Stories

  • Re-upholster leather Tessa furniture

    ByFrank Parker

    Tessa Furniture is an iconic name in Australian furniture manufacturing being a prolific name during the heydays of local furniture industry. Although refurbished mid-century modernist furniture with a Scandinavian influence is a niche market the interest not only resides with those who have been fortunate to have witnessed this period of design history. Some discerning members of younger generations are purchasing or inheriting this furniture and having it restored.  

    A client approached us with her much loved Tessa leather lounge suite which she had inherited from her parents. She wanted the lounge fully restored as she remembered it growing up on the family farm.

    We completely removed all existing upholstery then sanded the frame back to bare timber. Several timber rails were re-glued then the frame was finely sanded. The Tasmanian Myrtle timber frame was then stained back to the original finish and given three coats of lacquer being lightly sanded between coats.

    The original springing systems were fine in the backs and the settee seat however new premium quality elastic webbing was fitted to the chair seats to conform to the original specifications. New channelled and quilted polyester back cushion inners were fabricated likewise new polyester encased premium polyurethane seat cushion inners. The quality of the seat and back cushion inners however far exceeded the original upholstery componentry.

    It is extremely important to use a high quality leather for the upholstery and we used the Tasman ‘Matisse Manuka’ which is a superior quality semi-aniline leather from New Zealand. All the detailed stitching was replicated and needless to say that our client was elated at the family lounge suite being returned to its former glory days.

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  • Reupholster Argyle Furniture

    ByFrank Parker

    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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  • Reupholster Parker Furniture

    ByFrank Parker

    Parker Furniture commenced operations in 1935 as Dagger & Parker formed by Alf Dagger and Jack Parker making chairs and cabinets fashioned from packing palettes. Post war they manufactured reproduction Queen Anne and Art Deco designs then Alf Dagger resigned and the business was renamed JW Parker and then Parker Furniture.

    Tony Parker joined the business in 1949 working in the polishing and finishing area while studying furniture design at East Sydney Technical College at night. Tony then left the business for the UK working in furniture sales management and design for John Lewis. Jack reluctantly made some of Tony’s modernist UK inspired designs but showed little commitment in promoting these designs. Tony then displayed these new designs at the Sydney Furniture Exhibition with a year’s production being sold in four days! Grace Bros. then stocked and displayed these new designs with sales expanding so did the staff and the factories. After several shifts Parker Furniture premises was situated on eight hectares at Seven Hills and the business employed over 380 staff by 1973.  

    The brothers sold the family business in 1990’s but without their enthusiasm and due to a changing market the company had closed by 1997. Covermore Designs rose from the ashes formed by former Parker employees and is still going strong today manufacturing some classic company designs and re-furbishing past production pieces.

    A client approached wanting her Parker lounge suite to be re-upholstered. They had previously lived in Sydney and had purchased this suite in the early 1980’s. The lounge suite remained in exceptional condition, partially due to care but also testament to the quality design and construction.

    Our client selected a linen similar to her original choice for the re-upholstery. We removed the existing upholstery with the timber frame and springing system still in superb condition. New premium padding was laminated onto the arms and frame body. New polyester encased premium seat cushions were fabricated also polyester filled channelled and quilted back cushion inners were made. The lounge suite was then re-upholstered being carefully pattern matched at all stages.

    Our client was overwhelmed with her re-upholstered Parker lounge suite as it was delivered into her home it took her back to a bygone time.

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