying new. This is because vintage furniture is often made with solid wood, high-quality parts, sound structural design, and superior materials, making it a great foundation to build upon for another 50 or more years.
While not every piece is worth restoring for its monetary value alone, many hold deep personal meaning that makes keeping them alive entirely worthwhile. Beyond that, keeping existing furniture in circulation helps prevent quality pieces from ending up in landfills and being replaced with cheaper, disposable alternatives.
Furthermore, high-end furniture built to traditional standards remains very expensive to purchase brand new. For example, a new iconic Eames lounge chair from Herman Miller can cost around $10,000, whereas reupholstering or restoring an existing piece—even with beautiful, high-end leather—is typically significantly more cost-effective.
Fabric & Materials
Yes, you are more than welcome to supply your own fabric if you prefer. However, keep in mind that not all fabrics are suitable for every job, so I'm happy to advise on this before we start. For example, some synthetic fabrics don't work well for furniture with heavy curvature; the nature of certain polyesters and nylons lacks the flexibility needed to match these demands, which often leads to wrinkling. I'm also more than happy to provide yardage estimates if you would like to source your own fabric.
Can I supply my own fabric?
Can I replace just the worn-out foam and keep my existing fabric?
You can sometimes replace fabric in certain scenarios—the primary one being box cushions or areas that are accessible via a zipper. However, the vast majority of the time, this needs to be completed as part of a full reupholstery job.
Sadly, most of the time the answer is no. In areas where the fabric is stapled, removing the staples is a risky endeavor with the potential to damage already weakened material. Furthermore, fabrics are often cut with extra length so they can be stretched and maneuvered into place, stapled, and then trimmed. If we were to remove the staples from fabric that has already been stretched and trimmed, there frequently isn't enough material left to put it back in place, or the fabric simply doesn't come off cleanly and gets torn during removal.
For example, imagine working on a set of six dining chairs: if five of them yield fabric that comes off nicely and can be reused, but the sixth one gets damaged in the process, you no longer have a matching set—leaving you with wasted time and money.
Can you reuse my old fabric?
The Work Itself
Do you work on modern furniture, or only vintage?
I'm happy to take on both modern and vintage furniture. Modern furniture often has more structural issues than vintage pieces, but there are always ways to improve and reinforce that construction during the restoration process.
What types of furniture do you specialise in?
I am happy to take on any type or design style of furniture. I do have a specialty in mid-century modern furniture, but I always love taking on new projects and learning new skills.
I also have extensive experience working with the ever-popular R. Huber scoop chairs and similar variants. I've spent a lot of time perfecting these pieces and getting them looking and functioning as close to factory condition as possible..
Do you fix broken frames, springs or joints before recovering?
Yes — that's the part that matters most.
At this time, we do not provide pickup and delivery services. Clients are responsible for transporting their pieces to and from our workshop location for all estimates, consultations, and project completions.
Do you offer pickup and delivery?
Still Have Questions?
Send a few photos of your piece and ask away.