Vicente Wolf

Word to the wise, change is inevitable so just embrace it! In regards to my work, I adapt to change in various ways.  I adjust my outlook on the industry as it shifts seasonally and I’m more open to exploring new ideas.  Every time I need to “change” the look of a piece of furniture, I make sure I have my fast, effective, and talented upholster Pete on speed dial.

I have been using Pete for the past 28 years to handle all of my upholstery needs and his incredible work can be a highlight to any room.

An upholsterer gives you more room to create original custom designed furniture rather than being limited to the common route of simply walking into a showroom, or a local retailer to fulfill ones upholstery needs.

When you work with a top quality workroom like Pete’s, you are able to customize any design prior to fabrication; altering the proportions of a specific piece or modifying details to fit the specific needs of various clients.

Factoring in a client’s height when producing a sofa, for example, creating a slightly less deep sofa for shorter clients and adding a little more depth to a sofa for taller clients will create a custom piece of furniture tailored to their needs.

It’s getting hard to find a shop where things are done by hand and where natural materials are used.  From horse hair, down fillings, high-end frames, hand tied springs or maintaining the integrity of not using staple guns, these are all key elements when considering custom sofas. So, it’s very important to work with a company who understands high quality craftsmanship.

You may not know this initially when you look at a custom made sofa, but once you sit on it and it has been around in your home for a number of years, the difference starts to show up with wear and tear.

I have a custom sofa at my beach house for almost 30 years and it still sit luxuriously and looks brand new. When a client questions getting a higher price custom sofa, I explain why paying extra is worth it for the life expectancy.

I explain this information in the most fundamental way so it makes sense to a client's objective.  Most of the time, customization is something that they may have not considered if left to their own devices. So I use an analogy for comparison sake that most everyone can relate to, like buying clothing.

I tell them, doesn't it make sense to purchase a custom piece of furniture that can last for over 15 years as oppose to buying a dress or pants that will last only a season? After a client gives thought to that, I rest assured that I’ve made a persuasive point and can now move on to the next phase of a project.

Vicente Wolf with upholstery Expert, Peter J of Peter J Upholstery Co Inc.

What’s the difference between inexpensive frames and the frames you create? The difference between frames used at peter j upholstery co inc. and a major retailer are many -  our frames are made out of maple and  the frames are 1 3/8" stock versus 3/4"stock from retailers,and in some cases thicker that 1 3/8" depending on the custom shape of the frame,  our frames are all dowled and glued versus frames put together with nail guns.

What different fillings you can use when creating a sofa?  The different fillings that peter j upholstery co inc. uses are - my furniture is double stuffed and that consists of coil springs - hand tied, layer of hair on top, burlap ,another layer of hair and in some cases we will use a down pad or go right into muslin, all hand tacked.  Some retailers will use zigzag springs, sheet of foam and dacron and go on to the muslin if they use muslin.

 What is the purpose of welts? Is it to cover mistakes?  Welts are usually requested by the decorator for appearance and that is the purpose.

What is the objective for using welts to reinforce seams of cushions? The object of welts is again-- appearance, there are small welts, medium, large and also jumbo welts.  It all depends on what the decorator wants to create.

With over 40 years experience in the upholstery line, Peter’s natural ability to create and customize furniture to the different specifications given to him by decorators enables him to continually transform his decorators dreams into reality.  

 Peter J Upholstery Co Inc., Deer Park, New York