Having worked in the memorial industry for 10 years, I’m rarely surprised by what I hear. However, an East St. Louis, IL area funeral director did manage to surprise me. When asked about his last furniture purchase, he proudly responded, “I haven’t bought new furniture in 30 years!” His place looked quite nice as carpeting was in good shape, furniture was scratch-free, upholstery wasn’t worn, décor was attractive and clean. Nothing looked 30 years old. When pressed for more information, he laughed, “Oh, I’ve re-done the walls, replaced the carpet and the furniture has been re-upholstered 4–5 times. I just haven’t bought ‘new’!”
There are great reasons to reupholster or slipcover instead of buying new. Here’s a quick check list of things to consider:
Unique Design: that irreplaceable, one-of-kind design may be worth re-upholstering.
Good ‘bones’/ Quality Construction: an easy determination. Look for reputable brands on sofa decking (fabric under cushion) or stamped underneath chair seats.
Emotional Attachment: family or heirloom pieces make us feel good. As long as the frame is in good shape and you like it, keep the piece.
Period Furnishings: if the décor of the funeral home is from the time of the Civil War or turn of last century, honor the design theme and retain usable pieces.
Re-upholstering and slipcovers, while different, have similar outcomes. Re-upholstering involves removing old fabric and attaching new fabric to the frame. Slipcovers are chosen when the “bones” and basic padding are good and a less tailored look might be preferred. One benefit of slipcovers is that they can be removed and cleaned. An expert seamstress can craft a slipcover that equals the upholsterer’s tailored look! Charlotte Connors of Charlotte’s Custom Draperies in Waynesburg, PA was presented with a challenging request not to remove the furniture due to Rush Funeral Home’s busy schedule. Connors complied by sewing slipcovers in her workroom then installing as each grouping was completed.
Art Hahn, a 20 year employee with Tepe Furniture Upholsterer in South Bend, IN, addresses both residential and business needs. Art cautions his customers to avoid:
Dried or Brittle Wood: once wood has dried out, it’s likely to crack and is not worth re-finishing or re-upholstering.
Loose Veneers: dried, loose veneers cannot be glued back into place due to warping.
Re-weaving Fabric to Repair Holes: re-weaving is a lost art and quite expensive to do; if the piece is valuable, conservators can be found to do re-weaving.
Poor construction: a wobbly bench may again become a wobbly bench because of the original design no matter how much glue is used.
Multiple Re-upholstering: may compromise integrity of the wood when tacks or nails have been used repeatedly to attach fabrics.
When it’s been determined that the frame is solid, the next choice is foam padding and fabric. Foam density makes a huge difference in the firmness of the seat and in the durability. This oil-based product can be quite expensive but it guarantees years of comfortable, attractive seating. It is important to note that high density foam remains firm for years and requires little daily maintenance unlike its less expensive counterpart which can turn, twist and crush.
Fabric selection is an important factor and should be chosen based on usage. It always perplexes me when I see residential fabrics used in funeral homes. While I love the softness, the colors and the easy availability of residential fabrics, the application calls for sturdier threads. Funeral homes are high-use hospitality facilities. Abrasion-resistant, stain-resistant fabrics and vinyls will protect your investment. These fabrics not only make for an easier work day and alleviate problem “clean ups”, but they are available in “trend” as well as traditional colors and patterns.
Notice that cost is not included as a reason for choosing to re-upholster or slipcover. The final cost can easily exceed the price of purchasing a new piece. Cost depends on the amount of labor required to restore the piece plus factor in fabric and foam selections.
So, “what’s new?” depends on you. Choosing to re-upholster or slipcover really comes down to design preference and the budget. Select what you like, what fits your décor and is best suited to your needs and you’ll get it right – just like my East St. Louis friend did!