SMALL BAY WINDOW BESPOKE ARMCHAIRS

Small Bespoke Armchairs commissioned for narrow Bay Window

When our customer approached us with a very clear brief of her requirements and with a list of seemingly impossible measurements for an armchair, we couldn’t say no to the challenge! The results were these two pretty bespoke creations constructed to an amazingly narrow width of 25 inches and even inclusive of their traditional scroll arms but with a generous seating width of 18 inches. They fitted perfectly into her bay. We were thrilled with her review..

I ordered 2 armchairs made to look antique and they turned out absolutely spectacular! Glowing comments from friends and family who admired and sat in them! Both chairs made to fit in a small bay window and Patricia rose to the challenge: lovely manner down to every minute detail: style, measurements down to piping and legs of the chairs. She made them even better that I could explain. Patricia is a professional with a keen eye for what works, drawing from years of experience and she made sure that my chairs were done precisely as I wanted.Her clever use of fabric even saved me some money. I would say she went above and beyond her duties. For that, a heartfelt 'Thank you!' from me and a promise that I will spread the word, so that others order with confidence from her company.

Upholstered in Linwood Cranbourne Dutch Blue

The Bespoke Footstool Company is launched!

Footstools, Ottomans, Pouffes, table stools........

Following its inception, the website for our brand new sister company "The Bespoke Footstool Company" is now up and running!  There are vibrant photographs within a sophisticated website full of useful features such as Design Tips and even a Design Tool where you can create your perfect footstool. Thank you to all the professionals who made it all come together - I am delighted!  Footstools (also known as ottomans, pouffes, table stools et al. ) will always be a firm favourite of mine as they tie a room together, are multi-functional and have the option of being an artistic centrepiece! Check out some of our designs! 

https://thttps://thebespokefootstoolcompany.co.uk/hebespokefootstoolcompany.co.uk/

Advanced Upholstery Student apprenticeships : our new "earn while you learn" scheme

As the original  students progress through from Part 1 to Part 4 at an advanced level, the skills they have acquired are being put to good use in the new Bespoke Chair Company Scheme "Earn while you Learn".  This allows students to take on real commissions under my watchful eye, whilst earning per piece, to give them experience but also to fit in with their busy schedules.  This has so far been very successful in giving students a broader range of experience of pieces that tend to come into the workshop as well as equipping them with further skills, and enabling them to practice at their own pace.. This scheme is open to any student who has progressed through to the Advanced stage 4 with The Bespoke Chair Company.

Upholstery Course - Intermediate level - a success!

The quality of workmanship shown in the chairs created by the first 2017 Intermediate students was outstanding.  From William Morris to Ian Mankin, the students played with colour and design whilst developing facing and collar techniques, aswell as learning new skills such how to star lash double cone coil springs and perfecting their traditional blind, top and slip stitching.

The results speak for themselves and all in only 5 days.... well done !

The Bespoke Chair Company wins Best of Houzz Service award 2017

We win Best of Houzz Service Award for the second year running!

THE BESPOKE CHAIR COMPANY,

SURREY/HAMPSHIRE FURNITURE MAKERS

Awarded Best Of Houzz 2017

Over 40 Million Monthly Unique Users Nominated Best Home Improvement and Design Professionals in the UK and Around the World

UK 2017 – The Bespoke Chair Company, Applegarth Farm, Headley Road, Grayshott, Surrey GU26 6JL has won “Best Of Customer Service” on Houzz®, the leading platform for home renovation and design. Creating fine made to measure upholstered furniture, this company was chosen by more than 40 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than one million active home building, home improvement and design industry professionals.

The Best Of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 40 million monthly users on Houzz. Customer Service honours are based on several factors, including the number and quality of client reviews for a professional received in 2016. Architecture and interior design photographers whose images were most popular are recognised with the Photography award. A “Best Of Houzz 2017” badge will appear on winners’ profiles, as a sign oftheir commitment to excellence. These badges help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals on Houzz.

 “We’re so pleased to award Best of Houzz 2017 to this incredible group of talented and customer-focused professionals, including The Bespoke Chair Company” said Andrew Small, MD of Houzz UK and Ireland. “Each of these businesses was singled out for recognition by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts for helping to turn their home improvement dreams into reality.”

Follow The Bespoke Chair Company on Houzz

Table Stools

Ottomans, Table Stools, Foot Stools, Pouffes.....

Whatever name you want to give them, such a piece of furniture will become the functioning centrepiece of your room.  In fact, The Bespoke Chair Company loves creating table stools.  They are an eye catching way to bring textural or colour elements of a room together.  For example borders can pick out a sofa colour, double piping trim can match existing cushion fabrics whilst castors/studs can mirror other ironmongery. The effect is subtle but very cohesive. 

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Made of traditional and luxury natural paddings, with solid hardwood frames, and webbed with tough flax black and white herringbone webbing,  all  stools are built to provide lasting comfort and to be durable enough to act as an additional surface for books, magazines trays ..., hence the name "table stools".  They can be created to any size or design.  Commission your own unique design by contacting us here

See other footstool designs for inspiration...

Upholstery Beginners' Courses for 2017

Part 1 Beginners' Course - Introduction to Upholstery 

“Such a great course.. so much fun and delighted with the final result”

— 2016 Student

Part 1 is now available to book  18th to 20th January 2017. 

Learn traditional and modern upholstery, renovating and some polishing skills by creating a fine piece of furniture to take home. Courses held at Applegarth Farm, Headley Road, Grayshott GU26 6JL.  Places limited to 6. 

BOOK HERE

Fireside Wing Chairs

Wing Chair in Ralph Lauren

What better way to relax in front of the fire  than in a sumptuously comfy wing chair designed for you by The Bespoke Chair Company.  Choose from a range of wing chair styles on our website, let us design a unique chair for you or if you can't wait,  take home this beautiful original chair in Ralph Lauren and Designer's Guild in time for Christmas. With individually hand-carved legs, hand tied in coil springs lashed the Victorian way, feather cushion and sprung back, this chair is the ultimate in comfort and style. 

Available to view, try or buy from the Applegarth showrroom, Headley Road, Grayshott, Surrey or purchase online at http://www.thebespokechaircompany.co.uk/salefurniture/

Our new range of Dog Beds, Dog Cushions and Dog Stools

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Emily Bond new Spaniel Cushion 

The perfect Christmas present ... we have just finished making the very latest Emily Bond King Charles Spaniel cushions... complete with blue ticking stripe backs, to add to the extensive cushion dog collection, including Scotty and Westy Dogs, Lurchers, Beagles, Dachshunds, Black Labs, Greyhounds, Jack Russells ... and even a multi dog cushion.  Buy your cushions online here,  where you can order a matching dog stool or buy off the shelf from Applegarth.

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Wire haired Dachshund Footstool

Small Dog Bed with wipeable top in stain resistant luxurious Impala and choice of dog borders/top covers/leg height 

Or if you feel like pampering your pet for Christmas, why not treat him or her to their very own Dog Bed, in a stain-resistant wipeable fabric with your choice of designer doggy border. Small stools are £185, large triangular stools £250 with a choice of doggy border/top cover colour/leg height and leg colour. Legs are finished with traditional French polishing materials and frames are of solid hardwood, with environmentally friendly stuffings. 

Come to the Christmas Night at Applegarth on the 8th December 2016  5-7pm o see the fulll range or to order your doggy bed in time for Christmas.....

Small Armchairs

Bespoke Small Armchairs

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Armchairs seem to have grown in size over the decades and I have found that more and more frequently  i am being asked to build small versions of a favourite style.  

Small armchairs slot very well into most awkward spaces where extra  seating is required aswell as having a role in a larger room without dominating it. These mini chairs offer no less comfort with traditional and luxury natural paddings, coil sprung seats and feather/down cushions.

Our customers were thrilled to have been able to commission the exact style and size they wanted for their study corner and use classic  Romo  Linara in  teal.. I did a simple embellishment in double piping with light oak shellac polished legs.  More photos of this small armchair can be viewed here.

To order the same armchair, £850 plus 3.5 metres of plain fabric.

This mini version of the classic "Howard" style armchair (shown in William Yeoward) made its way to a large Petworth apartment where it had pride of place by the window overlooking the pretty square.

To order this armchair, £1250 plus 6-8 metres of fabric.

View more small armchairs here. 

If you would like to commission a small armchair or other furniture please get in touch to discuss your requirements. 

 

Bespoke Chair Company "Ottoman Silks" Stools at Decorex

Ottoman Silks exhibit our designs at Decorex

I was thrilled to see Vizier, Agha, Hazinedar, and Pasha, adorning the Ottoman Silks stand this year at Decorex.

These distinct and bespoke pieces feature  original silk designs from the kaftans of Sultans from the Ottoman Empire.

It was exciting to design them; from the painstaking polishing with layers of shellac to the solid beech show wood frames, to working with natural materials which further emphasise the exquisite fabrics.

Finally the finishing touches; embellishments meticulously applied, from double piping trim to individually hammered in nails.  

The result was a joy to see on display at Syon Park.

All the pieces shown here are available to purchase at The Bespoke Chair Company or order them online at :

http://www.ottomansilks.com/en/interior-design

BEGINNERS' UPHOLSTERY COURSES - AUTUMN 2016

Our Autumn Part 1 and 2 upholstery courses will be running at Applegarth Farm from mid September along with the Intermediate course in November for those who have completed their initial training.  Spaces are now limited to 6 people per course, so book now to avoid disappointment! (Only 1 space left currently on the Beginners' Part 1 Day course!) 

Beginners Part 1: Introduction to Upholstery
14th - 16th September : 3 day or evening course.
£185 per person. Bring your own choice of fabric, all other materials included.

Beginners Part 2: Make a Stuffed and Stitched, Bordered & Buttoned Footstool
12th- 14th October & 19th - 21st October 2016 : 6 day or evening course
£265 per person. Bring your choice of fabric, all other materials included.

For more information and to book, click here.

Bespoke Dining/Side Chair in Designer's Guild and Osborne & Little

This elegant dining chair was designed to showcase Designer's Guild's Cassan. The frame of the chair is designed to perfectly match the geometric pattern of the fabric across its curved back; aligning the design from both top to bottom and side to side.

Osborne and Little's Lomond wool fabric was the ideal contrasting partner for the seat and back of the chair with bespoke buttons in ivory silk added for the final finishing touch.

This hand made piece and all the furniture made at the Bespoke Chair Company can be built to your bespoke design and specification, using designer fabrics, natural materials and time-honoured traditional techniques.

Available to view and buy at our workshop at Applegarth Farm or online. Limited edition of four at £750 each.

To order a dining chair of same design
£545 per chair + 2.5m of fabric

If you would like to commission a set of dining chairs or other furniture please get in touch to discuss your requirements. 

 

Upholstery Courses - May & June 2016 - book now!

We are delighted to announce our upholstery courses running at Applegarth Farm in May and June. Spaces are limited to 8 people per course, so book now to avoid disappointment!

Beginners Part 1: Introduction to Upholstery
23rd - 25th May : 3 day or evening course.
£185 per person. Bring your own choice of fabric, all other materials included.

Beginners Part 2: Make a Stuffed and Stitched, Bordered & Buttoned Footstool
21st - 23rd June & 28th - 30th June : 6 day or evening course
£265 per person. Bring your choice of fabric, all other materials included.

For more information and to book, click here.

The Bespoke Chair Company is moving to Applegarth...

Designer Furniture and Fabrics on sale at Applegarth Farm

There are plans to run some comprehensive upholstery courses too so watch this space ..!

http://www.applegarthfarm.co.uk/

I am very excited by my imminent move to Applegarth Farm where I will be taking one of the artistan cabins. Applegarth farm has daytime and evening restaurant serving homemade cuisine and an outstanding deli and farmshop selling homemade and locally sourced produce as well as unique gifts. I will be joining the other artisans based there. 

Not only will there be one off and limited edition pieces of designer furniture on sale but also upholstery supplies to buy and a large range of fabrics to choose from.

Wing Chairs in Wool Tweed

One of the Homify articles written about my furniture featured the stately Library Wing Chair. With its wing scrolls, and close nailing , it is described as "classic".  The article can be translated from the Spanish. 

https://www.homify.es/libros_de_ideas/42751/los-sillones-orejeros-se-reinventan

Small Dining Table but still need 8 Chairs?

Bespoke Dining Chairs are the answer to the space limitations of Small Dining Tables!

So you cannot find the right size dining chairs to fit your small dining table, but need the capacity?.  Before you compromise on having less chairs than you really want, think about having them made to measure.  Bespoke dining chairs can be built proportionally to fit your table size as in the adjacent picture  where 8 chairs were needed rather than 6 to meet the requirements of a large family.

 Loose Covers on Dining Chairs:

The chairs were fully upholstered using traditional materials and methods, hand sprung with additional lumbar support  offering the ultimate in comfort and style then  loose washable covers were created to protect the chairs, ideal for dining rooms with a lot of use by children.  This dining chair is priced @ £395 with loose cover an additional £95 plus fabric.

http://www.thebespokechaircompany.co.uk/dining-chairs

Mid Century Vintage Furniture

Ercol Suite

I recently revamped an Ercol Wychwood suite.  I have touched on the importance of the furniture frame before in my blog, but with this suite, as with many Ercol models, the frame is visible and showcases craftsmanship at its best. The British Elm wood grain is beautiful and the solid frame is so well made and well designed that this furniture is well worth the expense of  re-upholstering. A good upholsterer should be able to create the foam insert when the  foam eventually perishes. If the foam is in good condition and the cover only is worn, then replacement covers are also worthwhile investing in. Replacement buttons can be made providing you have spare fabric of course, and are very easy to attach using a long buttoning needle and forming a slip knot through the plastic button at the back, and then pulled to the required depth.

Bespoke furniture in the mid-century style can be made to compliment your originals as with small chair .. more examples of mid century style upholstered furniture coming soon....

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Bespoke Borders...

Footstool frames can even be built to showcase the design of a  favourite kilim where  the rug edge pattern can form its own  interesting border naturally.

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I love adding interesting borders to my designs.  I even like to build furniture around a striking pattern suitable for a border. They can add a subtle sophisticated uniformity as in the geometric footstool below, or provide a dramatic interesting contrast as in this boys' triangular surf board footstool above.

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Beautiful ball and claw and acanthus leaf carvings .. and by our own British craftsmen ...

Hand carved acanthus leaf and ball and claw legs which are standard in many of our fireside wing chairs  are created by an older generation of skilled British carvers. This is  British craftsmanship at its very best, and I hope not an art in decline in this country...  I enjoy staining and polishing these legs to highlight the detail of form and grain. After applying two or three coats of button polish, with a light sanding in between with fine wire wool, the legs are then waxed and buffed.   

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