Upholsterers

The upholsterers we recommend below will work with you even without an interior designer in tow. They can all do more than upholster a chair or sofa; they can make pillows, curtains, shower curtains, drapes, bedspreads, duvet covers, comforters, headboards, window treatments, valances, swags, balloon and Roman shades, slipcovers and tablecloths.

Getting things upholstered is expensive because this is such a labor-intensive business. Everyone has to do this work by hand (which is also why turnaround isn’t quick). The upholsterers here work with Dacron and/or down filling and use staples to hold the fabric to the Custom Cabinetry frame. There are craftsmen who do old-world construction using webbing, horsehair and cotton-batting padding under the foam, who hand-stitch the ticking and hand-tack the fabric to the frame. These methods are more expensive and, for that group, you will need a designer to have access to them.

Richard’s Interior Design, 1390 Lex [91st/92nd] 212.831.9000. Richard Harary has more than 30 years experience in decorating and upholstering. He and his staff provide full decorator service: they do in-home consultations ($500 deposit), but you can bring in pics, measurements, and color samples and the staff will work with you in the shop. Emphasis here is on service.