Page 43 - JOA-July-22

Early folding chair, reupholstered
photo: Leif Johnson
New fabrics with a variety of special qualities also made their debut of. But, it’s a personal choice they make
during the 20th century. Fire-retardent fabric, sun-resistant outdoor based on what they like.
fabric, nano-technology used for weatherproofing and warming/cool-
ing insular purposes, and who can forget the use of Teflon or Are there some fabrics you would stay away
Scotchguard? The use of “spray-on” or “applied” treatments gave way from?
to special weaving technologies that allow the treatments to become a “f people come in with their own fabric
part of the fabric vs. being applied on top of it. Each of these plays a that is not designed for upholstering, I let
role in upholstering right up to the 21st century. them know it may not be appropriate. If they
still want to proceed—and most do because
The Working Upholsterer and Used Furniture: they are saving money—at least they know
the consequences of the fabric they chose.
A Talk with Leif Johnson
What about other types of fabric?
Leif Johnson has been upholstering and re-upholstering furniture If someone wants cotton vs. a synthetic
for over 30 years. He started in the business in New Hampshire when fabric, I don't really mind one way or the
he bought out an upholstery business and then worked side-by-side other because it is their choice. But if some-
with the original owner for a year in what could be termed his appren- one wants a special fabric that is stain-resistant, etc., I do tell them
ticeship. Four years later, he and his family moved to Central about a new Crypton line that is very easy to clean and good to use if
Massachusetts and opened TLC Upholstery while also working a you have pets or kids running around. Generally, I don’t influence
“regular job” to earn a living. In 2000, the business was operating them either way.
full-time. From there, Leif has done work for the Emily Dickenson The customer is always right, and most people have an idea of what
Museum, Old Sturbridge Village, and the Webb Dean Steven they want – very few don’t. When they have a question about a fabric,
Museum, as well as doing work for antique dealers, buyers, and the gen- we talk about the wear value that is given by the manufacturer. If they
eral public. Visit his website at www.tlcupholsterypalmer.com want to have a light fabric vs. a heavy-duty fabric in their living room,
I will tell them “you may want to think about this …
After you completed working with the past owner of the business in New
Hampshire for that one year, do you feel you learned what you needed Has the work changed over the years?
to know to continue with the business? I came into the field at a good time. It was
I probably learned only 1/10th of what I Deconstruction going from handtacking fabric into place to
know today from that one year because this stapling with pneumatic tools. Overall, it
field is so diverse even if you think one piece really hasn’t changed much. My sewing
is the same as the next. machine is the same one I bought used from
For example, you may think that a wing that shop in New Hampshire.
chair is just a wing chair, but it’s not. There
are so many different ways that it gets uphol- What are some of the tools you use? Are there
stered. The way the fabric goes in, the way it’s any guidelines when working on a valuable
attached, the way the wings go on, how the antique?
pulls go through the frame, it’s amazing. Well, I have a foam saw for cutting foam.
There is always something new to learn. And I do have a nail gun, but I mostly use my
pneumatic stapler. Restorers are not looking
What role does frame reconstruction play for to use tacks but staples, because they tend to
the upholsterer? stay in place and not put any real wear on
Recently a client brought in a stuffed chair the wood. It is all about conserving the
that had one arm that was just flapping. I had piece for the future. Finishing tacks are only used
to take everything off the chair, and fortunately, for decoration.
the structure of the chair was dowelled together, Cotton Covering
but all the dowels were broken. Often, the struc- What are some of the more difficult pieces you’ve
tural members (arms, legs, etc.) break, but with the reupholstered?
dowels, I only had to drill out and then put in new Typically the tufted furniture with a multitude of
dowels to restore the structure. All the original buttons on them, or using fabric with intricate detail
pieces fit back together perfectly. that has to be matched. Plaid has to be matched to
And I reinforce things on furniture framing all the left, right, back-to-back, etc. I do have an
the time. Cracks on decorative wood are carefully upcharge for plaid because it uses more fabric and a
repaired ‘behind the scenes’ so it is not visible. A lot more labor.
lot of upholsterers do some crazy things before you
get the piece back to maintain the furniture's What advice do you have for someone buying a
integrity. At times I’ll find nail holes where they piece of used upholstered furniture?
shouldn’t be and tack holes where they shouldn’t With any piece of furniture, you want quality.
be and so I fill the holes and color them to You want a good frame with good con-
match. struction on the inside. This makes it
But it’s fun. I love doing that. worth re-doing.
Is it cheap to do? No. Did you get a
What about wormholes in antique wing chair for free? By the time an uphol-
furniture? sterer is done with it, you are into it for
“There is not much you can do about $600-$700. There’s fabric, supplies, and
that, but they do need to be reinforced.” labor; stripping the piece down; removing
hundreds of tacks and staples; refurbishing
Do you guide people when they are what is left; and then putting it back
selecting a fabric? together. Time is money, and it costs.
I usually let them pick out the fabric, One-third to one-half of the job is
and then let them know the pros and cons, deconstructing the piece in preparation for
if there are any I feel they need to be aware

July 2022 41
Completed Bench by
Leif Johnson