Stories

  • Leather Couch Reupholstery

    ByFrank Parker
    leather couch reupholstery Perth
    Leather sofa reupholstery Perth

    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. 

    • It is as pristine and gorgeous as the day I first bought it

      I had a quality lounge set that needed re-upholstering. I had no idea where to start. I chose Frank at Parker Interiors because of prompt and professional answers to all my questions. I received my setting back yesterday and it is as pristine and gorgeous as the day I first bought it. I absolutely cannot fault it. I can’t recommend this company more highly. 
      Karin
      West Leederville W.A.
    Call us Today For Quality Leather Furniture Upholstery

  • Bedroom Chair (Slipper Chair) – Restoration

    ByFrank Parker
    upholstered slipper chair

    Bedroom Chair (Slipper Chair) Restoration

    Bedroom chairs, also known as a bedroom slipper chair, date back to 18th Century Europe. The armless upholstered chair with short legs was designed for women’s dressing rooms out of necessity. Since Victorian women often wore restrictive layers of clothing, tight corsets with wide petticoats they tended to require assistance when slipping on their shoes. More modern versions of the slipper chairs evolved over time remaining in fashion until the 1950’s. 

    Our client approached us saying she had rescued an old chair from her grandmother’s house which had originally belonged to her great grandparents. Upon inspection of the chair it was a bedroom chair or more appropriately a ‘ vintage slipper chair’ and judging from the art-deco design most probably made in the 1930’s.

    We understand that there is interest in how to upholster a slipper chair. This is the process that was followed. We removed the existing upholstery covering on the ladies slipper chair. A once superb abstract floral velvet with a flange cord trim. This revealed a Jarrah timber frame in good condition and like most locally made upholstered furniture of the era the main frame was dowelled with the cosmetic frame components nailed. The timber frame was carefully knocked apart, glued with a superior PVA then screwed together.

    The upholstery started with fitting jute webbing then lacing coil springs, tying down the springs and fitting hessian overlays. Synthetic edge moulding was used to form the foundation of the upholstered edges then fabricated various layers of premium polyurethane that were laminated over the seat top and inside back to create the necessary upholstered structure including flute detail. Bonded polyester fibre was then used as a final layer to provide the necessary finish when upholstered.

    A traditional chenille was selected for the upholstery covering with a contrast fabric from the same range for piping. The upholstery techniques combined traditional and contemporary methods with the foundation period authentic but with a modern touch to the finish. The back flutes were channelled into the foam/polyester with the upholstery laced to the hessian foundation providing greater comfort than the original. Likewise the seat was still firm but well-padded and even compared with the old flock and fibre techniques. The outside back panel was lined and padded with the contrast piping highlighting the art-deco detail.

    The result spoke for its self with our client happy that her Nan’s upholstered slipper chair would now look in place at her home while retaining the family history.

    • We are delighted with the outcome

      Cleaning out my Nan’s house recently after she passed away we found an old chair that was in pretty poor condition. Believing that it had potentially belonged to our Nan’s parents we decided to get it refurbished and keep it in the family.
       
      We rang Frank at Parker Interiors to get his opinion. Dealing with Frank was a pleasure, he was very knowledgeable and very helpful when it came to choosing what materials to use. Frank explained what options would be best to keep the authenticity of the chair.
       
      We are delighted with the outcome and love the look of the new chair. Frank was even able to tell us that it was originally made in Perth sometime in the 1930’s.
      Ronni
      Salter Point W.A.
    Call us Today to Have Your Timeless Furniture Restored

  • Tessa Furniture Restoration

    ByFrank Parker
    Second hand tessa furniture

    Tessa Furniture History

    Tessa originally was known as Twen commencing operations in 1968 then the name changed to Tessa in 1970. Tessa was formed by Fred Lowen, his brother Howard Lindsey and design technician Sigi Danielzik. However Fred commenced furniture manufacturing with Earnest Rodeck in the mid 1950’s having formed Fler which was sold in 1967. Tessa expanded operations nationally during the 1970’s with international links becoming an iconic name during the heydays of local furniture manufacturing.

    Restored mid-century furniture with a Scandinavian influence is a niche market although the interest not only resides with those who have witnessed this period. Some discerning members of younger generations are purchasing or have inherited this furniture and enjoy involvement in the restoration process.   

    Our client purchased this piece of Tessa furniture secondhand from Amber-Brown, a well-known and respected Perth mid-century furniture dealer who referred her onto Parker Interiors for professional restoration. This Tessa T9 chair design effectively represented the end of the mid-century era as it was produced in the early 1980’s however it was clearly inspired by similar Danish chairs produced in the 1950’s and 60’s.

    We subsequently removed all the upholstery and initially carried out the frame restoration with the joints knocked apart and dowels re-glued. The legs and arms were constructed from laminated timber finished with a Tasmanian Blackwood timber veneer with the stuffing and seat rails being solid Tasmanian Blackwood. The veneer was carefully sanded and touched-up then polished with a 30% gloss lacquer containing a Baltic stain to match the veneer background. Three coats were applied with the frame ribbed down between coats with super fine steel wool.

    The base was re-webbed with a heavy quality elastic webbing then quilt padding fitted. The cushion inserts were fabricated from firm premium foam and encased in bonded polyester fibre. The cushion covers were cut and sewn as original using a superior olive velvet with a semi-crushed look. The result was a chair which looked like it had been lifted from an early eighties high end furniture pamphlet.

    • Well done to Frank and the team

      I had come across this Tessa T9 which required restoration. Being a rare piece of furniture, I needed an expert to complete the restoration. From the moment I met Frank I knew he would do a fantastic job, he is a rare gem that loves his job and appreciates mid-century furniture. Old school service was outstanding and the restoration far exceeded my expectations. Well done to Frank and the team, we will enjoy this chair for many years to come. As the old saying goes; we never really own these pieces, we merely look after them for the next generation.
      Tiffany
      Mt. Hawthorn W.A.
    Call us Today to Have Your Timeless Furniture Restored