Project description
I am looking for an experienced upholsterer or leather craftsperson to reupholster a rectangular storage ottoman bench in a chesterfield-inspired style. The piece is a wooden-framed bench roughly one meter thirty centimeters long with a hinged lid that lifts to reveal internal storage, currently covered in a worn fabric that needs to be fully stripped and replaced.
The main requirement is deep diamond button tufting across the top lid, the classic chesterfield look with evenly spaced buttons pulled tight so the leather forms crisp diamond pleats rather than soft dimples. The sides of the bench should either match the tufted pattern or be finished plain with rolled top piping and decorative studding along the lower edge, whichever the craftsperson feels reads more cohesively on a rectangular form rather than a rounded one. I would like a sample of the diamond pattern stitched on a scrap panel before the final lid is committed, since getting the button spacing and pleat depth right the first time matters more to me than speed.
Materials: full-grain or top-grain leather in a deep oxblood or dark brown tone, a layer of dense foam plus cotton batting under the leather for a firm seated feel, and a horsehair or foam-and-webbing base is fine if that is the standard build. Buttons should be leather-covered, not plastic or metal-capped. The hinge mechanism, corner blocks, and any support rails inside the lid need to be reinstalled correctly so the lid stays level and does not sag once the new upholstery adds weight.
I can supply reference photos of the target look, rough dimensions of the frame, and photos of the current condition once we are in contact. Please include in your proposal: your experience with deep button tufting specifically (not just flat panel upholstery), which leather grades and colors you would recommend within a reasonable budget, expected turnaround, and whether you work from your own workshop or would need the piece delivered and picked up. A short portfolio of similar tufted furniture work would be very helpful for choosing between candidates. Delivery or pickup logistics can be discussed after the scope and price are agreed.
The main requirement is deep diamond button tufting across the top lid, the classic chesterfield look with evenly spaced buttons pulled tight so the leather forms crisp diamond pleats rather than soft dimples. The sides of the bench should either match the tufted pattern or be finished plain with rolled top piping and decorative studding along the lower edge, whichever the craftsperson feels reads more cohesively on a rectangular form rather than a rounded one. I would like a sample of the diamond pattern stitched on a scrap panel before the final lid is committed, since getting the button spacing and pleat depth right the first time matters more to me than speed.
Materials: full-grain or top-grain leather in a deep oxblood or dark brown tone, a layer of dense foam plus cotton batting under the leather for a firm seated feel, and a horsehair or foam-and-webbing base is fine if that is the standard build. Buttons should be leather-covered, not plastic or metal-capped. The hinge mechanism, corner blocks, and any support rails inside the lid need to be reinstalled correctly so the lid stays level and does not sag once the new upholstery adds weight.
I can supply reference photos of the target look, rough dimensions of the frame, and photos of the current condition once we are in contact. Please include in your proposal: your experience with deep button tufting specifically (not just flat panel upholstery), which leather grades and colors you would recommend within a reasonable budget, expected turnaround, and whether you work from your own workshop or would need the piece delivered and picked up. A short portfolio of similar tufted furniture work would be very helpful for choosing between candidates. Delivery or pickup logistics can be discussed after the scope and price are agreed.
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