What Would William Think?

...William Morris that is… the famous Arts and Crafts movement designer. This fabric design is one of his - it's called 'Kilburn Rose' - and the license for it and many of his most famous designs are now owned by the Victoria & Albert Museum.  In a weird and wonderful bit of business, the Sydney textile company Sparkk has an arrangement with V&A to print these designs using state-of-the-art technology onto furnishing weight base cloths.
My client (a professional rose-grower) fell in love with Kilburn Rose and it was an easy decision for him to choose it for the new seat for this well-loved old stool.

I can't help but think that Mr Morris, clearly a man ahead of his time, would heartily approve of this marriage of old and new technology.

before

before

Funky Fone-table Finished!

Just off the workbench is this lovely little phone table, circa 1970s.
It proved a difficult job for me because I mistakenly copied the upholstery it came dressed in… but the result in copying this was so awful I stripped it down and started from scratch.
Much happier with the second attempt - and the client is delighted - which is all that matters.

Before

OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Pip and me have been busy lately making up a few pairs of baby ottos - inspired by the delivery of some gorgeous colourful, co-ordinating fabrics.
They're now in the Rapt online shop, and on display in the Jamberoo showroom.

They measure 40cm diam, approx. 34cm high and are constructed entirely here in the Rapt HQ, from ply, pine, glue, screws, high density foam and the lovely fabrics you see here.

OFF THE WORKBENCH...

Just finished restoration of this gorgeous Parker dining suite. Involved full reupholstery (check out the original beige tweed in the 'before' shot top left) using  a few fabrics from Mokum's new Tribal collection, and complete timber refurnishing.
Came up rather well I think!
(It's for sale, and going into the Rapt online shop next week… pending decision by someone who has first dibs).

OFF THE WORKBENCH

Hello again, any loyal 'old' followers! (no offence intended, it's only that if you're still reading then you must've been with me awhile because these posts are few and far between these days. Instagram is now my preferred time-waster oops! 'Social Media Platform').
Here's the latest off the workbench:
a little old Parker Knoll armchair that's been on the books a long time, due in part to my client who was in no hurry to get it back, but also to the fact that when I'm given a flexible deadline I become the Supreme Grand Master of the Universe Procrastinator.
So I'm very glad it's finally finished.
It took a complete rebuild (wonky joints), timber refinished, full reupholstery, custom-made inner-sprung cushion, and covers in screen-printed linen by Cloth fabric.
(I can't take credit for the fabric layout - this was the client's choice).
Best of all? It is now SUPERBLY comfy.

Parlour Chair Reupholstery

Just finished this delightful parlour chair… complete reupholstery from the frame up. The client was clear from the start she wanted nothing except this fabric (which she'd seen in the Rapt showroom on another commission project). It's a bold digital print called Hydrangea, from Sparkk, and is available (like all other fabrics we use) for sale by order from Rapt Upholstery.

'Ahh! that's better!'

SURPRISE! CHAIR

Just finished the transformation of this classic wingchair.
My client sneakily organised this project behind his wife's back, as a surprise birthday present. It took quite a bit of wrangling (and fibbing) to keep it a surprise.
My brief was to match a pair of patchwork cushions she had purchased from Rapt last year, so this dictated the colour scheme and utilised some of the same fabrics.
The result? She absolutely loves it! (phew - what a relief!)

From JUNK to FUNK pt.2

this was another roadside find recently… a pair of terrifically shaped replica some-famous-designer-chair… previously covered in cheap brown micro-suede… now in very funky, hot-off-the-press new collection from Warwick Fabrics. These are now on view in the Rapt showroom.

from JUNK to FUNK pt.1

I've had this old rocker lying around a while… roadside find… unusable, and finally this last weekend I got around to reimagining it into its next life as the sign for my workshop (Bottoms' End). I like it!

Margaret's Chair

Here's the latest job off the workbench… Margaret's little chair - which had the works: full reupholstery and timber refinishing.  The cover fabric is 'Waratah' on pure flax, by Ink & Spindle.

before