PARTICULAR PEOPLE

  When it comes to getting work done with my stock of  vintage French textiles, whether making cushions, hand-stitching fine curtains with linings and interlining, or restoring upholstery on antique chairs, I am, of course, very particular that my clients get the best of work from my band of skilled and helpful workers.

19C.French easy chairs with 'lumbar swell' support, all covered in old  hemp sacking

    Between them, they can tackle almost any job to do with decorating a house and I thought it would please them, and maybe interest you, to see some of the work they have done for my own houses - always using second-hand materials, sometimes in very original ways to get the job finished properly.   They are all keen, like me, on re-cycling and have put up with my scraps and remnants, making fine jobs with them.    In particular I would like to showcase Barbara Dicketts and her son, Matthew Jackson, master upholsterers, who, between them, have restored and re-made countless antiques pieces for me, some to be sold and others for my own pleasure and use;  three 19C.elegant French canape settees,  re-seating 6 Georgian dining room chairs in red damask, completely re-making the Biedemeier sofa with two pairs of grand French silk and velvet curtains plus extravagant bobble and tapestry borders! two large pouffes, several small button-back drawing room chairs, a Howard armchair, probably over 18 small padded hemp-covered easy chairs (with the lumbar swell !), a pair of Hepplewhite side chairs,  3 bedroom ottomans,  toile de jouy double bed heads, several stools and a Heals mattress;   so they are skilled in all branches of upholstery, and Barbara has worked for a museum, restoring furniture.  They use traditional materials and methods and their charges are reasonable.

Toile de Jouy bed-ends
ottoman converted from school trunk

French canape and bespoke cushions

stuffed seat and case cover

buttoned chair and footrest (mini ottoman)

 

Biedemeier alpacca and silk velvet sofa
  with canvaswork borders and tassel fringes
   with French pouffe with bullion fringe in front

Barbara Dicketts and Matthew  are looking for new business to keep going now that I am retiring - They live in Seaton, Devon and you can contact them on 01297 599 287. Email  barbaradicketts@gmail.com.  They have good transport and work all over the West Country.