A Timeless Restoration of E.R. Noblett & Sons Dining Chairs

ByFrank Parker

The History of E.R. Noblett & Sons

E.R. Noblett & Sons were amongst several mid-century furniture manufacturers based in the Adelaide region during the mid to late 20th Century. They made a range of Scandinavian styled furniture specialising in dining chairs, tables and sideboards.

Our Client’s Story

We were approached by one of our long standing clients who had fortunately inherited a set of 1970’s Noblett Jarrah wood dining chairs. These chairs were still upholstered in the original fabric. We had recently reupholstered both a settee and a chair for this client in an abstract floral linen so the same fabric was selected to match these pieces.

The Steps Taken in This Chair Restoration

  • Firstly the chairs were dismantled
  • The existing upholstery was removed
  • The show-wood frames were cleaned and polished
  • The heavy grade elastic webbing was fitted to the seats
  • Finally heavy grade foam cushioning was fabricated and laminated to the plywood seat and back panels

Chairs Restored to Their Former Glory

The result of this reupholstery project was stunning! Our clients inherited dining chairs have blended in perfectly with the recently reupholstered lounge suite we completed for them. It is always so rewarding to see intergenerational appreciation of high quality furniture. It shows to the value and the importance of always investing in high quality furniture.

“The results have been phenomenal”

5 star rating
5 star rating
5 star rating
5 star rating
5 star rating
I’ve used Parker Interiors for 3 reupholstery projects and each time the result has been phenomenal. Sofas that were comfortable just needed refreshing, inherited dining chairs that had to be refurbished and compliment their new home. The expert advice by Frank at the initial consultation and quote is reassuring as well as informative. Fabric selection is easier with his knowledge and understanding of price point. The pick up and delivery of my furniture made the experience easy. I now have furniture that reflects my home, it is personal and they are timeless pieces that I will enjoy using for many years.
Kerry
Myaree W.A.
Call us Today For Quality Dining Chair Reupholstery

Issues with reconstituted leather

Issues with reconstituted leather

ByFrank Parker

The background to these dining chairs

Our client from Nedlands, W.A contacted us saying that they had purchased a new solid timber dining suite with eight chairs about ten years ago. They liked the solid structural design of their furniture however the “leather” was disintegrating. We inspected the dining chairs and asked a few more questions. The clients shared that the upholstery on the dining chairs was “reconstituted leather”.

What is reconstituted leather?

Reconstituted leather which is occasionally referred to as bonded or blended leather can only be described as a very poor substitute for real leather. The process starts with leather off-cuts and reject hides which are shredded and made into a pulp. This pulp is then mixed with bonding materials and rolled into a continuous layer and then coated with polyurethane. The polyurethane coating is available in various colours and embossed patterns, usually following market trends.

What are the main issues with reconstituted leather?

The main issues with reconstituted leather are as follows:

As polyurethane fabrics act like a semi-permeable membrane, hydrolysis takes place over time with body oils and perspiration causing cracking then peeling of the polyurethane coating.

  • Contrary to most sales explanations reconstituted leather unlike real leather does not breathe and is no different to sitting on a vinyl
  • Reconstituted leather does not develop the patina effect over time like real leather
  • Reconstituted leather has a comparatively short life span (when compared with real leather)

Happy clients with long lasting leather dining chairs

Our clients decided to have their dining chairs re-upholstered in a high quality semi-aniline leather from Tasman (Matisse Black). They were exceptionally happy with the finish and no doubt will enjoy them into the future as they age beautifully.

Call us about getting your furniture restored