1960’s American Sofa-Bed

By Frank Parker

Sofa Bed Reupholstery Perth
Sofa Bed Reupholstery Perth

1960’s American Sofa Bed Restoration

It started with a home consultation for our client

A couple contacted us saying that they had just retired and had shifted into an inner city town house in Perth and they were wondering whether to rejuvenate or dispose of their sofa-bed. We immediately organised a home consultation to see the condition of their sofa-bed.

This is the sofa-bed’s history

Upon inspection of this sofa-bed it became apparent that it was made in the U.S in 1968. The frame was constructed from solid American Oak. The sofa-bed action was manufactured by Windsor of Canada who are renowned for their high quality mechanical componentry which tended to be over engineered and will subsequently last the decades. The result was with such a robust frame and action the sofa-bed was to be re-upholstered.

The restoration process

 We removed the sofa-bed action and stripped the existing upholstery to the frame. The upholstery fabric selected by our client was similar to the original cover so it was guaranteed suitable. The cushion inserts were down and feather so we encased these in a bonded polyester fibre and replaced all the body padding with high density foam. We basically used the same upholstery techniques but tidied up the finish including doing the skirt in three sections to match the back cushions.

Happy clients of Parker Interiors

The final result is fine and yet functional sofa-bed superbly rejuvenated for our clients to enjoy for many years into the future.

Call us Today for Sofa-Bed Reupholstery

Similar Posts

  • Re-upholstering Summerbank Furniture

    ByFrank Parker
    Summerbank settee Perth
    Recover Summerbank Settee Perth

    The History Behind Summerbank Designs

    Summerbank Designs founded by John and Shaun Murdoch, commenced operations in 1989 producing upper middle range upholstered furniture. They started production in Newcastle Street Perth, Western Australia. They then shifted to a larger purpose-built factory in Canning Vale. After several years thet shifted into a smaller factory in the same suburb as Australian furniture manufacturing declined. Summerbank ceased operations in 2006 with Parker Interiors acquiring the trading name.

    Changing From Fabric to Leather Reupholstery

    Our clients initially approached us a number of years ago seeking a quote to re-upholster their two Summerbank Designs settees. Then several years on the same clients re-contacted us saying they had sold their home and were downsizing so the time was now right for having their settees recovered.

    Initially we had quoted on re-upholstering the settees in a fabric however they now decided that they would prefer leather. A durable and serviceable leather was required so it would be suitable for family room use. We recommended a semi-aniline leather for the re-upholstery. Our clients selected Tasman Tanning ‘Matisse Olive’ which also represents good value in the high-end leathers.

    How We Transformed These Settees

    The existing upholstery covering was removed, with the bung feet sanded and re-polished in an Oak finish. The seat webbing was replaced then also as the settees were being re-upholstered in a leather opposed to fabric we replaced the back and arm cushioning with a higher density and slightly firmer cushioning. The seat cushions were replaced with laminated premium foam polyester encased inserts as leather cushions are not reversable so two different grades of foam are utilised which provides superior comfort. The settees upholstered beautifully in the superior leather with lined and padded outside back and arm panels, piped trim and twin-stitched centre joins.

    Our Clients Trust

    Our clients only retained some of their furniture from their larger residence so we felt honoured that they trusted us with the furniture restoration of their classic settees. We are always delivering beautifully restored and reupholstered furniture for all our clients.

    •  “I will sing your praises high and low”

      Just wanted to say thanks again Frank, the recovered couches look perfect, the leather is so soft. And the delivery guys came early and were very lovely and helpful guys, so thanks to them too. I will sing your praises high and low.
      Alex – Coolbellup
      W.A.
    Call us Today to Get Your Settees Reupholstered

  • Restoring Fler Furniture

    ByFrank Parker

    Fler Furniture was founded by Fred Lowen and Earnest Rodeck in 1946 and ran through until 1968 producing iconic designs now referred to as ‘mid-century’ furniture. Featured in this article are the Fler D71 ‘Norsk Divan’ and the E71 chair purchased from a Perth furniture retail store in 1960.

    Our client contacted us saying she had furniture purchased by her parents in 1960 from a Perth furniture retailer. This furniture was then given to her daughter by the grandparents when she set up home then her daughter had the furniture re-upholstered in the late 1980’s. When this furniture was re-upholstered the upholstery design was altered and finished to a very poor standard. Her mother recently took back this furniture and wanted it restored to original condition and finish.

    The divan and chairs were completely disassembled including the timber frame components. The timber components were sanded back with the oversized fixing holes and dents filled with two pack resin then reassembled using a crosslinking PVA. The frames were then stained to the original timber tone and three coats of 30% gloss lacquer was applied then finished with a rub of superfine steel wool.

    New cushion inserts fabricated from premium foam with polyester overlays now conformed to the original dimensions. The fabric selected by our client was a sage velvet having a semi-crushed effect with the upholstery also detailed to the original finish.

    The result spoke for itself and our client was absolutely delighted with her restored mid-century furniture taking her back to childhood days.

    Call us Today

  • Restoring Heritage Furniture

    ByFrank Parker

    A gentleman approached us through a referral as he had a chair requiring restoration, it having been in his family since the 1860’s. The chair was described as a “Sewing Chair” and was apparently made in Victoria.

    When clients are trusting you in restoring treasured family furniture we are driven by a responsibility to exceed their expectations. This was the case when we were given the task of restoring a “Sewing Chair” made in Victoria during the 1860’s. The upholstery had been removed and the frame had been partially sanded back. It appears to have been constructed from Victorian Mountain Ash with the timber in good condition but the joints were extremely loose.

    The job was to carefully knock apart the chair frame, drill out the broken dowels then re-dowel the joints using a crosslinking PVA. The only variation to the frame restoration was Vic Ash corner blocks were fitted. Paint stripper was used on the show-wood sections of the chair frame then it was carefully sanded. The frame was originally stained a dark “Oak” tone so this was replicated then three coats of 30% gloss lacquer was applied with the frame receiving a final light rub with super fine steel wool.

    Traditional methods were utilised with the foundation upholstery. Jute webbing was fitted to the seat and coil springs laced into place with jute webbing also fitted onto the back with a hessian overlay. The coil springs were tied down and a hessian overlay fitted with a thumb roll on the seat front and side edges. Then modern techniques were used fabricating the padding using high density foam and polyester overlays. An Australian made fabric was selected for the upholstery covering featuring a small over-all pattern with the blue tone contrasting well against the stained oak frame.

    This job did exceed our client’s expectations with the following testimonial.

    • Frank, thanks so much, chair is amazing

      Frank, thanks so much, chair is amazing. My sister will get her piano stool restoration done by you mate. Warren reckons it’s just brilliant. Well done Frank.
      Paul
      Bridgetown W.A.
    Call us Today

  • Reupholster to Modernise

    ByFrank Parker

    Clients approached us as they had shifted from an older traditional styled house into a new modern mid-century styled home located in the Perth hills. They had a much loved traditional Torrance & McKenna lounge suite consisting of 2 x wing back chairs and a low back 4 seater settee. They wanted to retain this lounge furniture but re-upholster it to suit their new home.

    The most important aspect of this process is to select an appropriate fabric for the re-upholstery process. Our clients had two issues to consider, the upholstery fabric selected had to suit their existing lounge furniture while looking in place in a new mid-century styled home. The upholstery fabric selected fulfilled the criteria being an abstract floral design with the blue and autumn tones looking effective on the polished concrete floor and picking up the tones of the timber cabinetry.

    This job was a complete re-build so we removed all the existing upholstery. The frame was re-webbed with heavy weight jute webbing and the coil springs laced into place then the sprung edges constructed. New high density foam padding was laminated to the frame bodies with the upholstery back to original including lined and padded outside arms and backs. The cushion inserts were fabricated using premium foam and then encased with bonded polyester fibre. The cushions were upholstered back to the original finish being boxed piped seats and centre piped back and arm cushions.

    The result spoke for its self and our clients were ecstatic when their re-upholstered furniture was delivered. This is great example of up-cycling fine furniture which was purchased new 45 years ago and is now good for another 45 years.

    Call us Today

  • Reupholster Chesterfield Settees

    ByFrank Parker

    The Chesterfield sofa was developed by skilled furniture artisans in the mid 1700’s for Lord Philip Stanhope, the third Earl of Chesterfield. The Earl was known as a trendsetter and commissioned local artisans to produce an upholstered piece of furniture to which gentlemen could sit on without creasing their suits.

    Chesterfields would become the most renowned sofa design in history defined by the scroll arms, low back, deep buttoning and studded trim. They were usually upholstered in dark traditionally toned leathers. However over time this design has been modernised and is often now upholstered in velvets.

    A couple approached us with two 2 ½ seater Chesterfield settees purchased in the mid 1980’s being made by Moran of Melbourne. These settees were over forty years old and attracted constant use but had stood the test of time well which was a display of their quality.

    We removed the existing upholstery then started the re-upholstery process by fitting new jute webbing and fitting new spring units. The foundation of the inside arms/backs were fine so we just laminated and thin foam layer with a polyester overlay and new seat cushion inserts fabricated from premium foam then encased in bonded polyester fibre. The upholstery fabric selected was again a quality plain velvet which is suitable for this design sofa while also being very durable and serviceable.

    The result spoke for itself and we often find clients select fabrics similar to their original selection because of favourable performance and design suitability. This was no exception and our clients seemed overjoyed with the result.

    Call us Today

  • Restoring Fler Chairs

    ByFrank Parker

    Fred Lowen and Earnest Rodeck met on a refugee ship escaping Nazi Europe bound for Port Melbourne. Fred Lowen started work in 1942 as a fitter and turner but woodturning was his passion. The two commenced their business in 1946 under the acronym FLER starting in an old stable.

    The business grew quickly as they engaged with Myer Emporium supplying modern designs with turned legs and Scandinavian influence. By the mid-late 1960’s Fler had manufacturing operations is several states. The massive demand for this style of furniture in Australia was created by the post-war residential boom in modern housing.

    A couple were referred onto us as they had two Fler SC55 chairs produced in the late 1950’s and two E31 chairs from the 1960’s requiring complete restoration. They originally were purchased new by her parents but unfortunately were very poorly ‘restored’ by a supposedly reputable business in the 1980’s. Given this we had to completely strip the chairs back to the raw timber frames with the intention of restoring them to their original splendour.

    With the frames completely sanded back the timber was stained Mahogany then three coats of clear lacquer. The cushion inserts were originally latex rubber however premium polyurethane foam encased with bonded polyester fibre is more durable and provides superior comfort. We re-upholstered the chairs in a velvet using the original finishing methods resulting in glowing fine lines.

    Our clients were astounded with the result taking her back remembering the chairs in bygone years. This work also provides great pleasure for us as furniture manufacturers and restorers.

    Call us Today