The Upholsterer's Handbook

Nicole Fulton is the director of Walnut, a company she set up offering a range of furniture pieces, old and new, reupholstered in an innovative collection of contemporary fabrics. Having previously worked in the equities division of a major investment bank in London, Nicole now travels extensively around Europe sourcing unique and interesting pieces for reupholstery. Stuart Weston has been running his own successful upholstery company in Brentwood, Essex, for 14 years. Before this he spent 16 years apprenticed and employed in the industry, learning the highly skilled art of quality upholstery, and also renovating and creating new furniture. His passion for creating exceptionally well-finished pieces of furniture is self-evident. Roger Dixon, freelance photographer, has worked for many publishing companies, national newspapers, and magazines. His work ranges from documentary and portraiture to interior design and fine art photography. He lives in London.

Introduction Tools, materials, and finishes Sourcing furniture Tools Upholstery materials Fabrics: texture, colour, pattern, combining fabrics Finishes and trimmings Basic techniques Planning order of work Stripping back Applying webbing Applying base hessian Top stuffing Over stuffing Springing Stuffing, with springs Deep buttoning Estimating top fabric Applying top fabric Applying finishes and trimmings Making cushions Upholstered furniture Pair of salon chairs Arts and crafts side chair Balloon-back dining chair Arts and crafts easy chair Sofa Button-back chair Leather club chair French chairs Wing chair G plan chair Box stool Ottoman 70s "flower" stool Footstool with fitted cover Footstool with loose cover Screen Shaped headboard Panelled headboard Reference Cuts, corners, and folds Stitches Knots Suppliers directors Index Acknowledgments