 |
720
Unity Center Road 
Plum Boro, PA 15239
412- 793-1323
|
|
720
Unity Center Road
Plum Boro, PA 15239
412- 793-1323
|
| We've been reupholstering for over 30 years mostly at this location.
There's been many changes in the furniture industry during that time. Fabrics are brighter, more detailed and some even less expensive. A lot of what we do consists of taking off the old material and padding and then rebuilding from the frame up. Much of what we reupholster is 15, 20 and sometimes even 100 years old. Usually the older the piece of furniture the better it is constructed. That's why there are so many antiques still around.
Many of the tools used today are the same type used 30 years ago. Obtaining skilled help is difficult since it takes 3 to 4 years to learn the trade and few people are willing to wait that long or have the time and patience to invest in learning the trade. As a result, upholsterers are becoming more scarce as the years pass. Thirty years ago there were a ½ dozen upholsterers just in the Plum/Penn Hills area. Today there's only one that I know of. Reupholstry is a unique trade, one where you take a pair of scissors and a roll of fabric and then tailor it to fit the contours of a chair or sofa. |
 The upholstery craft is best learned from an "Old Pro", though some try to learn through correspondence courses, books or at local colleges that frequently
have upholstery classes that run weekly for about six weeks. Yet, just like learning to drive a car from a book, the reality of driving is quite different.
Many people study their driving manual first, then get behind the wheel only to discover the difference.
Once a "project" is commissioned we bring the piece to our shop for renovation. Our place of business is not particularly "tidy" but rather a workshop, because tearing down old furniture is a dusty and dirty "job". This is one reason that this craft is not done in a client's home. Another reason most of our business sales are conducted in the home of the client since it's easier to go to the sofa than for you to bring the sofa to us. Because of a small staff and always a backlog, jobs usually take a couple of weeks to complete.
We have over 100 samples books, ranging from tapestries, brocades, Small as we are we've had customers from Ohio, Illinois and even Nebraska. These areas however are not ones that we deliver to. |
Through the years we've gotten into some interesting projects. Being involved with the local Boy Scout Troop #877 which is sponsored by Plum Creek Presbyterian Church,
we've been asked to help create an "8-Boy" Teepee. This teepee is about 13 feet high and 20 feet wide and it an impressive site. It sleeps eight boys quite comfortably!
Periodically, the teepee is taken on extended camping trips and is an impressive site. Another teepee is in the planning stages.
A few years back we were asked to create and reupholster an 8 foot high giant Wing Chair. The customer who requested it was an innovative businessman who cashed in on it's size. For a fee, he would take your picture while you sat in the chair which made you look quite small by comparison. You may have seen it at local fairs and carnivals.
We have a cocker spaniel as a mascot, Scruffy by name, Commencing in August 2001, the mentioning of this website and the name of our Mascot, will get you a 10% discount on our fabric. We look forward to meeting you and providing you with a service that is second to none! |
Not many new innovations have been introduced in all that time, mainly because
reupholstering is a hands on craft and not everyone can do it.
velvets, textures, plaids, stripes, chenilles and even mohair. For our kitchen area jobs we have 18 vinyl books to choose from. Leather? We've got that too!
who usually greets our walk-in customers. He used to be our bookkeeper but we caught him pilfering so we reduced his
duties to mascot and greeter.