Stories

  • Reupholstering Hans Borg Lounge Furniture

    ByFrank Parker
    Authentic Hans Borg Furniture Perth

    The History of Hans Borg Furniture in Perth, WA

    Hans Borg Furniture was a Western Australian furniture manufacturer operating from a factory in Bassendean. Hans Borg Furniture produced bedroom, lounge, dining and occasional furniture from the mid-1960s through to around 1980. The brand became known for its Scandinavian-influenced designs with clean lines and solid construction.

    Today, original Hans Borg pieces are still found in Perth homes, making them ideal candidates for high-quality restoration rather than replacement.

    This original maker’s mark on the furniture confirms the authenticity of the suite we restored.

    Storm Damage to a Classic Perth Home

    We were contacted by our client’s nephew after a severe storm caused the lounge room windows of a large 1970s clinker brick home to blow in.

    The home featured a classic sunken lounge room, where the Hans Borg suite took centre place:

    • 2 x armchairs
    • 2 x three seater lounges
    • Large 4 piece sectional ottoman

    Unfortunately, the furniture sustained extensive glass and water damage, requiring a complete rebuild.

    Rather than replacing the suite, the family after obtaining several quotes for their insurer, chose our business to restore these original pieces for two reasons. One because of our attention to detail in the quoting process. The second reason was because they trusted us.

    The Process for Fixing the Hans Borg Furniture

    Stripping Back the Furniture to the Frame

    The first stage involved carefully stripping the furniture back to its original structure.

    • All existing fabric, padding and internal materials removed
    • Water-damaged chipboard panels replaced
    • Timber frames inspected and retained due to their excellent condition

    This highlights the benefit of well-constructed mid-century furniture, where the original frames are often worth restoring.

    Rebuilding Comfort and Support

    With the frames prepared, we rebuilt the internal structure to ensure long-term durability and comfort.

    • Heavy-grade elastic seat webbing fitted
    • Outside arms lined and reinforced
    • High-density foam body padding laminated

    We then fabricated new cushions, including: polyester-filled, channeled and quilted back cushion inserts and premium foam seat cushions with polyester wrap.

    Reupholstered Hans Borg Arm Chair Perth

    This stage demonstrates the level of detail involved in professional furniture reupholstery by our Team at Parker Interiors. Where both internal structure and external finish are critical to the final result.

    Fabric Selection and Staying True to the Original Design

    The client wanted to maintain the original look and feel of the Hans Borg suite while refreshing the overall finish.
    We worked closely with them to select a suitable fabric, ultimately choosing Zepel Baron Emerald.

    This provided a close match to the original upholstery in both colour and texture, ensuring the finished suite remained true to its mid-century Scandinavian style.

    For more examples of similar projects, see examples of our other pieces of furniture we have restored.

    The Finished Hans Borg Lounge Suite

    The completed suite has been fully restored and is once again the focal point of the home.

    The completed suite has been fully restored and is once again the focal point of the home.

    3 Seater Sofa Hans Borg Reupholstered

    Why Clients Choose Parker Interiors

    Our client obtained several reupholstery quotes through their insurer and ultimately selected Parker Interiors due to our attention to detail and clear communication throughout the quoting process.

    Most importantly, they trusted us to deliver the right outcome.

    • The furniture is beautiful


      Thank you very much, the furniture is beautiful.

       
      Sophie
      City Beach WA   
       
    Call Us Today So We Can Help You with Your Damaged Upholstered Furniture

  • Recovering Traditional Lounge Furniture in Perth

    ByFrank Parker
    1920's USA Chair recovered Perth

    Restoring Character Furniture for a Mid-Century Home in Bentley, WA

    New contemporary lounge furniture can look completely out of place in a mid-century home. However, individual pieces of furniture can be refurbished and then provide both an interesting and comfortable living experience.

    About Our Clients

    Our clients were recommended to us by a former industry colleague. They had several items of upholstered furniture; 1920’s sitting room chair from the USA, a 1950’s Parker Knoll wing back chair and a replica miner’s sofa. This furniture suited the living area and they wanted it to be re-upholstered so the individual pieces co-ordinated whilst keeping their authenticity.

    How We Refurbished the Chairs

    Recovered Parker Knoll Chair Perth

    Preparation and Structural Restoration

    The American and Parker Knoll chairs had the

    1. Layers of previous upholstery and materials removed
    2. The timber frames were repaired including the show-wood legs being touched-up and polished.
    3. The chairs were fitted with jute webbing and coil springs laced into place.

    Upholstery and Cushion Construction

    1. Premium foam cushioning was fabricated and laminated with bonded polyester fibre.
    2. The outside arm and back panels were lined and padded and the upholstery featured piped detail as per the original finish.
    3. A polyester encased premium foam cushion insert was fabricated with a box piped cushion cover for the miner’s bench.

    The Upholstery Fabric Selection

    The fabric used on the Parker Knoll chair was Warwick ‘Flemington Grey’ then the fabric featured on the 20’s American chair and replica miner’s bench was Warwick ‘Mason Denim’.

    The Finished Reupholstered Chairs

    The photographs of the chairs say it all. These refurbished pieces of furniture compliment the room and provide a coordinated finish. We trust our clients enjoy their living area furniture for many years to come.

    Recovered Replica Miners Bench Perth

    • “master craftsmanship and attention to detail”


      The master craftsmanship and attention to detail that the Parker Interiors team used in renovating our two older style chairs and our ‘miner’s bench’ cushion has given our furniture new life.

      The detailed description of the work done was an added insight into the preparation and the upholstery process. The results are outstanding.

       
      Suzanne
      Bentley WA   
       
    Call Us Today So We Can Help You to Have Your Chairs Recovered

  • Refurbished Bridge Chairs: Restoring a Family Treasure in WA

    ByFrank Parker
    Bridge Chairs Quality Reupholstery Perth

    The Origins of Bridge Chairs

    Bridge chairs originated in France in the early 1900’s for playing cards with the fashionable game at the time being bridge. The chairs were designed for comfortable but compact seating at the gaming table. Which was super important for playing bridge. These chairs were popular in Australia from the 1920’s through to the 1950’s. They were mainly constructed from local native hardwoods with the better chairs having mortise and tenon arm joints and coil sprung seating. There were many design variations however most bridge chairs featured bullnosed round arms as displayed.

    A Family’s Bridge Chairs Return for Restoration

    Our clients had previously been to our factory in Canning Vale, dropping off an old family club lounge to be refurbished for their daughter, however now it was their turn. They had four bridge chairs constructed in Jarrah and re-upholstered in the 1980’s but for the last few decades they were located on the farmhouse veranda. 

    How We Restored These Jarrah Bridge Chairs

    Bridge Chairs Before Refurbishment
    Bridge Chairs Before Reupholstery Perth

    The Frame Refurbishment

    1. We started stripping the upholstery cover and materials from the chairs.
    2. Then the arms were given a basic sanding with the frame and arm joints knocked apart.
    3. The internal frame joints were glued with a cross linking PVA and screwed with a two-pack resin used on the arm mortise and tenon joints.
    4. As the Jarrah had bleached due to enduring years of direct sunlight we stained the show-wood components a mid-tone Jarrah before applying three coats of lacquer.

    Our Reupholstery Steps

    1. We started the re-upholstery with fitting jute webbing to the seats and backs
    2. Then laced coil springs into the seats which were tied down.
    3. Synthetic edge trim was then fixed onto the seat front whilst hessian was fitted to the seat and back.
    4. We fabricate high density foam padding with polyester fibre overlays which provides more comfortable seating while equally durable. This is instead of the traditional flock and fibre
    5. Finally the bridge chairs were then upholstered in Wortley ‘Lexington Springtime’ to the original finish and also featured padded and piped outside back panels.
    Bridge Chair After Reupholstery Perth
    Perth Bridge Chair Restored
    Quality Bridge Chair Reupholstery Perth

    Newly Restored Bridge Chairs Return to Geraldton

    The furniture we have re-furbished for this family has served three generations, from farm houses in the mid-west to retirement in Geraldton. We understand there is more furniture to yet refurbish, we feel privileged to undertake this work.

    Bridge Chairs Quality Reupholstery Perth

    • “THEY LOOK BEAUTIFUL”


      Hi Frank, sorry but this email should have been sent some days ago, but . . . . . .

      My apologies please.  I just want to let you know they arrived safely, all in one piece and look beautiful. 
      Well done to you all.

       
      Pam
      Geraldton WA   
       
    Call us Today to Talk About Your Bridge Chairs Being Reupholstered