Just do it. If you are needing a slipcover, reupholstering, drapes or any kind of renovation that requires fabric, let us recommend Frank Cangelosi's Lore Decorators.
Situated up on 120th street, Frank will come down, discuss what you need and then have his team take your furniture away until it is done. He can provide fabric or hw will work with what yours. He is fast and courteous. He is professional and does excellent work.
Prices are good. Fabric aside, here are some average costs for total labor involved:
- Sofa reupholster - $800
- Sofa slipcover - $450
- Club reupholster - $375
- Wingchair reupholster - $325
MUG says: "a secret source for furniture upholstering at less-than-astronomic prices."
AT Readers say: Vote and comment below...
I am looking to have leather cushions made (to put on the tops of benches in a kitchen nook). Would this be the type of place I would need or do they only do fabric?
I used Lore just last month to reupholster a large sofa, club chair, and ottoman. They couldn't have been nicer, picked up the stuff in a week, and volunteered to put a rush on it when the nice man who picked it up saw that I would have nowhere to sit until the stuff came back. They brought it back, pristinely done, just a week later. Total cost including pickup, delivery, and tax (I supplied the fabric): $2,000, which is completely reasonable given that the job was so well done.
Based on the recommendations here, I just used Lore to reupholster two armchairs. The service was great, the turnaround was quick (about a week and a half), and the price was much more reasonable than other estimates I'd received. I will definitely use them again.
I just had a very positive experience using Lore to reupholster and touch-up two small chairs. Both pieces look beautiful and I got them back in just two weeks. The price was lower than another estimate I received, and included pick-up and delivery. I would definitely use them again.
My last and sadly final experience with Lore was terrible. They covered my chairs in the wrong fabric, refused to apologize or make amends and then offered to make slipcovers for $250 each if I supplied the fabric. Then they didn't return the excess fabric worth $200 and said it was not important to them. When I complained, they said that the shop has expanded recently. No one ever apologized. Old Frank was a gem. Young Frank ... not so shiny.
I just had a really good experience with Lore. First, they gave me a fixed estimate via a faxed photo, which was super-convenient (not as convenient as emailing a photo, but okay) and let me know how many yards of fabric I'd need for each chair in case I wanted to provide my own fabric. Second, they came in a few hundred lower to reupholster six knoll chairs than the other three places I called, and included the pick-up and delivery in the price (and scheduled the pick-up for the day after I booked them for the job). Third, they gave me a pick-up/delivery window of an hour, which was also super-convenient, and then they were punctual in the pick-up/delivery. The guys who came were very polite and friendly. Fourth, the job took less than a month, and the chairs look great. Lore made one mistake in the reupholstery (left some staples in); they fixed this immediately by sending someone to my apartment with the necessary tools the next day. I'd definitely use them again.
I just had a very bad experience with Lore - I had previously used them and paid about $3,500 for the work on sofa, chairs - the work was acceptable not perfect - anyway I used them again to have mirrors and ottoman covered - kept them 8 months and never gave me a quote - finally they arrived last week -$735 and one the mirrors came undone 1 hour after they left - I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND OR USE THEM AGAIN - very bad.
I just had a chair done by Lore (which I chose after reading this sites recommendation!)
I was quoted a pretty impressive $800 for the work, but I felt confident with my choice because they must surely merit my trust if they got listed on Apartmenttherapy.com
The work looks crude and unprofessional. The chair is basically ruined! Not to mention the waste of very expensive fabric.
I am very disappointed and will probably never follow advice from this site again.
I had only fantastic experiences with Lore Decorators. I had a sofa, chair and ottoman; I provided all my own fabric. I am as picky as can be, and I have no complaints about any work he did. Very clean and neat, and all the work was made to look as if it was original to the furniture. I really appreciated that he was so patient with my indecision an insanity (I changed my mind about the fabric I provided for the chair after he go started working, and he did not charge me extra)
He was always punctual and courteous as others have mentioned.
He also loan me two chairs so I would have a comfortable chair to sit and watch TV while the work was being done.
How nice is that!
A few months later I had him make me curtains for my bedroom from boldly colored hand printed vintage linen fabric. He matched the fabric print perfectly.
Beautiful work!
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Anybody used Lore's lately? They seemed to have wonderful reviews in 2005-2006 but not so great in recent times. I'd love to have some recent reviews and experiences.
Or can anybody recommend another place to reupholster antique french chairs? I am always seeing gorgeous discarded chairs or chairs at flea markets in desperate need of repair but hesitate in purchasing since I am afraid that reupholstery would cost a fortune.
view frenchbread's profile