Victorian Horsehoe-back Armchair

A fine Victorian horseshoe back chair with raised support reupholstered in Ramshead fabric by Bute

What a beauty this one is - the fabric, designed for Bute Fabrics by Timorous Beasties is 85% wool and 15% nylon which gives it a silky sheen and lustre somehow similar to velvet so it works terrifically on this era of furniture that is traditionally done in velvet or silk. It's somehow contemporary and traditional at the same time, don't ask me how they managed that.

 

This came in as a pre-stripped frame that had been taken apart and put back together by local cabinet maker Jonathan Garrard who I would heartily recommend - the woodwork is exceptional.

So this was upholstered using traditional methods with coir and horsehair although I was spared stitching a rolled edge to the seat as it came fitted with a curved wooden support with a leather stitched edge - I'm not sure that was original but it gave a lovely crisp finish.

Unlike most chairs of this type, this is not simply ornamental - my very happy customer sits on this all the time so she was delighted to get it back after its long arduous transformation. And she has it back in time for her birthday, I know this because she told me she's double-delighted with the Ram's heads because she was born under the constellation of Aries.

Sheeptastic.




This was a commission.

Welsh Vernacular bench in two-tone tweed by Bute

A bespoke bench from our Welsh Vernacular range in Bute tweed.

This is a whopping 140 x 40 x 40 cm bench in oak made to order in our workshop using solid oak planks (joined and reinforced) with spoke shaved 'wedged' legs in the traditional style of Welsh vernacular or farm furniture.

The upholstery is entirely hand stitched to a piped edge, a traditional but largely forgotten method.

We can make these to your specified dimensions and upholster in any wool fabric of your choosing.

Lucky you eh?

Bus Stop Chair at Llansawel

This chair now available to bus travellers on the B4337 at Llansawel, Carmarthenshire.

But the amazing thing is that they'll find an acrylic painting OF THE BUS SHELTER actually ON THE BACK OF THE CHAIR

And the view from the bus shelter on the seat of the chair. Paintings courtesy of the terrific and wonderful Julie Ann Sheridan to whom I am also married.

Imagine finding this, would that make you happy or what?

Pair of wingback armchairs in Bute tweed

A pair of 1950's wingback armchairs reupholstered in Bute tweed

I love these. Dark brown is such a classy colour, particularly this tweed by Bute with its two-colour threads and odd flecks.

And once again it's those wingback chairs that reupholster so well. Try to find anything like this in the shops and you'll fail, well you might find cheap versions in badly matched 'check' fabric but you won't get anything like these. You'll get them at an auction though...

What are you waiting for? Go and see you local upholsterer now.

This was a commission

Wingback Armchair in Welsh Wool

A 1990's wingback armchair reupholstered in Melin Tregwynt Elements Smoke 100% wool fabric.

Despite its dainty legs, there's definitely something elephantine about this don't you think? It's those Edwardian style wings isn't it? Indian elephant ears - or Ganesha even.

Great new fabric from Melin Tregwynt, first time I've used it and it works really well on this, I'll be getting more commissions in this I'm sure.

Very smart don't you think?

This was a commission.

Green armchair with Melin Tregwynt cushion

A green vinyl armchair with a new seat cushion in Melin Tregwynt wool

This chair came in for a new seat cushion and to mend a tear on the right arm. We tried to insert an invisible patch but the vinyl was too old and hard so it looked like a big angry scar and certainly wouldn't do. I decided I'd have a go at using the vinyl from the existing cushion to reupholster the arm. As the vinyl was pretty hard I only just managed it, and getting the upholstery nails back in the same holes in both the vinyl and the frame took AGES. But it worked in the end - very satisfying.

The cushion is a great addition too eh? Something about the Welsh wool works very well with old leather/vinyl.

This was a commission.

Side chair in Camira wool fabric

A 19th Century oak side chair reupholstered in Frenzy by Camira

It ain't easy to line up skinny stripes, particularly when the fabric is so thin - I'd call this 95% successful...

People often say 'you must be a perfectionist' and I take this as a compliment because they really mean 'your work is neat', but I'm not a perfectionist at all. I think things you make with your hands should be as perfect as you can get them without letting the process of getting things right annoy you, so '95% straight' sometimes has to be good enough.

And this chair is definitely good enough. But that white stripe on the corner? It ain't straight.

This was a commission.