“The greenest (building) is. . . one that is already built.”
Ergo, the greenest upholstered piece is the one that is already made. This isn't to say you should never buy new, but I want to address the value in considering reupholstery. Two months ago, I walked you through the journey of reupholstering a family heirloom piece.
Some reasons for choosing reupholstery would be...
You have a beloved family heirloom, which is not to say it's of snooty origins, just that it has sentimental value.
You have a good quality piece (not Ikea), originally purchased from retailers like Ethan Allen, William Sonoma Home or from a designer and it was custom made.
Upholstered pieces that are from less expensive retailers are typically imported and rarely have good "bones". You want the wood frame to be reinforced and corners blocked (this is an angled piece of wood that is added at all of the main corners to give extra stability) or mortise and tenon joinery (a centuries old woodworking joinery that is very stable). If it says it's made from "solid wood" make sure it's not pine which is a soft wood and won't hold up to wear and tear.
The chair below was a client's grandmothers and we reupholstered to fit in her more modern space. Besides having the memories associated with it, it gives the space a more curated and collected look.
The sleeper sofa on the left was in my great-grandparents home. It was in the same fabric for as long as I can remember. When I moved into the family home, I had it reupholstered in a thick, cotton denim fabric which held up to small children, multiple dogs and cats and life in general. Now that I am an empty nester, I had it reupholstered again. It needed new cushion inserts and a new deck to support the cushions over the sleeper mechanism. Before the cost of fabric, the labor and new fill cost was $1,600 and I needed 16 yards of fabric.
If you go with new upholstery, buy the best quality you can afford so that it will hold up for years to come. If you're overwhelmed with the idea of selecting upholstery, you're not alone. I can help the process by bringing my years of experience. Let's set up a personalized interior design consultation to discuss your needs. Please contact me at info@the-silver-lining.com or view my services online.
Learn more tips in my free Interior Design eBook here
Always look for the Silver Lining
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