UPHOLSTERY UNCOVERED
The Science of Upholstery Construction - for interior design professionals
First, I know what you really want is an easy button for selecting upholstery. I see the posts in Facebook groups “Who should I buy a sectional from? What is the quality of this vendor? Or that vendor?
I wish I could tell you that it’s just that simple
But it isn’t. And here is why…
Marketing jargon is designed to highlight key phrases we learned in design school such as “coil spring construction” But do you understand WHY and WHERE the coils are used - and more importantly where they shouldn’t be used?
We’ve been told that kiln-dried is the gold standard in frames. But is it really? What is the benefit of a solid lumber frame when so many of our trade vendors are constructed from “engineered hardwood”
What about sustainability? What is the expected lifespan of your client’s investment? Is your client paying too much for an overbuilt piece of disposable upholstery and limiting the overall budget for other important design details? Or will it make sense to reupholster their frame when they are ready for a fresh look?
Why can’t you just TELL me which vendors to use???
I have favorite vendors that I like to work with and suit MY design business. What works for me (or another designer) may not be the best solution for you. There are business factors to consider, like margins and buy-in minimums, and customer service.
YOU need to be able to read and analyze a spec sheet on your own! Upholstery lines have a variety of construction levels within their frame styles. The design of the piece dictates the construction method.
Just because something was ONCE good doesn’t mean it’s ALWAYS good. Businesses change hands, change labor forces, change standard practices.
When I owned my upholstery studio, Sitzen, many people came to me for estimates to reupholster their pieces and were frustrated to learn their pieces weren’t “worth it” after investing a thousand dollars or more just a few years earlier. These were from high-profile vendors and their sofas and chairs were essentially pricey disposable frames destined for the landfill after just a few years of use - even worse?
They had been recommended by their DESIGNER.
Why should I take this course from YOU?
I love teaching.
This is what I enjoy doing and my students (over 200 professional designers so far) are my reason!
I’m accessible.
I’m available for any course content questions at any time in the FREE student group! Need support for a client project? I can help! Need another set of eyes on a custom upholstery order? OR even worse, a project that came in WRONG or damaged, and you are facing paying for it out of pocket?? Let me know. I’m here to HELP! It’s what makes me happy beyond belief!
My upholstery background experience comes from the RE-upholstery angle. And here is why that’s important and distinctly different from an exclusively manufacturing POV because the proof of how a construction method wears is shown over TIME. It takes years of wear (and dare I say…abuse) to really grasp if a combination of materials is a win or a fail…and WHY. I’ve had the very unique opportunity to see construction methods firsthand.
In the field doing what I do!
The breakdown of what you’ll learn in this course:
Upholstery Uncovered is completely self-paced! Video content is broken into the following sections:
UPHOLSTERY 101
Frames - Their materials and construction methods involved and how they relate to value and design
Springs - What are the types of springs and where, when, and why should they be used? Or not used
Foundations - The materials that are applied to a frame to support weight and structural integrity
Cushions - The materials inside a seat or back cushion and their benefits and drawbacks. Is spring down always the BEST? You’ll be surprised.
BEYOND A DOUBLE RUB
Fabrics - Natural and Synthetic textiles used in Upholstery and how they wear in real life
Durability - Weizenbeck and Martindale. To line or not to line? Durability factors are more than a double rub
Leather - Types of natural and synthetic leathers used in furniture upholstery and what to avoid
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Custom Fabric Application - How a fabric is applied to a frame and the potential pitfalls of 2-dimensional fabric on a 3-dimensional frame. Also known as WHY those stripes just don’t line up (this section is my absolute FAVORITE)
Photos from UPHOLSTERY UNCOVERED High Point Vendor tour and Meetup!
TESTIMONIALS FROM DESIGNERS
Still not sure if you need this class? Check out what past students are saying:
““Take this course NOW! Whether you are a “baby designer” or a seasoned professional with decades of experience, you will learn so much applicable information in this upholstery course taught by Richelle. The examples are timely and she is in the trenches with us so you will come away with increased confidence and knowledge that will impress your clients and result in better decisions and profits. Plus it’s just so fun to learn directly from an expert like Richelle Plett!”
“Understanding upholstery is an integral part of selling to clients. Richelle was able to break down every part of an upholstered piece in bite-sized chunks for a deeper understanding. Her images of the many types of frame and cushion construction are so valuable in being able to assess quality, particularly when shopping vendors online like so many of us do. Well worth the time and money to enhance your knowledge of upholstery.
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“I’m a kitchen and bath designer and never thought I would have to do any custom upholstery until my clients started requesting. This course came at the perfect time. Richelle was very thorough. She is a wealth of knowledge with tons of examples to demonstrate in the course. I feel super confident and I’m now in the middle of designing several custom upholstered island stools for a few current projects. This course was definitely worth the time and money.
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“This course gave me confidence to determine the quality of upholstered furniture and specify the best quality for my client’s budget.”
“This course is essential for any designer - this is REAL learning, no fluff. As a designer who’s had a successful business for over 7 years, I thought I had a good amount of knowledge on fabrics, upholstery, furniture construction - but nope I was wrong. Richelle deep dives into every detail of upholstery and it is fascinating. Be ready to focus and take notes!
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“This course is a synthesis of Richelle’s unique knowledge and experience with upholstery. She get’s into the nitty gritty and the why of things. I love this about this course. Even more valuable is the open Q&A where we learn from each other. This course changed how I look at and specify upholstery and gave me the confidence to do more custom pieces. Highly recommend Upholstery 101 with Richelle! ”
“Richelle is full of applicable knowledge that benefits not only me as a designer, but the clients I serve. This is a fantastic course for those wanting to understand the world of upholstery more fully.”
“Richelle is incredibly knowledgeable about all things upholstery. I gained a tremendous confidence about how to better specify upholstery for my clients. No stone was left unturned; she covers it all! You won’t be disappointed, it is a high value course. As a designer, it is my job to educate clients before they purchase furnishings. If you are an Interior Designer; even having a design degree, you NEED this course. Arm yourself with knowledge.”
“Solid upholstery knowledge in a well designed format, reminiscent of textile classes in college. It really updated and refreshed my understanding of upholstery so that I feel confident in making better choices and recommendations for clients. Richelle is an enthusiastic master of the upholstery game - you won’t be disappointed!”
Once you’ve completed this series, you’ll be able to compare the construction of various Trade Vendor products and select the best upholstery for your clients!
Curious why I selected these trade vendor photos? Join in and find out more!
