The History of Artifex Australia

Molmic Furniture is a Melbourne based upholstered furniture manufacturer having commenced operations in 1987. Molmic is an acronym formed from the names of the founders Molly and Mick McMahon. Today several generations of the family are involved with the business as well some of the original staff members.

Our Perth client originally purchased this Molmic ‘Francisco’ chair in 2009 and contacted us about reupholstering her special chair. Upon inspecting the velvet chair we reassured her that this was of superior quality and certainly worthy of re-upholstery. Her intent was to re-upholster the chair in a contemporary velvet similar to the original covering but more subdued. Quilted velvet is presently in vogue and it was these ranges that caught her eye and the particular velvet upholstery fabric was selected.

The original upholstery fabric was removed revealing a well-constructed timber and ply frame sprung with linked heavy gauge zig-zag springs. The chair had been well used over time so the seat cushioning was replaced with bonded polyester wrapped premium foam. The existing back cushion was preforming and so also laminated with bonded polyester. The upholstery cutting was concise as the fabric was a quilted square design ensuring a symmetrical finish. Another production test was the concave back being upholstered in a square-line fabric, the finished appeared balanced.

The Result – a Very Special Velvet Chair

This Australian made chair proved to be a good investment for our client as when we lovingly re-upholstered it fifteen years later, it looked and performed like new. We expect her to have another fifteen years of comfort in her special velvet chair.

Leather Interiors Subiaco, were a dominant up-market Perth furniture retail store situated in Hay Street Subiaco for many years. They manufactured ranges of their own leather sofas and chairs but also bought from other local manufacturers a significant amount of leather furniture. 

Our client had purchased a 3 seater leather sofa, 2 seater leather sofa and leather chair from Leather Interiors in the early 2000s. This lounge suite was upholstered in a good quality semi-aniline leather however it had received heavy use in a family room setting and was certainly due for replacement leather. We recommended to our clients leather reupholstery with the same type of leather as it is ideal for heavy everyday use.  They selected the Futura ‘Lena’ range, from one of the world’s finest tanneries.  

• We disassembled the leather lounge furniture and removed all existing upholstery. 
• The timber bases were sanded back, stained then three coats of lacquer applied. 
• The frames were then reinforced with corner blocks and re-webbed with superior quality elastic webbing.  
• The outside arm and outside backs were lined and high density foam laminated to the frame bodies. 
• Polyester filled channelled back cushion inserts were fabricated then secondary quilted back cushion inserts to provide a durable and fine finish.
• Premium foam polyester encased seat cushion inserts were also fabricated to provide years of comfortable and durable seating.

The leather hides were cut allowing for large panel cuts being just single body joins for each seating unit. Incorporating large panel cuts provides a superior finish than internal panel joins but may increase leather usage and the joins were saddle stitched to replicate the original finish. With the leather correctly cut and sewn the upholstery is streamlined giving the leather chairs and sofas a smooth elegant finish.   

This was indeed back to the future with the original finish not just replicated but improved. Our clients were elated and we trust this leather furniture upholstery repair will be enjoyed for many years to come.