Hi, I'm Ria.
I merge design style with upholstery technique to re-imagine tired, old chairs or settees into fantastically fearless furniture for the bold! I take antique or vintage chairs, strip them down, paint or refinish them, curate an appealing fabric combination or design the fabric myself if necessary, and finally re-upholster these pieces into practical works of art for sale. I also provide custom work or just the design component for those who have a local upholsterer they want to use.
I arrived "fashionably late" to the creative upholstery scene after I retired from teaching. All my life I have loved creating. From drawing just for fun, to a photography hobby, to writing everything from poetry to a non-fiction reference guide - I was never genuinely happy unless I was creating something. I’ve always NEEDED to create – like I need to breathe! Upholstery, however, had never even appeared as a blip on my radar until I answered an upholstery challenge. I thought, "Why not give this a try?" I was immediately hooked! Chair frames present the perfect medium. They come in so many distinctive styles, allowing for literally endless possibilities for creating unique looks using various fabric combinations and paint options. Here was something I could grow into a business - but, more importantly, it was something I could feel passionate about.
So, to me retirement didn’t signify the end of my productive life. I embraced it as a graduation from repetitive responsibilities into a whole new world of opportunity. I want this optimism and exuberance reflected in my craft!
Reupholstering chairs also allows me to meet three important goals: First, by keeping these precious heirlooms out of a landfill and reducing the need to produce more chairs, I’m being kind to the environment. Secondly, it allows me to give full reign to those creative impulses I mentioned. And, ultimately, I’m providing my customers with a unique product – and hopefully some joy and inspiration.
Additionally, I'm on a mission to redefine the word ‘old’ – both in terms of the vintage chairs I creatively transform and in terms of how I approach this stage of my life. I definitely don't consider myself old! I prefer to think of myself as "aged to perfection." The chairs I artistically reupholster aren’t old either. They’re individual, elegant, and far more interesting and well made than their newer, mass-produced counterparts!
Art nouveau, art deco, and Hollywood regency styles probably inspire me the most, although there are also some wonderful Victorian pieces out there. I look for chair frames that bring something special to a space: elegant or unusual shapes, interesting carvings or strikingly clean lines, asymmetrical pairs or smart rattan pieces! I like to bring out the details with antiquing and paint or with other refinishing techniques.
When it comes to upholstery fabric, I again look for the extra-ordinary: sheen, texture, embroidery, or an unusual or unexpected pattern or combination of fabrics. If I can't find a pattern I like for a particular project, I'll design one myself and have it printed. I've even gone so far as to upholster a tasteful, black & white photo of a vintage, semi-nude on the back of a settee. I'm sure that raised some eyebrows!
The trick is to respect the historical nature of the piece while bringing it into the present day. That isn't always easy. It takes careful thought. Then, when I think I've got what I want . . . I stop and edit. A little bling goes a long way! More is more. But too much is still too much! Today, if you asked me what genre of chairs I like to create, I’d have to say, ‘chateau chic.’ These chairs and settees aren’t shy! They’re opulent conversation starters that bring a little jewelry to any room. --- Ria
