ינהאַלט
שלעפּן מעבל אין שטוב: פּראָס און קאָנס
Need to replace your old chair upholstery? No problem! You can arm yourself with a furniture stapler and do this operation yourself, but it is better to contact one of the workshops.
Text: Tatiana Boriskina. Style: Maria Vatolina. Photo: Mikhail Stepanov.
Hauling furniture at home
ווי פיל איז עס
Let’s start with the good news: on average, Moscow workshops ask for no more than 2 rubles per armchair. But this is only the beginning – the final price will be announced to you after a personal acquaintance with your furniture. The reason is that the matter may not be limited to just replacing the fabric. For example, updating a vintage armchair will almost certainly result in a whole range of works: you will have to strengthen the loosened frame, renew the peeling paintwork, change 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 on the side.
What gives the upholstery strength
Please note that curtains, and even more so costume fabrics for upholstery are not suitable. First, they have a different plastic. Secondly, they simply cannot withstand such a load. Another thing is special upholstery textiles. To give it strength, a whole arsenal of chemical protection means is used. First of all, these are impregnations that prevent fading and abrasion of the fabric. Also, the fabric can be treated with water and dust-repellent compounds, refractory impregnation and even a means that will protect it from sharp cat’s claws. Usually, all these procedures are carried out directly in the factory, but some things can be done in the upholstery workshop. For example, the Elizaveta company offers fireproofing of fabrics (30% of the cost of the material), and at the Akhtiar company, at the client’s request, the furniture is sanitized (it is especially recommended for treasures from the flea market).
Which fabric to choose
The choice of upholstery largely depends on the lifestyle of the owners of the house. For example, parents of young children need a fabric that is easy to care for, while fans of house parties need a material that is more durable. The “mode” of using furniture is also important. For the headboard of the bed or sofa in the bedroom, silk upholstery is appropriate. But the furniture intended for the living room, it is better to “dress up” in a more durable material – for example, jacquard or tapestry. Flocked fabrics are very durable and, moreover, resistant to dirt, but their pile will crumple and wear out over time. Velor and velvet also have this disadvantage. The recognized leader in terms of durability is leather. At the same time, it is one of the most “problematic” materials, requiring special skill from the upholsterer, which also affects the cost of work. In general, each material has its pros and cons, so before buying it is best to consult with a specialist – either an intelligent seller or a master upholsterer.
Antique repair
Items of historical value must be taken to a specialized workshop with experience in antiques. A diligent renovation of old furniture involves the use of traditional techniques and materials. Let’s say, earlier, horsehair was used to stuff the seats of chairs. If you replace it with modern foam rubber, the furniture will immediately lose its authenticity and drop in price. The same applies to fittings, varnish, etc. In general, before handing over your rarity into the hands of a master, make sure that he is familiar with antiques firsthand.
Tuning new furniture
Oddly enough, difficulties can arise with the hauling of completely new things. True, this problem is not of a technical, but of a material nature. If you have purchased furniture, the upholstery of which does not suit you, there is only one way out: contact the craftsmen who will “tune” things in accordance with your wishes. For example, to the De Luxe decoration salon (in its arsenal there are more than 1 upholstery options). 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 samples of upholstery materials offered by the manufacturer at the purchase stage. If you don’t find anything suitable among them, ask the factory to upholster the furniture with your fabric. This service is offered by many furniture stores: “Kutuzovskiy 000”, Lege Alto, Baker, etc. It will take from 4 to 1 months to complete the order, but you will not have to pay twice.
Cтудия Baker: Komsomolsky Prospect, 35, t .: 609 1501, 609 1679; Salon Baker: st. Nikolaev, 4/4, t. 205 6677; St. Petersburg, Moskovsky prospect, 79, t. (812) 320 0619; Interior decoration salon De Luxe: st. Nikolaev, 4/4, t .: 205 6321, 205 6510; SPb., Nab. Martynova, 16, t .: (812) 324 7573, 324 7574, , ; Salon “Kutuzovsky 4”: Kutuzovsky prospect, 4/2, t. 243 0638; Salon Lege Alto: B. Nikolopeskovskiy per., 7/16, t. 241 1111; Workshop “Akhtiar”: t .: 517 2087, 542 3153; ; Furniture restoration workshop “Elizaveta”: t. 729 3034; ; Workshop “Obivkin”: t. 430 4262; ; Breton-SM Company: tel. 648 6591; .