Stripes, velvet or digital print? Reupholstery of a tired old chair, stool or sofa could make some big changes to your interior. Alongside the environmental benefits of giving furniture a second chance with exciting fabrics, beautiful reupholstery can result in a unique, quality piece that simply cannot be matched by the high street.
With extensive knowledge of fabrics, these London-based furniture upholstery experts have plenty of tricks up their sleeve which could make you think twice about discarding that heirloom. Be sure to also check out our list of specialists in French polishing and furniture repairs in London.
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NORTH LONDON
Urban Upholstery, Haggerston
Urban Upholstery, co-founded by Andrea Simonutti and Patrizia Sottile, aims to create a more responsible and aesthetically pleasing environment through recycling furniture.
Andrea has 20 years of experience as an upholsterer, with the Gianni Versace Group and Harrods amongst his clients. Patrizia has an education in architecture, design and scenography. She also works as a freelance artist. She says, ‘As I designer, I approach furniture like miniature architectures, able to create space and to identify with the person that owns them.’
As well as creating one-off pieces from used and existing furniture, Urban Upholstery provides consultation, design, restoration and upholstery services to individuals, businesses, furniture designers and collectors. See some of their works for sale on their website.
21, De Beauvoir Road, London N1 5SF
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Solomon Retro, Crouch End
Solomon of Solomon Retro has been working in upholstery since 1982, starting out as an apprentice at H&L Epstein. In addition to reupholstery of traditional antique, vintage and modern furniture, services include hand traditional French polishing, furniture part replacement and woodworm treatment. Check out their stock section for restored furniture available for sale online, as well as vintage lighting, decor and art.
37, Park Road, Crouch End, London N8 8TE
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Nicely Wrapped Upholstery, N14
Dawn Crabtree of Nicely Wrapped Upholstery has a passion for rescuing chairs, before they end up in landfill. A qualified upholsterer with the AMUSF (Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers), she offers bespoke, modern and traditional upholstery services.
nicelywrappedupholstery@gmail.com
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EAST LONDON
Shoreditch Design Rooms, Hoxton
Shoreditch Design Rooms work with projects big and small, regularly alongside interior designers, hotels, restaurants and businesses. SDR are an upholstery school, training students who are looking to acquire the AMUSF qualification, and they have a skilled team available to work on a variety of projects. Pictured are some re-upholstered and reconditioned antique cinema seats, completed for a Liberty Art Fabrics photo shoot.
2-4 Scawfell Street, Hoxton, London E2 8NG
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King Upholstery, Dalston
King Upholstery have been contract upholsterers for over 35 years, working on pubs, restaurants, bars and hotels across London. Projects include the Tom Ford showroom, Tas Restaurant, Gore Hotel in Kensington, Hazlitts Hotel in Soho and The Rookery Hotel in Farringdon. They also work on individual pieces for Danish furniture and interiors shop Chase & Sorenson in Dalston.
52a Balls Pond Road, Islington, London N1 4AP
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Ray Clarke Upholstery, Bow
Ray Clarke’s journey into upholstery began when a friend asked him to reupholster a pair of chairs for her home. He went on to study upholstery and soft furnishings at London Metropolitan University and his business has flourished ever since. He has carried out a wide range of commissions for both residential and contract clients, including numerous bars, clubs and galleries around East London. He is also now printing his own fabrics which featured on BBC’s ‘Money for Nothing’.
Unit 1 Ground Floor, Gayton House, Chiltern Road, London E3 4BX
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7 Upholstery, Shoreditch
7 Upholstery specialises in traditional and modern upholstery, with extensive experience in midcentury and classic styles of furniture. Commercial clients include Shoreditch House, Soho House, Ralph Lauren and Christian Louboutin.
1 Boundary St, London E2 7JE
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Hossack and Gray, Clapton
Hossack and Gray are based in London and Somerton, Somerset. For 20 years they have specialised in revamping furniture dating from the 18th to the 21st century. They offer bespoke design, re-upholstery and restoration services to interior decorators, architects and private clients with a commercial portfolio that includes The Groucho Club, Abbey Road Studios and residential projects such as this Hastings townhouse.
Hossack & Gray, Studio J3, 38-40 Upper Clapton Road, London E5 8BQ
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WEST LONDON
Antonio Upholstery, Kensal Green
Antonio Upholstery have been upholstering for 25 years. As well as upholstery for residential and commercial clients, they carry out an array of soft furnishing services, such as curtains, blinds, cushions and headboards. They also offer free home consultations.
The Light Factory, 6, Scrubs Lane, White City, London NW10 6RB
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Susan Osbourne, Westbourne Park
Susan Osbourne specialises in 19th-century French chairs, sofas, chaise longues and footstools. Customers can choose from a selection of both modern and vintage fabrics, including 19th-century French ticking. See a selection of completed pieces in their showroom on Golborne Road or purchase from their online shop.
83 Golborne Road, London W10 5NL
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Fineline Upholstery, Fulham
Fineline Upholstery is a family run operation which dates back to the 1940s. They started their business Metro Furnishers in Tanzania, before moving to England in the 1960s. The company works on anything from small domestic projects to kitting out bars and restaurants. Additional services include restoration of cane furniture, bespoke cushion creation, as well as curtains and blinds.
63 New King’s Road, Fulham, London SW6 4SE
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Chelsea Upholstery & Interiors
Chelsea Upholstery is AMUSF accredited and caters to one off furniture projects as well as entire interior refurbs. They have also created their own line of fabrics and are able to work with other materials such as glass, metals, wood and marble.
216 New Kings Road, London SW6
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SOUTH LONDON
Polly Granville, Brixton
Polly Granville‘s portfolio is brimming with creative upholstery designs for private and commercial clients. This 1950s armchair is upholstered in ‘Hedgerow’ fabric by British printmaker Angie Lewin, with two chaffinches embroidered onto the sides adding a unique touch. Polly’s work has been featured by World of Interiors magazine and projects include an interactive art installation at the National Trust’s Fenton House.
Arch 16, 21 Valentia Pl, Brixton, London SW9 8PJ / 07723336524
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The Upholstery House
The Upholstery House offers reupholstery of traditional and modern furniture as well as bespoke pieces. Services include French polishing, deep buttoning for seating, headboards or panels, loose covers, re-caning and re-rushing.
1, Delta House Studios, Riverside Road, London SW17 0BA
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Sedilia
Sedilia works exclusively with creative and interior design companies, offering design consultancy and full project management. Sedlila was founded by AMUSF member Robert Stephenson in 1998. Starting out his career in cabinet making he later discovered his passion for bespoke upholstery and the sculptural freedom it allowed. Pictured is their work for London’s Rosewood Hotel.
172 Clapham Park Road, London SW4 7DU
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LONDON-WIDE
The London Chair Collective
The London Chair Collective are a group of City & Guilds trained upholsterers, living in and around London. This is a 19th-century mahagony armchair upholstered in pink crushed velvet fabric. See their estimated upholstery fees here and chairs for sale here.
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PHOTO CREDITS
Images courtesy of businesses mentioned. 1st image of Kenzo chair Polly Granville.
