Stories

The Reupholstery of the Club Lounge
ByFrank Parker
History Behind Club Lounges

Club Lounges were made from the late 1920’s through to the mid 1950’s. These art-deco designs ranged from basic square arms with plain panels to intricate fluted backs and round arms featuring timber arm trays with vitrolite inserts. Sectional club lounges were rather rare tending to be very avant garde for time.

Our Clients Story

A previous client approached us regarding her grandparents 1940’s sectional club lounge refurbished. When initially viewing this club lounge I was surprised with the configuration which was very up market for the time. Our client wanted the furniture re upholstered in a superior quality velvet, so we suggested she visit the Zepel Fabrics showroom with ‘Drama Camouflage’ being selected.

The Reupholstering of the Club Lounge

The upholstery covering and materials were removed and the timber frame was repaired. It was Jarrah construction with prime grade timber and like most club lounges from this period, the frames were doweled and nailed. Our standard practise is to remove the nails, re glue the dowels and screw the frame. The base blocks were also nailed to the frame, the nails were removed, the blocks sanded then repaired with resin and pre-drilled then stained and lacquered.

The Transformation Process
1. The process commenced with jute webbing being fitted to the bases,
2. Coil springs were then laced into position and tied down
3. Edge moulding was fitted with hessian overlays.
4. High-density foam was then fabricated and laminated to the arms and frame bodies with the outside arm and back panels being lined and padded.
5. Premium foam was laminated to the inside backs with bonded polyester overlays.
6. Then the seat cushion inserts were fabricated using a core of firm commercial cushioning then laminated with a medium-firm cushioning and encased with bonded polyester fibre.
The End Result

The lounge was reupholstered to the original finish featuring piped detail but as requested the seat cushions were made thicker. The refurbished base blocks screwed into place with new traditional castors fitted.
“ABSOLUTELY THRILLED”

WOW! I’m ABSOLUTELY THRILLED!! What an incredible transformation!!
A HUGE THANK YOU to you and your team for bringing my idea to life. It’s a fantastic blend of modern sophistication with timeless old world glamour. I know Nan would be Super Chuffed to see the modular lounge has been given a new lease of life! And you are right, it does look so very classy.

Jennifer
South Perth W.A.
Call us Today to Get Your Club Lounge Transformed
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Upholstered Furniture – Pattern Matching
ByFrank Parker
Pattern Matching

The higher the value of furniture the greater the expectations of effective pattern matching are. Pattern matching is required with traditional and abstract florals, geometrics, stripes and tartans. Effective pattern matching can considerably increase the meterage depending upon the furniture design, pattern size, design and fabric width.

Our Clients Story

Our client knew the quality of our workmanship as we had made furniture and reupholstered several items for her family members over the years. She was restoring an old inner city cottage and wanted the sofa bed reupholstered to blend in with the renovated interior.

History of the Sofa Bed

The sofa-bed was originally purchased in the late 80’s and featured a well-constructed timber and plywood frame. The mechanical bed’s construction was strong as it was a Waterloo brand made in Canada.

The Transformation process
1. We started with removing all the existing upholstery fabric and material, exposing zig-zag springs fitted to the frame back which were in excellent condition.
2. We then relined the outside arm and back panels with high density foam
3. They were then fabricated and laminated to the frame body.
4. Foam polyester seat cushion inserts were fabricated along with polyester filled back cushion inserts.
5. The selected upholstery fabric was a Warwick flocked velvet ‘Montecarlo Emerald’ which was a large floral design.
6. We started the fabricating process by cutting 14 metres, equating to an allowance of about 2 metres extra than would be required with a plain velvet. – The fabric cutting is always a testament to the experience and skills of the cutter and upholster with the result speaking for its self.
The End Result

Our client was impressed upon the delivery of her furniture. We trust she enjoys her refurbished sofa-bed for many years to come.

Call us Today to Get Your Upholstered Furniture Pattern Matched
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The Reupholstery of Van Treight Chairs
ByFrank Parker
The Story of Van Freight Furniture

Van Treight Furniture was founded by John Van Treight in 1947. Operations commenced with only one assistant, making nursery furniture from a shed in Parramatta. The business grew rapidly moving into manufacturing quality colonial style bedroom, dining and lounge furniture. In 1959 they made the shift into their Homebush factory with about 50 staff. In the early 1960’s the company also started producing Scandinavian influenced design. Then in 1966 acquired the rights to import and manufacture under licence from Drexel Heritage. In 1972 Van Treight shifted to a new purpose-built factory at North Rocks NSW employing about 65 staff. By the mid 1980’s they were employing over 130 staff and supplying top-end furniture to the leading national department stores and specialist furniture retailers.

Flash forward twenty years and the renowned furniture manufacturers were toppling due to cheap imitation furniture flooding in from Asia. Van Treight Furniture officially closed in 2001 and Drexel Heritage filed for bankruptcy in 2014.

Our Clients Story

Our Fremantle based client contacted us saying she had two chairs which she purchased in 1978 for her husband’s home study. The chairs were in severe need of refurbishment. Upon inspection of these chairs, we instantly recognised them as Van Treight, one of the legendary local manufacturers from the golden age of Australian furniture manufacturing.

How We Transformed the Chairs

Reupholstering the Chairs
1. We completely removed all the existing upholstery from the chairs revealing a timber frame.
2. The timber show-wood bases were cleaned then touched up with stain and polish.
3. The original seats and back zig-zag springs were still in good condition so we just fitted additional spring edge wire links.
4. The upholstery fabric was selected, it was the William Morris ‘Fruit Velvet – Midnight’ which suited the chair design.
5. Cutting patterns were developed with the fabric being carefully pattern matched.
6. High density foam was fabricated and laminated to the frames.
7. The bodywork was then upholstered bringing the chairs slowly back to life.
8. The outside arm and back panels were lined and padded then carefully upholstered with piped detail.
9. The back cushioning was fabricated using polyester filled channelled and quilted inserts and the seat cushions were fabricated from premium foam encased with bonded polyester fibre. When filled the cushioning completed the rejuvenation.
The End Result

Behind every re-upholstery job is a story and when the chairs were delivered the warm smile on our client’s face said it all.
“Restored the chairs to their former glory”

Thank you for re-upholstering my two Van Treight chairs which I purchased in 1978 as a surprise for my husband, Professor Bob Reece’s study here in Fremantle. Along with purpose built Jarrah book shelves and a restored Jarrah desk from the Fremantle wool store building, they created a perfect space for his work. Your restoration with the exquisite William Morris fabric has restored the chairs to their former glory. Thank you.

Lesley
Fremantle W.A.
Call us Today to Get Your Van Treight Furniture Transformed
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