About Ria Nicholas Designs

My business is dedicated to creating one-of-a-kind chairs—pieces that combine vintage frames, contemporary fabrics, and that little something extra you can't quite put your finger on.

Each piece begins with a vintage frame selected for its proportions, craftsmanship, and integrity. From there, I reimagine the chair through careful fabric selection, composition, and restraint—with a healthy dose of audacity.  My chair designs are not for the meek! They're for people who aren't afraid to make a statement with their furnishings. If that sounds like you, we've got something in common. 

My creative background spans drawing, photography, and surface design—disciplines that serve me well in designing chairs.

My transition into upholstery began with "playing" with a pair of chairs that had been abandoned curbside in the rain. In working with those chairs, I discovered that, for me at least, the fun was not in repairing a chair. It was in redesigning it—in making it better than it ever had been.

That idea continues to shape my work. Chairs became the main focus, although I also work on select settees and benches.

At the heart of my work is a belief that strong design depends on editing. I love outrageous design! But then the trick is to step back and remove all the extraneous elements that make the design "too much." What I end up with more often than not is a piece that is both compelling and elegant.

I choose fabrics for their relationship to the chair’s lines, scale, and intent—not just as a gimmick. Some textiles are custom-designed by me; I choose others because I frankly love them.

My associate and I refurbish and upholster each chair with respect for its original structure.  I want to preserve what makes each vintage frame special while giving it a fresh personality of its own. 

Because every piece is made individually, no two chairs are ever identical. Some works are created as singular statements. Others are made to order, with room for both my artistic interpretation and the client's personal preferences. 

I create chairs for buyers who want to inject a little fun, drama, or romance into their lives and furnishings. Collectors and interior designers are, of course, also welcome to have a look around!

 Have a question, an idea, or a chair you'd love to see brought to life? You can reach me through my Etsy shop.