French Antique Upholstery Transformation
7 Questions to Consider When Selecting the Right French Antique Upholstery
It comes as no surprise that we have seen all kinds of upholstery ‘tragedies’ in our time, from stunning but threadbare original fabrics we have to sadly forgo…to downright hideous prints of the 70’s and 80’s, and everything in between. The fact remains that regardless of its beauty, some French antique upholstery needs replacing eventually and there is an abundance of fabrics to choose from out there. Do you match it to the rest of your interior or do you make a bold statement? Do you want to bring it forth into the 21st century? What a conundrum. So what are the 7 Questions to Ask When Upholstering French Antiques?
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7 Questions to Consider When Selecting the Right French Antique Upholstery
It’s our experience that selecting the right French antique upholstery os an intuitive process.Take these questions into consideration, for example…
- What is the history of the piece and do I wish to honour that or make a break from it? For example, if it’s a French provincial piece, perhaps a relaxed linen is appropriate versus a gilded Louis XVI which might call for something more formal such as a beautiful embroidered silk or damask.
- What will be the use of the piece of furniture and does it need to withstand children, life or animals. If so a reasonable durability will be important though if your surface is something like a vertical bed-head, well the world is your oyster.
- What colours and designs will work in the space and compliment the piece of furniture.
- Think about the other types of textures you have going on in the room and will your chosen fabric compliment this?
- What sort of tri for the edge detail on the piece is going to show the fabric and antique off to its best advantage? Is it an individual stud edge detail, a brain, a border or a gimp?
- Will you include tassels, trims and other accoutrements for the piece of the scatter cushions that may sit back with this?
- Will you opt for modern upholstery or traditional techniques and materials done painstakingly by hand?
It can be overwhelming deciding which fabric will make your antique sing, but it doesn’t have to be. Educate yourself about your antique, a nod to its heritage is always a good idea though not essential for those who like to break the mould, and choose something that you love and importantly that you can live with for a long time.
Choosing a high quality upholsterer who is skilled in upholstering antiques is critically important. Upholstery of antiques is not a one-size fits all approach, and it is highly skilled work. Choose the wrong upholsterer and your beautiful upholstery job might look anything but what you had hoped for. If unsure, talk to the experts.
Do you need help finding the right French antique upholstery?
We hope the above 7 Questions to ask when upholstering French antiques is helpful, but if all else fails, we at Wallrocks are here to help can assist you with finding the perfect fabric to suit and complement your home and antique. Simply contact us on (07) 3862 2253 to speak with us or alternatively, browse through our gallery of French antique upholstery transformations for inspiration.
We not only source and supply some of the finest fabrics available, whether they be silks or toiles from Paris or relaxed linens, but we will assist you to make a selection that considers all the elements above. We manage the upholstery process and ensure that the pieces are being treated with the respect they deserve, re-gluing any loose joints along the way and detailing the piece post the upholstery process – a step often forgone.
Browse our antique collection of similar pieces just waiting to be beautifully transformed with new upholstery or contact us to enquire about helping with one of your own antiques at home. It’s always worth a visit to the showroom to have a chat with us about the possibilities.
