New fabric brings beloved furniture into modern era

The words retro, vintage and antique are often heard when discussing furniture – all used to describe a certain era, and all associated with the distinctive colours and textures of their time.

While the fabric colours might have changed over the years, the beautiful nostalgic pieces of the past can still be brought up to date and repurposed for the present.

Doing so is the domain of McDonald & Hartshorne Upholstery, a locally owned business with more than half a century’s experience reviving and modernising old furniture.

Office manager Neke Simeonidis McDonald says frames of older items are often in good order even after many years – and if not, McDonald & Hartshorne Upholstery can make repairs.

Changes to style, such as removing skirting on a sofa or altering the piping on an armchair, are also available, although in many cases all clients need for thoroughly revitalised furniture is to pick the colour scheme or pattern they like.

Here, Keith Hartshorne can be a lot of help. With more than 40 years’ experience in the furniture industry, there is little he doesn’t know about upholstery or what’s on-trend.

Keith can visit clients in their home or workplace to show a wide selection of samples from New Zealand’s leading tanneries and fabric suppliers.

All quotes are free, and throughout the upholstery process great care is shown to each item of furniture, Neke says.

‘‘So many of our clients have pieces that they’ve held onto for years because they belonged to a special family member and hold special memories. It’s our pleasure to help with the restoration of those pieces.

‘‘Giving new life to retro, vintage and antique furniture is what we love to do.’’

Neke says demand for reupholstering has held steady over the years despite the mass importation of furniture from lowcost suppliers overseas, mainly because people recognise the high grade of workmanship in older pieces.

The qualified craftsmen at McDonald & Hartshorne’s ensure the focus on quality is kept alive.

In addition to items with sentimental value, the team are increasingly working on newly bought second-hand furniture, Neke says, as classic styles continue to make a comeback.

In all cases, upgraded items emerge looking and feeling like new, with enhancements like changes to seat firmness possible by request.

For an online quote, just email three photos showing the front, back and side of the item to be upholstered.

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There is no need to buy new ‘‘retro’’ furniture when original pieces are often as good as new when reupholstered.