Text: Tatiana Boriskina. Style: Maria Vatolina. Photo: Mikhail Stepanov.
Furniture re-upholstery at home
How much does it cost?
Let's start with the good news:On average, Moscow workshops ask for no more than 2,000 rubles to reupholster a chair. But this is only the beginning - the final price will be given to you after a personal inspection of your furniture. The reason is that the matter may not be limited to just replacing the fabric. For example, updating a vintage chair will almost certainly result in a whole range of works: you will have to strengthen the loose frame, renew the peeling paintwork, replace the foam rubber that has crumbled into dust, etc. The cost of the material is usually not included in the price. Any serious company will offer you a variety of fabric samples to choose from, but nothing prevents you from buying it from outside.
What gives the upholstery strength
Please note that curtains, and especially suitsfabrics for upholstery are not suitable. Firstly, they have a different plasticity. Secondly, they simply will not withstand such a load. Another matter is special upholstery textiles. To give it strength, a whole arsenal of chemical protection agents is used. First of all, these are impregnations that prevent fading and abrasion of the fabric. Also, the material can be treated with water- and dust-repellent compounds, fire-retardant impregnation and even a product that will protect it from sharp cat claws. Usually, all these procedures are carried out directly at the factory, but some things can be done in the upholstery workshop. For example, the company "Elizabeth" offers fire-retardant treatment of fabrics (30% of the cost of the material), and at the company "Akhtiar" at the request of the client, furniture is subjected to sanitary treatment (it is especially recommended for treasures from the flea market).
Which fabric to choose
The choice of upholstery depends largely on your lifestyle.owners of the house. For example, parents of young children need a fabric that is easy to care for, and lovers of house parties require a material with increased durability. The "mode" of use of furniture is also important. Silk upholstery would be appropriate for the headboard of a bed or a sofa in the bedroom. But furniture intended for the living room is better "dressed" in a more durable material - for example, jacquard or tapestry. Flocked fabrics are very durable and also resistant to dirt, but their pile is crushed and worn out over time. Velvet and velor also have this disadvantage. Leather is considered the recognized leader in terms of durability. At the same time, it is one of the most "problematic" materials, requiring special skills from the upholsterer, which affects the cost of the work. In general, each material has its pros and cons, so before buying it is best to consult with a specialist - either a knowledgeable seller or an upholsterer.
Repair of antiques
Things that represent historicalvalue, you need to take it to a specialized workshop that has experience working with antiques. Conscientious repair of old furniture involves the use of traditional techniques and materials. For example, horsehair was used to stuff chair seats. If it is filled with modern foam rubber, the furniture will immediately lose its authenticity and fall in price. The same applies to fittings, varnish, etc. In general, before handing over your rarity to a master, make sure that he is familiar with antiques firsthand.
Tuning of new furniture
Oddly enough, difficulties may also arise withre-upholstery of brand new items. However, this is not a technical problem, but a material one. If you have purchased furniture whose upholstery does not suit you, there is only one way out: contact professionals who will "tune" items according to your wishes. For example, the De Luxe decorating salon (its arsenal includes more than 1,000 upholstery options). There is one problem: in this case, you will have to pay for both the factory upholstery and the new one. It is better to be prudent and study the samples of upholstery materials offered by the manufacturer at the purchase stage. If nothing suitable is found among them, ask the factory to upholster the furniture with your fabric. This service is offered by many furniture salons: "Kutuzovsky 4", Lege Alto, Baker, etc. It will take from 1 to 3 months to complete the order, but you will not have to pay twice. Baker Studio: Komsomolsky Prospekt, 35, t.: 609 1501, 609 1679; Baker salon: st. Nikolaeva, 4/4, t. 205 6677; St. Petersburg, Moskovsky pr-t, 79, t. (812) 320 0619; Interior decoration salon De Luxe: st. Nikolaeva, 4/4, t.: 205 6321, 205 6510; St. Petersburg, emb. Martynova, 16, t.: (812) 324 7573, 324 7574, www.deluxinterior.ru, [email protected]; Salon «Kutuzovsky 4»: Kutuzovsky Ave., 4/2, t. 243 0638; Lege Alto salon: B. Nikolopeskovsky lane, 7/16, t. 241 1111; Workshop «Akhtiar»: t.: 517 2087, 542 3153; www.obivkamebeli.ru; Furniture restoration workshop «Elizabeth»: t. 729 3034; www.mvdd.ru; Workshop «Obivkin»: t. 430 4262; www.obivkin.ru; Company «Breton-SM»: t. 648 6591; www.odm.ru.
