Drop in dining seats
Seat pads lifted out, webbing and foam renewed, and the new cover stapled tight under the board. Sets of four or six are the usual job.
Per seat, labourfrom $45
Reupholstered from the frame up
Dining chairs, armchairs, sofas and headboards stripped to the bare frame, repaired, sprung and covered again in our own workshop. Cushions and seat pads are cut and sewn to measure.
4 to 6 weeksfor most pieces once the fabric reaches the workshop
- Frames repaired and reglued
- Hand stitched finishing
- Collection and delivery
- Written quote before work starts
What comes through the workshop
Every piece is different, so these are starting prices for labour. Fabric is priced on top, by the metre, once you have chosen it.
Fully covered dining chairs
Stripped to the frame, joints reglued, then webbed, padded and covered again, with piping or a line of nails along the edge.
Per chair, labourfrom $140
Armchairs and wing chairs
Springs retied or replaced, new padding where the old has collapsed, and arms and wings covered to follow their own curves.
Per chair, labourfrom $480
Sofas
Two and three seat sofas rebuilt, with seat cushions refilled or remade so they sit level and hold their shape for years.
Three seat, labourfrom $1,150
Headboards
Old headboards recovered, or new ones built on a timber frame, plain, piped or deep buttoned, to the width of your bed.
New doublefrom $390
Cushions and seat pads
Scatter cushions, box cushions for window seats and benches, and tie on pads for kitchen chairs, cut and sewn to measure.
Box cushion, labourfrom $85
Bring your own fabric or choose from our sample books. Either way, we tell you how many metres the piece needs before anything is bought.
What is going on under the cover
A worn cover is often the least of it. These are the faults we find most often once the old fabric comes off.
| What you notice | What is usually underneath | What we do about it |
|---|---|---|
| The seat sags in the middle | Webbing stretched or springs come untied | New webbing, and springs retied by hand |
| The chair wobbles or creaks | Loose joints in the frame | Frame taken apart, cleaned and reglued |
| You can feel the frame through the arms | Padding flattened over the years | New padding built up in layers |
| Cushions stay squashed after you stand | Foam that has lost its bounce | New foam wrapped in fibre, or a feather fill |
| Fabric worn through on the front edge | Often just the cover | A new cover and a firmer edge roll |
Choosing a cloth that will last
Pick a fabric for how the piece is used as well as for its colour. Upholstery cloth is sold with a rub test figure for wear, and we tell you whether a cloth suits a busy seat or only a headboard.
Cotton velvetDeep colour, best on chairs sat on gently
Linen unionLinen and cotton with a soft, dry feel
Wool boucleLooped texture that hides daily wear
ChenilleSoft and hard wearing on family sofas
LeatherSold by the hide, and ages with use
Wipe clean weaveTreated cloth for kitchens, pets and children
Cotton tickingClassic stripe for cushions and pads
Woven jacquardPattern woven in, for one statement chair
Springs, foam and the rules on fire
Old chairs often hide crumbling foam, or horsehair and coir that can be cleaned, teased out and used again. We show you what we find and price both ways before the new layers go on.
Rules on how upholstered furniture must resist fire differ from one country to the next. Some ask for particular foams, treated fabrics or a barrier layer under the cover, and a label on the finished piece, so we check what applies where the furniture will be used.
- Springs retied by hand with laid cord
- Foam cut to size in the workshop
- Feather and fibre fillings on request
- Fire rules checked for home or business use
Recently out of the workshop
Six pieces from the last few months, from a set of kitchen seats to a sofa rebuilt from bare timber.
From first look to delivery
Describe the piece
Use the form to say what it is, its rough size and what has gone wrong. We reply with a price range within two working days.
We look it over
Bring it in, or we visit to see it. The written quote lists labour, fabric metres and any frame work separately.
Choose the cloth
Pick from our sample books or supply your own. Work starts once the fabric arrives and the deposit is paid.
Rebuilt and returned
Most pieces are ready in four to six weeks. We deliver within the city, or you collect from the workshop.
Said about finished pieces (example reviews)
The armchair had sagged for years. It now sits firm, the velvet runs perfectly straight over the arms, and the bill matched the quote to the dollar.
Six dining seats were collected on a Monday and back the following week in a wipe clean cloth that has already survived two birthday parties.
They measured the bed, suggested a taller headboard than planned and were right about it. Every button lines up across the panel.
Questions about reupholstery
Is an old chair worth reupholstering?
Usually, when the frame is solid hardwood. A well made frame can be rebuilt several times, and the result often outlasts a new chair bought for the same money. If the frame is chipboard or badly split, we say so before quoting.
How much fabric does a piece need?
As a rough guide, a drop in dining seat takes about half a metre, an armchair five to seven metres and a three seat sofa twelve to sixteen. Patterned cloth needs more so the pattern lines up, and we confirm the exact amount once we have seen the piece.
Can we supply our own fabric?
Yes. Check that it is sold for upholstery and heavy enough for the job, and we tell you how many metres to buy. A curtain weight cloth can work on a headboard but rarely lasts on a seat.
Do you follow fire safety rules?
Yes. The rules for upholstered furniture vary by country, and some depend on whether the piece is for a home or for a business such as a hotel or a restaurant. We check what applies where the furniture will be used and choose foams, fabrics and barrier layers to suit.
How long does it take?
Four to six weeks for most pieces once the fabric is in, and less for dining seats. Sofas and pieces that need frame repairs can take longer, and the quote gives you a date.
How do the deposit and payment work?
A 30 percent deposit books the work and pays for materials. The balance is due when the piece is ready, paid directly to us before delivery or when you collect.
Do you collect and deliver?
Yes. Two people collect and return pieces anywhere in the city, from $40 a trip. Further out, we price the journey with your quote.
Ask for a quote
Tell us what the piece is and what has gone wrong with it. A rough description and a few measurements are enough for a price range, and we reply within two working days.
- Written quote before any work
- Labour and fabric priced separately
- Workshop visits by appointment
Visit the workshop
Workshop visits are by appointment, Saturdays included, so someone is at the bench to look over the piece with you.
Reach us
A workshop close to the old town, with collection and delivery across the city
Workshop hours
| Monday to Friday | 08:30 to 17:30 |
| Saturday | 09:00 to 13:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Collection and delivery
Two people collect and return pieces anywhere in the city, from $40 a trip, and carry them into the room. Further out, ask and we price the journey with the quote.