Upholstery Up-cycling

By Frank Parker

Over the decades we have found considerable change in consumer sentiment towards reducing waste and up-cycling furniture. This tends to mainly occur with furniture that is built to last but the design has become out dated over time. Unfortunately lower quality furniture after several years of use ends up on verge collections, unnecessarily depleting resources and contributing to the landfill problem.  

A client approached us with a Moran sofa-bed she had purchased many years ago as a student as she required both a sofa and some were to sleep. This was well constructed and the bed action was very good condition warranting re-upholstery.

We completely removed the existing upholstery and laminated new high density foam padding to the frame body. Then fabricated new polyester filled channelled and quilted back cushion inserts and new polyester encased premium foam seat cushion inserts. The upholstery finish was modified deleting the skirts and replacing them with piped borders. The result was a smart contemporary sofa-bed which will function for another few decades.

We were also approached by a senior citizens home with quality furniture however it had become outdated over time and was also looking slightly tired. We suggested the settees could be re-styled with some cosmetic changes to the upholstery.

The settees were stripped to the frames then new heavy grade elastic webbing fitted and high density foam laminated to the body work. New channelled and quilted polyester filled back cushion inserts were fabricated and polyester encased premium foam seat cushions were also constructed. The main change in the upholstery was the deletion of skirts which was replaced in the front by a padded piped border with the outside arms and backs also then lined and padded providing a plush finish. The previous fabric was a striped satin weave and was replaced with a fresh looking abstract floral in a flat weave. The clients were elated with the result!

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    Argyle Furniture Designs was founded by Frank Parker in 1982 and was a trading name of F.R Parker Furniture which commenced operations in Perth during the mid-1970s. Prior to this F.R. Parker & Co. commenced in 1964 operating as manufacturers’ agents in WA representing both WA and Eastern States furniture manufacturers.

    Argyle Furniture Designs manufactured a range of mainly Australian colonial styled furniture. The signature of their designs were solid well-constructed Jarrah frames featuring the Pullmaflex springing system.  Argyle Furniture Designs was sold to Karl Bloomfield of Living Choice Upholstery in 2006.

    A client contacted us having purchased an Argyle Furniture Designs lounge suite in 1989. It had received constant use over the years in their lounge room and they wanted the furniture re-upholstered. It had been originally upholstered in a high quality synthetic suede.

    We completely removed all existing upholstery and cleaned the Jarrah show-wood legs. The Pullmaflex springing system remained in excellent condition and the cushioning although originally high quality required replacing. The body padding was replaced and we fabricated new polyester encased premium seat and back cushion inserts.

    The lounge suite was upholstered in an Australian made plain chenille and upholstered to original condition. Our clients were elated with the finished result and we trust they have many years of enjoyment  using their re-upholstered lounge suite.

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    Ramada Furniture commenced operations in the mid 1980’s and was owned by Graham and Justin Davies. Graham also owned Leather House a successful furniture retail business specialising in the sale of leather lounge furniture. His son Justine operated the factory in Canning Vale which took over a large purpose built factory from another lounge furniture manufacturer Stylecraft which had ceased operations.

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    A couple approached us who were renovating their home which required updating their furniture. They were however mindful regarding waste and wanted to up-cycle as much as possible. They had purchased Ramada two leather lounge chairs and a footstool about thirty years ago which were looking seriously dated and if possible wanted them rejuvenated in fabric.

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    From our understanding these chairs were made in Czechoslovakia in the late 1920’s, manufacturer unknown. For their time the construction techniques used are quite advanced utilising a ‘push-in seat’ and back flutes located with spring-edge wire. However the most significant thing about these chairs is the general proportion and balance of the design.

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    Trustyle manufactured styles incorporating show-wood frames with the furniture being in the upper middle class for price and quality always being considered good value for money in the industry.

    A client contacted us wishing to have her Trustyle lounge suite and dining chair seats re-upholstered. The Lounge suite was over thirty years old but remained structurally sound. It was originally upholstered in a patterned transfer print which were popular in the late 80’s and early 90’s but she decided to have the furniture re-upholstered in a plain chenille.

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    Perth Arthur G Furniture

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    Arthur G was established in 1979 Arthur Georgopoulus having initially commenced leather sofas in the garage at the family home in Melbourne. Today Arthur G has a large manufacturing operation in Huntingdale. His son Leonard joined the family business in 2008 with the focus then changing to direct sales. Arthur G now has showrooms in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. 

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    This custom-made dining lounge was designed and manufactured by a cabinet making firm then upholstered by a local upholstery business. The frame was well designed and constructed however there were continual substantial issues with the upholstery. Unfortunately this is something that occurs to often in our industry. 

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    We started from scratch making templates true to the frame then fabricated premium cushioning and laminated it with bonded polyester fibre. The cushion covers were then carefully marked with sewing indicators and sewn to shape as such large panels can either be stretched or gathered. The lounge was then upholstered with minimal effort as the fabric covers fitted perfectly.

    The result was that our client was absolutely overwhelmed with the result and we have since received repeat work from her. This just goes to show that quality work is always the best form of advertising and everyone is a winner.

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