| If your furniture was made by one of the | | | | likely to last a lot longer than a lot of mid-market |
| ‘Famous Name’ makes: Parker Knoll, Cintique, | | | | furniture on sale today. |
| Ercol, G-Plan, Minty, Multiyork, M&S, Tetrad, | | | | To gauge whether a particular piece is suitable for |
| Collins & Hayes or Laura Ashley then almost | | | | covers or re-upholstery we use the ‘knee |
| certainly, Yes. | | | | test’. Put one knee on the seat and grab the |
| There are of course many other smaller volume | | | | back with both hands and gently try to twist it side |
| makers of high quality furniture and you will know | | | | to side. If the back moves a lot and the joints are |
| from the price you paid, and where it came from, | | | | loose, then it’s probably not worth putting |
| that it is of good quality. | | | | covers on it, better to re-upholster (as long as the |
| And ‘good quality’ means more today than | | | | re-upholsterer will/is competent at knocking apart and |
| ever. In the last few years furniture manufacturing | | | | re-setting joints). |
| in the UK has virtually collapsed and much of what is | | | | One last consideration – and one of the most |
| on the market is mass produced in vast factories in | | | | common reasons for having Covers or Re-Upholstery |
| the Far East and Eastern Europe. It is design-lead | | | | of course, is that it fits your room just right, or you |
| and generally not built to last. | | | | just like it! |
| Your good quality furniture will generally be made | | | | Reupholstery service and tailored covers by Lynplan. |
| from Hard Wood which is increasingly rare – may | | | | Lynplan provides quality tailored covers and furniture |
| have good quality polished show wood (which is even | | | | reupholstery for famous furniture names such as |
| rarer!) and will be jointed with dowels rather than just | | | | Parker Knoll, Cintique, Ercol, G-Plan, Minty, Marks |
| glued and stapled. | | | | & Spencer, Collins & Hayes, Tetrad, Laura |
| As an overall test of quality, weight is a fair guide | | | | Ashley and Multiyork furniture. |
| – if the furniture is heavy then it’s probably | | | | Lynplan upholstering services include re-upholstery, |
| made from hard wood, while very light furniture may | | | | tailored covers, loose covers, leather reupholstery |
| well be cheaply made. But a better guide is the | | | | and leather furniture repairs. Lynplan offers |
| condition it’s in. If at 10 years old the joints | | | | upholstering services for sofas, lounge suites, |
| were pretty good and it was still comfortable – | | | | recliners, ottomans, dining chairs, kitchen chairs, sofa |
| then its good quality, worth re-covering, and very | | | | beds, couches, dining cushions and more. |