RARE FIND! How to Upholster: 1860's Antique Chair Restoration Pt. 1

Time for another project! This one was quite incredible. While working on this 1860's antique chair from Americas heartland, we discover some very unique things from americas past. Follow along as usual to see this project step by step. The first step will be stripping the old materials.
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Kevin Kennedy began training with European masters as a young lad of 17. For 42 years, he has been an Upholsterer for countless Boston area designers and leading art restorers, including consulting with and heading the upholstery department at Trefler and Sons, in Newton, MA. Commissioned to upholster Napoleon's chair, and guest writer to the Upholstery Journal. His most successful venture yet, his studio in Arlington, Ma , Upholstery on Broadway, has been open since 2010.
VISIT OUR SITE: upholsteryonbroadway.com
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[@omnath17]

your good upholstery work I like 👍 because I am also sofamaker upholsterer

[@elizabethgantz3302]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have successfully upholstered four sofas, one plush chair and numerous dining chairs in the past. I was taught by my mother who took an "old school" upholstering class in the 1950s. I have two chairs , I think from the mid 1800s, that came from my husband's family. They have been in my basement for years waiting for me to have the courage to fix them. You have given me that courage! I've retied the springs, used edge roll and made double welting, all of which was new to me, One chair is done and I am so pleased! I have several books about upholstery but nothing beats your videos. I so appreciate your sharing them.

[@lisafamilymom]

I feel the same way as you. I just discovered upholstery refurbishment. Learning and u r a big help

[@lindapeterson9267]

also...your videographer is so much better, great editing....easy to follow...and see what you are doing....can;t wait for more..

[@KyllanMan]

Hey mate, found you through your double piping video when I was a bit stuck one day. I keep watching your great videos, just watching this one now with my wife. 15 years into the trade and loving it.

[@QueenCityHistory]

I love the original silk, you can see a beautiful emerald green around the edge it used to be

[@megiab]

omg! this is exactly what i need to see! hooraaaaaay! saving all of these for reference as i start on my projects!!!

[@KathrynLee5456]

Thank you for your professional video quality! So helpful for me to refinish my Grandma's old "nursing rocker" and footstool.

[@lindapeterson9267]

I love this.....old furniture is so rewarding....thank you for letting us follow along with you on this....whoopee!!!!!

[@marianwhit]

I am binging your videos..so cool to see the improvement of production values over time...this is such a COOL form of recycling and with the option to use natural biodegradable materials...these chairs were not (like everything these days) designed for planned obsolescence. They are worth repairing...every time you look at it you will be proud, and your furniture will be a unique expression of the values we desperately need to be cultivating now. My c 1870s balloon back chair is signed "HoLL" inside, with a chisel, that was fun to find!

[@edwardchapman1914]

Thanks for going through the effort to make these videos. Love to see these old restorations, you are correct upholstery is the best recycler and it is so much better seeing something live that is so old from 1860.

[@skymoon4949]

Great info! I am think it will help me with a project I’ve been reluctant to begin. ❤

[@skymoon4949]

I wish I could send you pics. It’s lion carved wood chair with horse hair and cotton.

[@BroadwayUpholsterySchool]

Join our Forum! facebook.com/groups/broadwayupholsteryschoolforum

[@lilybecerra2035]

Such great video! Love the history in the chair!! It does get the mind going and wondering!

[@Amy-oy5hk]

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this, your love for antique pieces and craftsmanship involved, made me smile throughout entire video. I also appreciate your inquisitive mind in researching your findings.

[@bernadetteadkins4904]

I am so happy I found your channel! Just bought a pair of antique chairs and needed to figure out how to get the old tacks out without damaging the wood. Thank you for your excellent information!

[@janelaing2866]

Just found this brilliant site and its so interesting. I am from West Sussex, UK and love working on old chairs of this era and do traditional upholstery - but often check out websites to make sure that I am doing it correctly or just because ive forgotten - your site is a great way to learn new techniques. I can so relate to the excitement of undoing the 'cake' and enleashing the history that awaits and sometimes being amused and so impressed by some of the ways the upholsterer has achieved the desired effect. Just love your site - Many thanks

[@gutless_prince]

Another great video! That was a great tidbit that the rust is from spitting tacks. I am redoing a midcentury bench that was done by a real master. It was completely tacked and I even found some horsehair in there (which I saved for when I restore). There was rust around the tacks and now I know why.

[@blcscott7897]

Great video, especially on the history of making a chair. I've recently found an old high back cane chair and want to reupholster the seat and paint the chair to give it a more contemporary look Thank you.

[@Aim4aCreativeLife]

I JUST found something very similar on the side of the road, the bottom with springs looked almost the same. Thanks for your video!

[@patriciarobinson5909]

The philosopher upholsterer!

[@kirstenfortier9639]

I had to try finding the origin of the burlap so I did a quick google... My guess is Ismert-Hinkle Milling Company in Topeka, Kansas. Just having a little fun with the possibilities, thinking about the chair's possible travels. :) Thanks for the helpful video. I am about to reupholster my first project, my grandmother's chair, similar to this video's. She redid it last, in about the 30's. Edit: I was on the right track! Really enjoying this video!

[@sandrafrederiksen7950]

Thanks again. I’m happy you take time to explain the “why” of what you’re doing. Especially the historical aspects, I.e., you mentioned rust on tacks from spitting tacks. These small, but very interesting facts make reupholstering almost like a historical puzzle. The French silk is so beautiful. When you say that it would be very expensive now, what do you consider expensive? Like $100 per yd., $500 per yd.? Thanks.

[@jeanine6492]

Great video! Thanks for explaining the reasons behind your decisions; the ‘why’ really helps me (and hopefully others) learn much more. Plus I like thinking about the origin of the piece and who might have used it and where. Very informative and entertaining. I’m too gullible, at the end there I thought you’d really found something for a second 😂

[@angelicadial7513]

Thank you for sharing the histories and the different styles (: I’m going to be reupholstering an (suspected) antique loveseat with a wooden centerpiece on the back and I want to be sure I do it well in a way that respects its history. There’s a lot of bad DIY advice on KZbin!

[@MrSvandam]

Hi Kevin, at 5:30 you mention that you could tie the springs together and put new webbing on top. I have a nice 1830 mahogany armchair with a good interior where I would like to do just that. Have you already made a video where you show how you do this? I greatly enjoy your channel by the way, very good teaching skills! Kind regards, Sander

[@nancyjm79]

Very cool and exciting to watch. I am redoing a very old chair and the edge roll on the seat smells like mildew. I really wanted to reuse it. Can I bleach it or something?

[@chareast9997]

you can make new custom grips for your pliars using poly clay

[@harmonyrushton1737]

Do you have a recommendation for what I could use instead of the horsehair? It’s so expensive!! Ours have been filled with hay for the past century… no sign of horse hair… we’ve watched all your videos and gathered a supply list… the horse hair filler is our last step. Thanks for your feedback!

[@timschulte6371]

I'm about to start my first attempt at reupholstery. What do I do with this horse hair? Is it valuable?

[@patriciabaker332]

Maybe not centered on the back because there wasn’t enough fabric.

[@jamesjfisk4968]

Interesting tutorial on how old upholstery was put together! It's kind of hard to understand your thick southern drawl though😙

[@BroadwayUpholsterySchool]

Thats a Boston accent for ya!! (;

[@pf7473]

@@BroadwayUpholsterySchool I really like your accent, just sayin'.

[@pamelayohn7921]

Lol yea def Boston accent. Love it.

[@sandisherck4636]

LOL

[@coffeeandsarcasm2160]

The burlap with the writing on it looks like a reused potato sack.

[@lindarandles2106]

Lol. Your a time traveler.