FAQs

Most of my work is around the Bakewell-Buxton-Ashbourne-Matlock area. I can consider projects further afield, but I may need to charge a little extra for my travel time and fuel, because commissions often require 3 visits - an initial consultation, collection and final delivery. Any additional cost is made clear at enquiry and/or quote stage.

Yes, because upholstery is a very personal business, often involving lots of emotions, and treasured heirlooms. If you’ve seen The Repair Shop, you’ll know what I mean. So you need to know I will look after your furniture, and you. Smaller items such as cushions, box cushions and footstools can be shipped, but we would organise this together, to make sure it is done right.

Photos from different angles, and also of the setting/room, are extremely helpful if you have an enquiry, so that I can tell you if it’s something within my expertise. If not, I will try and recommend someone I know. If I can help and you’re happy with my current lead time, then we can look at a convenient time for me to pop over, to discuss things in more detail.

I can if you need help with choosing fabric, but you may have some ideas already, and it’s helpful to see what kind of styles you like in your home, so that we can find something that achieves the look and feel you’re after. You may already have some sample swatches, but if not, I can recommend some sample sources from the suppliers that I work with, to suit a range of budgets and design ideas.

My usual lead time is around 8 weeks, but I always inform people of my current lead time at initial enquiry stage, so that you are free to look elsewhere if you need it sooner. If I can do it in less time, then of course I’ll let you know. Better that than the other way round! Great customer service is very important to me.

You can get very approximate ideas online and from trusted trader sites, but there are so many variables to take into consideration, particularly fabric choice and upholstery methods used. Traditional upholstery is more expensive as it is more labour-intensive, materials cost more and there are fewer traditional upholsterers around, but I would always recommend this route for valuable, antique and/or heirloom pieces. If the cost of re-upholstering outweighs the value of the piece, I will always be honest about this, so that you can make an informed decision of whether it’s worth the investment for you. Sometimes it might not be, and that’s absolutely fine.

No, for that you need to find a soft furnishings specialist or you may want to consult an interior designer. I focus on upholstery and related items, such as box cushions for furniture or for caravan or window seats, for example. I can offer advice on which fabrics are suitable for either upholstery or soft furnishings and I will try to recommend quality soft furnishers if I can, but only if I know their work.

Definitely, all upholsterers should advise on this when supplying fabric. For any (re-)upholstery work done to frames made after 1st January 1950, all upholstery materials and fabrics MUST be compliant with The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) Safety) Regulations 1988. This means either using fabrics which are at least 75% natural fibres and a Schedule 3 interliner, or the fabric must be FR (fire retardant), which means it has the necessary treatment to the back of the fabric, to be flame resistant.

If the client provides their own fabric, then the onus is on them (not the upholsterer) to ensure that the fabric is appropriate for upholstery use.

All of my modern pieces for sale will have the correct labels sewn into the bottom cloth underneath and be advertised/sold with the correct swing tickets.

For commercial settings (eg holiday lets etc), all upholstered furniture must adhere to Crib 5 within the UK Fire Regulations (1988).

I am very strict on adhering to all the fire regulations, otherwise both my livelihood and people’s lives are at stake.