The Upholstery Process
The decision to reupholster a piece of furniture is simultaneously practical and sentimental. We are huge proponents of refurbishing furniture, but upholstery is very labor-intensive, and sometimes it just doesn't make financial sense to reupholster a piece when you can purchase something new for a reasonable cost. However, there are exceptions to that rule. If your piece is vintage or antique, has sentimental value, fits your space perfectly, or has great lines, then reupholstery is a great option.
To get started, email us a picture and brief description of your piece, and we'll work up an estimate of costs and timeframe for you. If you decide to move forward, then we'll put your project on the schedule and you can come by the store where we'll help you select fabric.
Prior to starting the work, we'll discuss a game plan with you, but often we have to adjust as we go, depending on what we find once we get inside the piece. Your labor estimate will be a price range to account for these nuances. While your furniture is in the workroom, you can plan on us:
To get started, email us a picture and brief description of your piece, and we'll work up an estimate of costs and timeframe for you. If you decide to move forward, then we'll put your project on the schedule and you can come by the store where we'll help you select fabric.
Prior to starting the work, we'll discuss a game plan with you, but often we have to adjust as we go, depending on what we find once we get inside the piece. Your labor estimate will be a price range to account for these nuances. While your furniture is in the workroom, you can plan on us:
- Assessing the structural integrity
- Making basic repairs to wood frames
- Reattaching loose or disconnected springs and webbing
- Replacing or supplementing padding as needed
- Attaching new padding and trimming to your specifications
- Communicating with you about recommendations and the progress of the project
RefurbishingWood Furniture
The decision to refinish or paint a piece of furniture is simultaneously practical and sentimental. We are huge proponents of refurbishing furniture, but it's very labor-intensive, and sometimes it just doesn't make financial sense to redo a piece when you can purchase something new for a reasonable cost. However, there are exceptions to that rule. If your piece is vintage or antique, has sentimental value, fits your space perfectly, or has great lines, then refinishing or painting are great options.
To get started, email us a picture and brief description of your piece, and we'll work up an estimate of costs and timeframe for you. If you decide to move forward, then we'll put your project on the schedule and fine tune the details of the project, including your chosen paint color(s). While we prefer Benjamin Moore paint, we can color match to nearly any paint chip you bring us.
The process of refurbishing wood furniture is more art than science, and factors such as veneer, previous finishes, hardware, decorative finishes, and joinery often mean we have to reassess our plans as we go. While your furniture is in the workshop, you can plan on us:
To get started, email us a picture and brief description of your piece, and we'll work up an estimate of costs and timeframe for you. If you decide to move forward, then we'll put your project on the schedule and fine tune the details of the project, including your chosen paint color(s). While we prefer Benjamin Moore paint, we can color match to nearly any paint chip you bring us.
The process of refurbishing wood furniture is more art than science, and factors such as veneer, previous finishes, hardware, decorative finishes, and joinery often mean we have to reassess our plans as we go. While your furniture is in the workshop, you can plan on us:
- Assessing the structural integrity
- Making basic repairs
- Cleaning and replacing hardware as needed
- Communicating with you about recommendations and the progress of the project
- Stripping, sanding and thoroughly cleaning to prepare for painting or staining
- Filling and smoothing out blemishes to the greatest extent possible
- Using a primer to help paint adhere and seal in stains
- Using a high quality paint or stain in a color you've selected
- Painting with a professional grade paint sprayer
- Finishing with a protective finish such as an oil-based polyurethane, water-based topcoat, wax, or oil to protect the piece
A Note About Veneer
Veneer on wood furniture can often be difficult to identify, but it's quite common on mass produced furniture, even high-end furniture. Veneer is like a wrapping paper - it's real wood, and ideally the structure underneath the veneer is made of a solid hardwood rather than manufactured wood like particle board. Manufacturers go to great lengths to disguise veneer, so people are often surprised to hear that their furniture is not solid hardwood. A dresser can be very heavy and feel solidly built but still not be solid hardwood. The presence of veneer doesn't necessarily mean the piece is a lower quality though. In fact, the use of veneer has been quite common throughout the history of furniture production because it allows for a rich appearance, with great details, at a fraction of the cost it would take to manipulate a solid piece of hardwood in the same way. When applied properly over a quality core of wood, a veneer will adhere and last for a lifetime.
Because veneer is a thin layer, refinishing it presents a greater challenge. The margin for error is very small when it comes to sanding to remove existing finish and imperfections. Some imperfections are simply too deep to remove without sanding all the way through the veneer. Additionally, the depth of the grain in veneer does not always provide the same dramatic results you see when you refinish the natural grain in solid hardwood furniture. If any veneer is chipped, missing, or significantly worn, the final results will be compromised. Veneer in poor condition is often a good candidate for patching and painting.
Because veneer is a thin layer, refinishing it presents a greater challenge. The margin for error is very small when it comes to sanding to remove existing finish and imperfections. Some imperfections are simply too deep to remove without sanding all the way through the veneer. Additionally, the depth of the grain in veneer does not always provide the same dramatic results you see when you refinish the natural grain in solid hardwood furniture. If any veneer is chipped, missing, or significantly worn, the final results will be compromised. Veneer in poor condition is often a good candidate for patching and painting.
This antique Biedermeier table has a veneer top, and it’s selling for $4,700. The wedge-shaped details on the top would not be easy to achieve without the use of veneer.
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The wood grain on the table top stops at the edges and meets a veneer band. The band has a different pattern altogether, and you can see the thin line that shows the thickness of the veneer.
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The grain on the bottom of the table is running across the diameter of the table, not in wedge shaped pieces like on the top. Different grain patterns = veneer.
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A Note About Topcoat
While many people will tell you that prep-primer-paint are all you need, we insist on top coating every piece that comes into the workshop. General Finishes High Performance Topcoat gives furniture a crystal clear layer of protection from everyday wear. Painted furniture is going to show wear and nicks - that's just what paint does. But the goal is to prolong the life of the paint job, and General Finishes topcoat does that. It comes in sheens from matte to glossy, will not yellow over time, takes about 3-weeks to fully cure to its final hardness, and requires no follow up maintenance.
Custom Furniture
At Home Again, we love refurbishing your well-loved furniture, but when you're looking for something new and completely unique, we can help with that too. We're pleased to offer design and build services with our in-house custom furniture builder. With a degree in furniture design and building, she can bring your vision to life, whether it's a new kitchen table, bookshelves or a dining room breakfront. Using a combination of modern design and traditional joinery, our builder can create a piece that simultaneously serves a practical function and is destined to become a family heirloom.
Beyond Furniture
Whether they're functional or decorative, rich textiles enhance a home's design. From cushions for built-in seating and new throw pillows for the living room, to new table linens for a holiday dinner, or drapes for the guest room, we can help guide you from fabric selection through the design and creation of your custom home decor.
Clarify Your Vision
We love to chat with store visitors to help them find the perfect fabric for their upholstery projects, new home decor accents, or DIY projects. Home Again is pleased to offer design services with our in-house designer on Thursdays and Fridays to offer guidance. However, you may want additional help ironing out the bigger picture, but don't want to hire a full-service design firm to run the project. Our in-home design consultations are the perfect solution to help get you pointed in the right direction while keeping your budget in check. Our designer will come to your home to discuss your vision and help make sense of what changes need to be made to realize your vision. The designer will lean into stylistic changes and furniture pieces you already own. From suggesting suitable paint colors and window coverings to reimagining the form or function of your furniture and room layouts, they'll help you create a game plan for getting the big elements in place. After the meeting, you'll receive a written report that summarizes the discussion, details action items, and provides referrals for professional contractors. It's the perfect fit for the person who wants to have a real hand in redesigning their space and just needs a jumpstart to get the ball rolling.
