The Classics Are Back
"If I see any more pink and blue I'm going to get sick!" Peals of laughter ensued and we knew we were in for an exciting and fascinating project with two very creative, energetic and wonderful clients. They recently made the decision to rid their Bed and Breakfast on the Mendocino coast of the stuffy and heavy Victorian furniture that had been sheathed in pink and blue and usher in a lighter, more enticing and classic ambiance to their Inn. They had already updated several of the rooms and were ready to begin in the public spaces. The parlor was first on the list. They showed us a "pink" late 40s sofa that was covered in iron-strong soiled vintage fabric. The cover was threadbare but the frame was solid as is usual for well-built furniture of this era. We knew we'd be taking this piece down to its frame for it had been warehoused in a closed up room and had acquired that musty smell of unused furniture. The bones were very good, however, and we looked forward to breathing new life into this very classic skeleton.
Springs: A Supporting Role
The clients specified the color of "very ripe cherries" for the legs. Since the legs were carved mahogany, we stripped out the old 40s stain (a feat in of itself) and intensified the inherent red color of the wood and applied three coats of varnish to protect the feet. Working with furniture of this era is such a pleasure because the frames are very well constructed of solid hardwood and built to accommodate traditional upholstery techniques. While the seat and back springs were in great shape they had only been tied four-ways with thin twine. We retied the seat utilizing an eight-way approach and heavier twine that dramatically improved the stability of the spring unit. We then retied the back -- improving that fit as well.
Stretching a Line by Removing Unnecessary Ones
After we finished with the springs and completed a few small repairs to the frame, we began the process of slowly adding layers to return to the original splendor of this piece. The process is much like that employed by a sculptor. We placed a layer of cotton on the springs to quiet them and then secured a layer of burlap over the cotton to hold everything in place. We attached an edge roll on the front edge wire and after several layers of cotton arrived at the final sinuous curve of the sofa front. The first fabric is applied at this stage. Our clients selected a pattern with a quiet leaf motif which ties in wonderfully with the garden theme of their Inn. While studying the fabric to determine what if anything we should emphasize with the pattern, we turned the fabric sideways and the perfect (and logical) center of the design popped right out at us. By doing so, we were able to eliminate the seams that interrupted the back and front panel of the sofa as it was originally upholstered. The absence of these seams presented us with the opportunity to give this piece a timeless and sleek profile. The back was now one uninterrupted expanse of fabric as is the front lip lending a longer line and lower silhouette to the sofa.
Building on the Bones
One of the fundamental principles that guides our approach to our craft is that furniture should feel as beautiful as it looks. With this in mind, we don't take any of the shortcuts that one finds in today's mass produced furniture. We work harder and longer to create a piece that sings to the eye as wells as beneath the hand. Upholstery to us is an organic art; the sum of all the parts contribute to delight the eye as well as the body. There is nothing more egregious to us than to see a beautiful fabric on a lovely frame and feel the bony, hard edges of the frame members immediately beneath the fiber. It represents an incongruity that for us should never happen. It takes longer to build up a shape that doesn't let the frame telegraph through to the outside. Our clients are usually quite disappointed to see their frames ripped down to the wood after having lived with their pieces through the years. They are usually amazed with how little remains of their furniture. We view the frame as a skeleton on which to build a shape. The bones need to be strong and solid before we can begin to apply layer upon layer of upholstery tissue to arrive at a final shape. We love working on older, well constructed pieces such as this sofa. The wood on the frame is quality hard wood that, while being demanding, is a dream with which to work. The arms on this sofa were nothing but broad flat planes when ripped down. We built a foundation of jute and burlap upon which we shaped the arms with cotton and foam. We never apply fabric directly over foam but prefer to install at least one layer of cotton over all foam before using fabric. This approach creates a very plush look to our work and provides for a lush tactile experience. It takes longer to build a shape this way but the end result is well worth the effort and the smiles that immediately appear on the faces of our clients. The joy in this project was the pleasure of working with a quality frame and a very appropriate upholstery fabric. Our clients selected a marvelous fabric to work with which provided us ample opportunity to highlight pattern elements and color toning to the overall benefit of the piece.
The Classics Are Back
Upon delivery of this piece, we could not think of a more perfect fit of style and fabric for a more than lovely bed and breakfast on the Mendocino Coast. Our clients run one of the most restful and truly comfortable B&Bs we've visited in years. They are exceptional people with an exceptional vision for what an Inn is all about. It was a joy to work on their piece as well as a joy to work with both of them while completing this project. They are creative, adventurous and very caring individuals. To visit their website please click on the following link: The Atrium Bed and Breakfast
