If god is in the details then to the details we must turn. Upholstery is the focus of our attention today and I must address my greatest issue with “contemporary upholstery”.
Free from the constraints of tradition, the envelope of upholstery design has been expanded to include angles, radii and dramatically sculpted forms not previously associated with furniture and for good reason. The art of fine upholstery, as mastered by the French, is a system of meticulously crafted hardwood frames, hand-tied springs, horse-hair padding, muslin lining and meticulous hand stitching all in the service of creating pieces which should be passed down to the children and grandchildren. Toss in tight curves, spindly legs and sculpted cushions and we’re into a different animal completely. Frames are formed of rigid alloys which are then wrapped in futuristic foam and the whole kit-n-caboodle is covered with the fabric of your choice. And yes, the foam can be cut into shapes previously seen only at the Guggenheim. My endless dissatisfaction with contemporary upholstery is the inevitable twisting, sagging and bunching that takes place when fabric is stretched over these marvels of modern imagination.
“I hate wrinkled, warped and sagging contemporary upholstery.”
However beautiful the piece looks in a catalogue, give your guests, kids family dogs a few minutes and that very expensive Italian import suddenly looks like an ill-fitting suit or the sagging breasts worn by Carol Burnett in her iconic “Norma Desmond” skit. Either way; No Thanks!
Always looking for Smart-Design-Daily
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