Shocking reveal!! Vintage sofa vs New sofa

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Aimee reveals the inside construction of a vintage vs a new sofa! The difference is shocking!
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[@patriciarobinson5909]

The moral of the lesson: find a vintage sofa and have an artist reupholster it in your fabric choice! So worth the money! Just out of curiosity, how much did it cost to redo the beautiful sofa you showed us at the end? Thanks for these great informative videos!

[@sandracomeau3082]

Omg Ok ok. When I’m ready I’ll reupholster my 2 vintage pieces when I have sigh. We are all so lulled by the new shinny things, aren’t we?

[@dandricchikote4483]

Thanks for the video!... and the subtle poke at the 'Ikea' production model. Today's manufactuers build furniture, appliances and even homes using the Planned Obsolescence philosophy. My grandmothers couch lasted almost 40 years. My most recent sofa lasted about 5. I'm now a vintage furniture buyer because regardless of its age it still will last longer then new!

[@OneAdam12Adam]

You do great work, Aimee. You are absolutely correct. These companies sure are getting bold bordering on fraudulent when they say that they have hardwood and some duck feathers. Sure, they may get rid of their brick and mortar stores and move everything online but you don't know what you are going to get as you helped confirm for me. I can't tell you how many times I have had to send things back when they misrepresent their products. For this reason, I am keeping my vintage sectional sofa and reupholstering it myself. I thought I would have a friend do it but he is backed up with clients months out from when I was hoping. I've got solid wood frame made in Italy and with webbing strips right up against each other. It's heavy but generally solid piece.

[@sandrapattison6676]

I totally agree Aimee. Furniture is not made as well as it used to be. Congratulations by the way - I notice you have over 10,000 subscribers! That's great to see your channel growing. Thanks again for another helpful video!

[@ibisa79]

The before/after is amazing. I have to be honest I never would have thought that that vintage sofa had such potential.

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

I’m here to educate 😊

[@Cradley684]

Great video Aimee, some of the crap they put in furniture that you don't see, I found out with our double bed a year or two ago, SO I built my own for a fraction of the cost , that was very great feeling !!!. Stay Safe !!!.

[@e.j.sprojects9205]

I work in a shop and I see this nearly every day. Furniture that claims to be made of Solid wood that is mostly O.S.B. and plywood with just a little bit of a hard wood maybe in the corners. You make good videos. Keep up the good work.

[@deliaweber9220]

I came across your channel when I was commissioned to re-upholster some vinyl doctor's office chairs. Just looking for hints on to shape vinyl. That was maybe 2 years ago? Love watching your technical prowess - hard for me to believe you have 25 yrs of experience as you look like maybe 30 at the most. Anyways, thank you for keeping your channel going. Not many options out there for what you do.

[@tracisass4983]

That is a cool sofa! I would love to see that project broken down into a series of how you did it. I appreciate your instruction, and you do great work!

[@timhmetal3499]

Hey Miss A... Love seeing your point of view and explanations. As always, a wealth of knowledge. Glad to see you are doing well... T

[@jordjosh2]

Thanks much. I have to share this on social media many people need to see how cheap furniture is made today. I love your videos have learned so much. Thanks for sharing

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

Thanks for sharing!

[@sergiolino9875]

Well done Aimee, good job. Can you should us more Vinyl videos please. Sérgio Lino from Portugal...

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

I just did a brand new vinyl video!

[@lindsaygilmore1771]

Now this has made my day, Another great video. So true what you say about Vintage sofas, well made and still loads of life in them. Well done, more videos please.

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

Thank you Lindsay! Hope your weather improves soon! 😊

[@lee5150]

I just upholstered a 3 seater Chesterfield. The first major upholstery project I’d undertaken. Took it back down to the frame and built it back up. Wish I could post a picture. I love it!!!

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

Awesome! Congrats!

[@lauraknowles3891]

LOVE THIS!!🎉

[@neliborba101]

I have a vintage sofa which I love; the wood frame, cotton all over, it needs to be redone with a new fabric. I am wondering if I can do it myself. You made it look easy to do.

[@repentrepurposerefurbish3307]

I already knew this. The "stuff" they make now is AS STRONG AS THE PAPER THE PRICE IS PRINTED ON. My grandmother had old furniture, it was made from solid heavy hardwood, had real springs for support.The fabric on it was great quality. I'm so glad you're doing what you do you are blessed to be professional, knowledgeable and very talented. I appreciate and support your channel.

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

Thank you! 😁

[@dannycarrington1601]

Thank you for confirming what I've suspected. I'm lucky to have several nice consignment shops in my area.

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

Thank you for your response! There’s no good reason not to buy vintage. 😊

[@thornbird6768]

I have a retro sofa and matching chair , it’s a three seat sofa but smaller than modern furniture so it fits really well in any size lounge . I love it , it’s well made , still really comfortable and the original fabric covers wash up like new 👍🏻 not even offensive to look at , light sage green . It was a real find , I got it from a charity furniture store for less than $100 including the chair 👍🏻👍🏻

[@gregchristoson6127]

Beautiful!!!

[@SouthbayCreations]

Wow that’s just an amazing difference especially with the amount of money they charge for couches these days! Thank you for the video Aimee! It’s always a pleasure to see your beautiful smile! Jason

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

😊

[@janezemurray8108]

Amazing! You have me wanting to strip my furniture down and see what's inside. I tried buying good pieces I could afford but in this day and age it's really no telling what I got. I wonder what year they started all this ripping off on what the furniture is made from?

[@nahnahbethr661]

Thank you for making this video

[@peanut3590]

Love the vintage sofa, do you have any recommendations on where to get fabric, I really like this one and the gray one..they look tweed.

[@pambirdsall9863]

Great video!

[@sarahreinhardt1414]

I don't think people realize just how cheaply new furniture is made. I personally prefer vintage furniture 100% of the time. It doesn't break as easily, most repairs are do-able, and it actually looks classy. New stuff can rarely be repaired well, it breaks super easily, and after a couple years with it, it's out of style again and run down looking. And lots of times, you can thrift pieces for cheap, pay to have them repaired or reupholstered and still come out of it for the same price or less, than brand new.

[@tracisass4983]

Also Aimee can you give us a rough idea of what we may spend to redo? Like middle range fabric say? Thanks !

[@pcdc9436]

Thank you for the factual information; surprise surprise. I'm grateful you showed is the TRUTH 👍🤗😊💖💖💖⚘⚘⚘

[@Ahmedyahya7789]

You are right I had my Couch replaced after only 3 years

[@helencoppard8059]

When you are recovering a cushion do you add half inch seam allowance or cut the fabric the same size as the form?

[@lynnec32]

My sofa is 15 years old, and it was an amazing deal (read: cheap I think I paid $499), so I'm guessing by this video, you wouldn't bother reupholstering it? I still love the style, and I can't find anything like it, but the cushions are saggy, and the fabric (microfiber) has been cleaned many times, but there are some areas that the stains will just not come out.

[@GeeenJ]

hi aimee so true if you want lomg lasting furniture its better to buy old furniture and get it recovered it lasts longer i did a night class back in the 90's a guy bought in a 2 seater he said he paid about $800 for it when it was new to reupholster after stripping it down the frame was cheap rough sawn wood worth maybe $100 i was shocked how garbage it was

[@katdurham5539]

Great video! How can I tell a good vintage piece when the upholstery is still in place? Maybe you can do a video 😀

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

If it’s still around after 40 years, it’s good 👍

[@cmcer1995]

Thanks Aimee for the eye opening reveal of modern day furniture. I wondered why my vintage Victorian Bench was so heavy compared to other furniture, now I understand. I saw all the old springs and heavy wood and thought lighter furniture is easier to move around in comparison. But, it is also expensive poorly built junk. Disposable society we live in now days. Maybe the reason you look so youthful is you started upholstering when you were five in your families shop??

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

I could show you a photo when I was 20 and working in a shop. I looked about 12, so it’s no wonder I got no respect 😜. I’m totally good with my 45 years. I feel well respected now.

[@cmcer1995]

@@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio Well, that would be great to see how well you have aged since 12. I am sure you were a doll back then, but you have matured into an attractive woman. Must be the Nova Scotia climate. Does Nova Scotia mean New Scotland?

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

Yes, that’s correct, in Latin

[@mrcronoman]

Very nice. What size of wetling piping foot do you use?

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

5/32

[@abhisek8159]

I have watched your lots of video.. Very nice.. Only one thing missing how much time it took to finish your project.

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

I’ve been doing this for 25 years, so I work fast. It’s not relevant to the video though.

[@turboflush]

New recline sofa's have similar problem. Don't buy bargain versions. The metal is thinner and the mechanism and frame will just bend under normal use.

[@cristiin1992]

Yes. Is a big difference but reupholstering a vintage couch is very expensive.

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

It’s not more expensive than buying a new, good quality sofa, or buying a poorly made sofa and replacing it every 3 - 5 years. Reupholstering vintage furniture is THE BEST INVESTMENT YOU CAN MAKE when making a furniture purchase.

[@tonicamp7069]

What are the pair of bent pliers/ side cutters you are using?

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

It’s called a Nail Jack and you can find it here: amzn.to/2ZdKl5U

[@knittingbouvier]

And this is why I only have vintage furniture...

[@traceysullivan0819]

Hi Aimee can you please tell me where I can purchase sofa back pillow inserts. My cushions are stuffed with cotton, polyfil, fiberfill one of those horrible stuffings. They constantly sag. I am in the process of reupholstering my sofa. I want some sort insert where I can remove and clean the cover. My cushions measure 18x36x5 each. I have googled and researched every way I know. PLEASE HELP

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

There’s no magic answer to the dilemma of back cushions. If you want them soft, they sag. If you want them to look structured, they feel harder. The structured look would come from super soft foam wrapped in multiple layers of Dacron.

[@traceysullivan0819]

@@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio Thanks Aimee that helps a lot. Love your videos so much. Always very informative

[@stephanieporter999]

Oh no! I’ve been eyeing the leather version of this couch 😭 Any idea of the average cost to redo a vintage couch in full aniline leather?

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

The cost of reupholstery totally depends on where you live, but real leather is costly anywhere, and creates more work for the upholsterer.

[@danaildanailov3847]

Furniture and all manufactured goods should be taxed on the amount of materials used. This will stimulate the old way of doing things. Sustainability is not about recycling, but about never throwing things away.

[@dvyt433]

Here's that sofa that I stripped yesterday !!

[@MrsPaulaTorres]

What’s the latest years we should be sofa shopping for to know there’s solid wood in the middle 💯 % My grandma worked in a furniture factory 30 years and her comments on furnitures are always fun to listen to 🎤 Regarding Stanley furniture 🪑 I got a set that clearly has veneer inlay on the dining table top (next to marble tile center) and on the chairs, around the cane, and on the China cabinet, with solid wood carvings it’s a bit confusing should I be removing the veneer altogether or is there “bad wood” underneath, but if the set has pictures from about 1963, without knowing when it was bought, what are the chances there’s plywood underneath? What kind of person do I need to look for to do this “antique diagnosis” on what the hell it is 🤩 there’s tags on chairs on the bottom but I can’t find them, something a bit similar and simpler yes but not with all these details together in one set. Advise someone thanks

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

Complicated question, and the only real answer is that you won’t know unless you take the veneer off! I’d only do it if is badly damaged.

[@sarahturnbull7610]

What era do you think the vintage sofa was from?

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

It was built in 1973

[@nellymaddyandme5699]

What state do you live in I would love to pay for your classes

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

I’m not in the States. I’m Canadian 🇨🇦

[@rustyhauler6477]

New sofa 2500, old sofa 125 at the local Habitat for Humanity store.

[@ArtisanUpholsteryStudio]

And no tax at Habitat for Humanity, as it’s a charity. I bought mine there, it’s a beauty.

[@theparson4944]

What a shocking example of big companies treating their customers with utter contempt. Putting the absolute minimal amount of feathers in those cushions to exploit an advertising loophole.

[@OneAdam12Adam]

Made in China. They really don't care about their lack of craftsmanship. We took our craftsmen for granted. Stupid move it was. You get what you pay for.

[@josephd.4890]

[@ShiningSakura]

The one you showed as nice and vintage is even considered lesser quality to the olden ones that were made with coil springs that were hand tied together multiple ways and sewn with webbing and other layers of padding/cloth. Goes to show just how terrible these new sofas are.... Just crap.