ANTIQUES

Curio Interiors:

Reupholstering An English Regency Chaise

A sneak peak into the interiors project I have been working on and the process behind sourcing and reupholstering a very beautiful English Regency Chaise.

AMONG one of my absolute favorite things about working on interiors projects with clients is sourcing antique furniture. There’s something incredibly special about giving new life to a piece that is hundreds of years old and in the particular magic it brings to a home. For my client, whose condo is a new build in Bed-Stuy, antiques have been pivotal in adding a sense of history and place to an apartment that was otherwise without architectural details to anchor the space.

Early on in the design process, my client expressed that he wanted a designated reading spot in his study where he could spend hours in perfect comfort. Naturally, nothing but a chaise longue would do. Both pleasing to the eye and incredibly comfortable, a chaise longue is essentially a sofa in the shape of a chair that extends long enough to support the legs of the sitter. It is a wonderful addition to any room and is always the most coveted spot. After searching intensely both far and wide, I came across this delectable English Regency Chaise Longue believed to have been made by Gillows & Co, an English furniture maker renowned for its exceptional designs and craftsmanship.

*The chaise in its original condition prior to restoration & upholstery.*

Here is the back of the chaise with its incredible wooden frame carved to perfection. One of the many things I love so much about this piece of furniture is that it will look good at any angle with both front and back being beautifully designed. The top decorative wooden pieces come off the frame to hide the stitching of the upholstery underneath.

Once I had gotten my client’s approval to move forward with importing the chaise—this particular piece was found in the English countryside— it was time to make the final fabric selection.

Restoration Begins

Overall, the chaise arrived in incredible antique condition, but for furniture of this age it is very common to need to do some restoration work. This particular piece needed new springs, repairs to the frame, re-padding, and the supports for the wood frame needed to be entirely replaced. It was very important to both me, as an antiques dealer, and to my client, who considers the piece to be a long-term investment, that we use as many traditional methods and materials for the restoration and reupholstery process as possible. While the outside of the chaise was to be re-covered in a hand-loomed Italian silk, we agreed that the inside should use the period-appropriate horse hair stuffing to maintain the integrity of the original design. Renowned for its ability to maintain its shape and provide firm support, horse hair offers an eco-friendly alternative to modern synthetic materials, and has been used for upholstery since at least the 17th century.

*The final piece fully restored and reupholstered!*

At Home in Bed-Stuy

After a several months-long process of sourcing, importing, restoring, and reupholstering, the English Regency chaise has finally arrived at its new home.