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Reupholster or Buy New?

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Reupholster or buy new is an often asked question by many. A woman called me last week to inquire about a sofa she had seen in a friend's garage.  She said it reminded her of something similar she had seen online, and whether she should buy new or reupholster.

Her husband had wanted to sell it, but his wife was still in the deciding mode.  I told her to see if she could find out what the inside looked like, meaning if it had coil springs or sinuous springs, and whether the arm and leg construction was all in one piece. As of this writing, the husband sold it without consulting his wife! I don’t want to know what happened after that, but the point is I would have recommended buying it and having it reupholstered. Why is this?

Because, depending on the age and manufacturer, she could have purchased a sofa with a high-quality construction method that combined coil springs, a kiln-dried hardwood frame, and legs and front of the arm cut from one piece of solid wood. The next question I have received on more than one occasion is “why is reupholstery so expensive?”

There are numerous reasons for this perception:

Accurate knowledge of the upholstery trade is required

        Specialized knowledge and apprenticeship is required for master upholsterers

Someone has to remove the old welting/gimp, tacks, stuffing by hand

It requires practiced skills in using the correct tools

Repairing/securing joints and frame repair requires skill

Retying/replacing springs requires skill

Arranging the stuffing by hand to achieve the proper contour/crown/pleating requires specialized skill

Inserting/applying new nailheads/passamenterie requires skill

 

The Beginning

The video above of my upholsterer at work is why some would say reupholstering is so expensive.  If you think of it this way.  A timeless frame style, made from high-quality materials will last a lifetime.  You only need to reupholster it depending on the wear and tear it receives over time, or as your taste changes.  

Weigh the cost of three "inexpensive" sofas against one "expensive" sofa and in the long run, it is much better to make the investment once.  As for the work involved, I won't deny that as in kitchen and bath renovation, the demolition phase requires the most labor.

Further, there is often the luxury of options, meaning, change a pleat, or add or delete welting, buttons, or other trim. If an upholsterer is really good, he can also make small alterations to the frame, changing the contour, seating configuration, providing it is not an antique with great value. Again, it you start with something timeless, there will be no need for alteration; only enhancement through the use of materials and suitable fabric and trim.

In addition, If you are fortunate to find a good sofa or chair that has coil springs, buy it over a new model with sinuous springs. Coil springing is what you ride on in most automobiles, and when is the last time you took it to the repair shop and they said, "Oh, it's just as we thought, the springs are gone."

Coil springs along with down and feathers or down and high-quality Dacron are what give your furniture that "cloud bounce" as I have termed it.  I had a friend once, who had the most wonderful sofa from Henredon. When you sat on it, it was as if it opened its arms to you and took you in, yet left you assured you were properly supported.  Alas, he sold it and I could have...well I will leave it alone.

The cost depends on who is doing the work, and the amount of work needed.  Sometimes, upon stripping down the piece, the springs are in good condition, so it's only the stuffing that needs work. Other times, the springs may be bent, or the twine might have snapped leaving an uneven contour on the horizontal.

An American Empire Settee's Rebirth

Pictured below is the settee I was called about one evening. My clients wanted something to fill the dining room bay window to provide overflow seating.  The style fits in perfectly, and although it was the perfect size, something about it bothered me initially.  "What was it?"

I thought at one time, something was missing, but upon closer inspection that did not appear to be the case.  I explained I would have a better look once Chris, my upholsterer picked it up.  That was on a Wednesday afternoon.  I got a call on Friday from Chris to come over and take a look.  

When I arrived, he had already begun working on it.  Now what do we have here...?  It only took about two minutes to recognize the error in the prior upholstery job.  The fabric and its button tufting flowed over the seat, and over the front rail.  We looked inside and saw no damage to the frame from the inside, or to the front rail.  

This is why upon first sight, I recognized that something was not quite right proportionally speaking. The frame's surface only needed work on the back side. My client also wanted the new upholstery to be something more contemporary and and absent of all of the Victorian style tufting. 

Shown below is the final result.  It turned out well, and my client was very happy with it.  I specified a blended fiber fabric from Kravet, with a complementary gimp.  Pillow fabrics are Brunschwig et Fils.  Elsewhere in the dining room, a Lee Jofa damask similar to the pillow, covers the mahogany dining chairs.  

When You Own a Highly Valuable Antique

If you own a period antique, you may want to think carefully before sending it out to just anyone. There is a master upholsterer named Bruno Paulin Lopez in New York City. He studied in France and is affiliated with the British School of Upholstery in Great Britain.

His workshop is a place of serious business, with all of the tools of the trade and various projects in progress.  His methods are historic, meaning he only uses horsehair, twine, coil springs, burlap, cotton, and fine fabrics.  To meet a man behind the upholsterer's needle, you can read more about Bruno Lopez here.  

This 18th c. walnut side chair seen on 1st Dibs, and pictured below retails for $42,000.  It would only benefit from the most highly regarded and expert upholstery work.  However, a successful room design does not always require the highest end in seating and upholstery. Good design/upholstery is present in many ranges.

What If you do not own a highly valuable antique?  Regardless, do your best to find a good upholsterer. Sometimes a piece will appeal to you, but you feel that something is not quite right, as i the case of the settee above. Also, consider where it is going, and how you will use it.

Finally, beware of the "70% off sale" and "free shipping" online for new upholstery.  My question is always, "70% off from what?" At least if you go to someone's garage or yard sale you can actually sit on it (depending on condition) and get a better feel for what it is and could become.

In the end, you want to choose something that has classic good lines, will work in your space, and will hold up to continued use. When you secure your "find" contact me to help you make that final decision that you will be happy within the long run; not just for six months.

Oriental Rugs Are Still Desirable

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Oriental Rugs still desirable, and why are they considered by some to be expensive?  The exact origin of rug weaving is unknown, but the oldest pile-woven rug dates back at least 2500 years.  “The Pazyryk carpet was excavated in 1949 from the grave of a Scythian nobleman in the Pazyryk Valley of the Altai Mountains in Siberia.  Radiocarbon testing indicated that the Pazyryk carpet was woven in the 5th century BC.”  Try doing that math!

Antique Pazyryk Carpet Courtesy of Wikipedia

History

Pakistan, Turkey, Russia, and Iran are among the largest exporters of oriental rugs.  Often these rugs feature traditional styles and designs, and chosen carefully, they can enhance or set the stage for an interior design scheme.  Before construction begins, let’s look at colors.  Weavers use blue or indigo, green, yellow, red, rose, white and ivory as the main colors.  These colors also represent various aspects of emotions or society.

For instance, red is for happiness and courage, blue is for honesty or solitude, and brown represents earth and soil.  Directional lines create shapes that can repeat symmetrically or asymmetrically, similar to fabrics. Harmony is the key and these weavers know what they are doing.  Remember, this artform began in the 5th century BC.

The fibers consist of mostly wool, while some include silk, which adds incredible luster and increases the cost.  However, rugs that contain silk, are best placed in low foot traffic areas.  If mostly silk, either use it in the bedroom or hang it on a wall.  Weavers usually use cotton for the base (foundation), known as the “warp and weft”, and you will find rugs with pure silk or wool foundations, as well.  The warp is the vertical and the weft is the horizontal.  Antique and vintage rugs produced before 1856 use natural dyes:

  • Madder root creates red/orange
  • Indigo plants create blue
  • Larkspur creates pale yellow/brown
  • Oak bark creates brown
  • Oak tree galls create black
  • Larkspur combined with indigo produces green
  • Insect secretions and carapace creates reds and purples

Construction

Oriental Rugs

Construction of the knots begins with the warp (vertical) and weft (horizontal) as the base and is usually cotton or wool.  The knots can be ghiordes, jufti, kilim/flatweave, or Senneh.  Next, the detailed weaving begins, using hundreds, sometimes thousands of yarns together to form a pattern or design.  The warp threads become the fringe at the top and bottom.  In some villages, a cartoon or drawing is what the weaver works from.  The over and under the process of weaving is what forms the number of knots per square inch.

In addition, the more knots a rug has, the higher the quality, and the denser the pile.  A high-quality woven rug will look exactly the same on the reverse in terms of the pattern.  If you are shopping by auction or outside of a reputable establishment, examine the backside.  The pattern (not the sheen)  should look exactly like it does on the front. If it looks too different from the front, move on to another rug, or maybe another rug gallery.  Next, examine the warp threads (horizontal).  This forms the rug foundation that terminates with a fringe and should be an extension of the rug ends.

Terminology

Know the terminology.  Hand-knotted is not the same as hand-tufted. Hand-tufted rugs employ someone to (tuft) punch a design into a canvas backing stretched behind a stencil.  This process does not require much training, and you have no investment potential.  What is the point of that?  The lifetime of a hand-tufted rug is about seven years, or less depending on use, while hand-knotted rugs have an average lifespan of 50 years.

Style, Pattern, & Color

Depending on the room design, and the furnishings the rug will make or break the final reslult.  I prefer less of a clash in patterns and it all depends on how it all looks together.  Differing patterns and motifs can look great together as long as there is some common denominator that ties them all together.  I personally like the look of the Kazak.  In ancient times, Kazak rugs represented luxury, prestige, warmth, comfort and were highly regarded status symbols in elite class homes.

These rugs were originally woven with gold and silver strands between the warp and weft threads.  They were placed in churches, palaces and within homes of the elite class.  Rugs were most often used as floor coverings but they also hung from walls and placed on the throne or at the feet of the king.  Kazak rugs are well-recognized for their striking aesthetic, durability and highly saturated naturally-dyed color tones, and have long been collected for their rugged authenticity.

Before what was called a resettlement, Afghan weavers only had access to; black, white, gray, and deep red dyes. After the resettlement, additional colors like deep indigo blues, jewel-toned teals, ivories, and the classic rusty reds became popular. Once dyed with pure vegetable dyes, after the year 2000 synthetic dyes became the norm.

MOR Kazak Courtesy of Main Street Oriental Rugs

In answer to the second question, it takes manpower and skilled craftsmanship, and time to weave a “work-of-art.”  There is no push-the-internet button and receive it in three or four days (instant gratification).  This is an era that I foresee coming to an end because many people will soon realize that throwing away their money on so many disposal goods and design, not only takes its toll on one’s bank account, it’s not good for the planet either.

Investment

The higher the knot count, the more the rug will cost.  It is why Persian rugs are expensive.  Higher knot counts are what create lasting investment value and durability over its lifetime.  Good hand-made rugs also hold their value well, while some greatly appreciate in value.  Finally, there is one important factor that you cannot ignore; individuality.  These rugs add a layer of art, history, and elegance to a room with fine hardwood flooring that is different from any other method.  You certainly won’t walk into your neighbor’s home and see your rug on their floor. Contact me and let’s work together to find the perfect rug for your home.

Why Invest in a Hand-Made Oriental Rug?

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A hand-made oriental rug retains its value over the years and, in some instances, become an investment.  Unlike most automobiles for instance, which depreciate and carry additional costs beyond the initial purchase price. Think of the difference between a framed print and a hand-painted canvas.

Hand-made oriental rug

Heriz Bakshaish oriental rug courtesy of Main Street Oriental Rugs

Hand-made rugs have been around for centuries. The first Persian rug appeared around 400 BC by Greek author Xenopon in a book entitled “Anabasis.” An important Siberian archaeological excavation in 1949 discovered this ancient rug. The tomb construction consisted of wood and boulders and the inner structures were well designed and contributed to the rug’s preservation.

From Wikipedia: "The Pazyryk carpet was excavated in 1949 from the grave of a Scythian nobleman in the Pazyryk Valley of the Altai Mountains in Siberia. Radiocarbon testing indicated that the Pazyryk carpet was woven in the 5th century BC.[5] This carpet is 183 by 200 centimetres (72 by 79 inches) and has 36 symmetrical knots per cm2 (232 per inch2).[6] The advanced technique used in the Pazyryk carpet indicates a long history of evolution and experience in weaving. It is considered the oldest known carpet in the world.[7]

5th c. BC Pazyryk carpet courtesy of Wikipedia

Its central field is a deep red color and it has two animal frieze borders proceeding in opposite directions accompanied by guard stripes. The inner main border depicts a procession of deer, the outer men on horses, and men leading horses. The horse saddlecloths are woven in different designs. The inner field contains 4 × 6 identical square frames arranged in rows on a red ground, each filled by identical, star-shaped ornaments made up by centrally overlapping x- and cross-shaped patterns. The design of the carpet already shows the basic arrangement of what was to become the standard oriental carpet design: A field with repeating patterns, framed by a main border in elaborate design, and several secondary borders.[8]"  

Numerous places exist to research deeper origins, but that is not the purpose of this post. For now, I want you to better understand the value in owning a hand-made rug vs a machine-made rug.

In my profession, I have been asked,

  • “Why do hand-made rugs cost so much?”
  • “What is wrong with machine-made rugs?
  • And finally, “What type/pattern/design should I choose?”

Let Me Begin with the First Question

When you visit a museum or an art gallery, you are viewing antiques. Someone had a vision, acquired experiences, talent, and materials to tell a story. Hand-made rugs are one-of-a-kind works-of-art that you can walk on, or hang on a wall, and in a few instances, upholster onto furnishings.

In response to the Second Question

There is nothing wrong with the idea of a machine-made rug, unless it is of poor quality. While I like to specify hand-made rugs because of the construction and unique character, there are some instances where someone prefers a particular patters/style of a machine-made rug, or where it is the best suitable option.

A younger generation may prefer to spend $5,000 on experiences like travel, rather than a material item like a rug. However, there are also those from this generation who have a different view.  Some choose to invest in hand-made rugs using natural fibers because it’s a one-time purchase that can serve multiple generations. That’s investing in the future and in sustainability.

Furthermore, there are designs in some of these rugs that may not appeal to the younger generation, and they may also not be aware of the options for more modern hand-made rugs. The options are virtually unlimited.

Responding to The Third Question

“What type/pattern/design should I choose?”

A recent New York Times newspaper article mentioned that “The demand is now for less formal carpets, and more folkloric.” I think that depends upon the overall design scheme and the geographical region.

An example would be placing an antique Savonnerie rug in a Mid-Century Palm Springs desert setting; not in context. However, if you reverse this scenario, and place a sisal or a flatweave rug in a city flat, it works, depending on the pattern. Do not allow the former to affect your judgement. Again, we are talking about a work-of-art with investment quality as a favorable perk.

Not buying a rug that you fall in love with because it is not “in demand” makes no sense at all. At Rhonald Angelo Interiors, I do not design/decorate by trends, I design according to your needs and how the space feels to me.  Look at the Tabriz style rug below.  Tabriz is a city in the province of Azerbaijan in the northwestern section of Iran/Persian. Red, ivory, and blue are the typical colors and would make a fine beginning for a living room, family room, library or bedroom. I see this rug paired with a variety of furnishings and antiques.

Tabriz rug courtesy of Main Street Oriental Rugs

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