Blog | Contract upholstery

Interview with an Expert - Antimicrobial Fabrics with Ben Lewis

Recent health concerns surrounding the worldwide pandemic have generated a renewed interest in ways we can stay safe, clean and able to protect against infectious diseases- particularly within public venues and the hospitality industry....

20/10/21 10:44

Faux Leather Upholstery For Contract Furniture

A good faux leather looks extremely similar to the real thing & usually offers a number of advantages over leather, not least often being significantly cheaper.

11/11/19 11:30

8 Great Patterned Upholstery Fabrics For Contract Use

As the retro resurgence continues, patterned fabrics are becoming bolder and brighter are you brave enough to specify any of these 8 great patterns?

13/09/19 10:35

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Leather Upholstery: 8 Useful Pointers For Contract Furniture

There are very good reasons why leather is an enduringly popular choice for contract furniture; it is robust and (usually) gets even more attractive with age. Here are some useful pointers about leather‘s qualities.

04/09/19 17:08

Why Does Leather Upholstery Have Marks & Scars?

95% of leather comes from the hide of a cow; the rest is from buffaloes, but all is animal skin. As a result the grain will have fat wrinkles, insect bite marks and healed scars & scratches that have been acquired through the animal's lifetime.

13/06/19 12:38

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Why Curved Shells May Need Fabric Testing For COM/COL

Curves are notoriously difficult to upholster, the inner back of some designs of curved chairs can be particularly tricky. This is because it's not as easy to stretch the fabric across the foam on a really curved inner back.

11/06/19 13:57

Furniture Trends: Round Backs On Upholstered Chairs

Round backs, particularly in super-comfortable, oversized and fully upholstered chairs are featuring prominently in new ranges. We look at our favourite products as well as the problem with curvy upholstered furniture and embark on the quest for the most comfortable chair.

18/03/19 14:23

Tips for Specifying Fringe and Tassels on Furniture

Fringe needs to be carefully considered when specifying contract furniture; customers' clothing, zips or buttons can get stuck in the material and can result in the fringe being ripped or torn. We provide some tips, tricks & a list of our recommended suppliers.

25/02/19 14:28

3 Reasons Fabric Can Wear Thin Despite A High Martindale Count

We ask designers to use the Martindale rub count to help select fabrics that are suitable for contract use. However there are three conditions that can lead to fabric wearing out before its time, even if it has a high abrasion score. Learn more and view our recommended hard-wearing contract fabrics.

21/01/19 11:43

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Furniture Trends: Leather Upholstery on Frames

Leather upholstery on frames, or more specifically, leather that is hung or wrapped around a frame in a sling-like fashion is trending in chair design. This is often seen on frames which show the crafted joints to emphasise craftsmanship, giving a handmade and artisanal feel alongside a Scandinavian aesthetic.

12/11/18 10:35

Treating Fabric To Crib 5 For Hospitality Use

Fabric must be able to pass three fire tests to be suitable for hospitality use. It's often necessary to treat fabrics to Crib 5 standard so they will pass these tests. We explain the factory process behind flameproofing, & the science behind the testing including why some fabrics are unsuitable.

01/10/18 11:30

8 Gorgeous Geometric Fabrics Suitable For Contract Use

Geometric fabric adds visual intrigue with minimal application. We look at our favourite new geometric fabrics. Fabrics include the Soraya Collection from Romo, Shapes by Panaz, Geometrics by Kirkby Design & Warwick fabrics as well as some of our showroom samples to illustrate working examples.

16/07/18 10:50

Velvet & Velour Upholstery Care & Maintenance Tips

Contrary to popular belief velvet is not a high-maintenance fabric. Despite its delicate appearance, the fabric is well suited to contract use with regular cleaning. The biggest problem with velvet is that it is a dust magnet and that is can crease or 'bruise' but this is easily fixed, find out how.

07/05/18 11:30

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8 Stunning Botanical Velvet Fabrics

As the maximalism trend blazes on, velvet upholstery is becoming more popular than ever. We've compiled a list of our favourite botanical velvet fabrics that provide a decadent luxury worthy of the Palace of Versailles. Featuring Black Edition by Romo, GP & J Baker fabric and Panaz collections.

12/03/18 11:22

Leather Upholstery Care & Maintenance

Because leather is vulnerable to staining, finished leather is usually coated with both a colouring pigment and a clear protective layer. These provide significant extra protection making leather suitable for contract furnishing. Leather upholstery can have natural scars and is susceptible to stretching and bagging.

18/12/17 12:17

Contract Upholstery Care: Seating Fabric Cleaning Cheat Sheet

Different types of seating fabric are used on contract upholstery & while most can be cleaned with warm water and detergent, stubborn stains will need specific treatment. We look at the best cleaning techniques for nylon, polyester, wool & cotton fabric when upholstered on furniture.

05/12/17 11:37

Contract Upholstery, Sofas & Soft Seating: 25 Points to Consider

Here are 25 points to consider that will affect the speed of delivery, lifespan, and overall design and feel of contract upholstery, sofas and soft seating. Tips include dimensions, fabric qualities and quantities, leather and hide ordering cushion conumdrums and the varying scope of seat softness.

27/11/17 11:06