It all started with the smell of a thrift shop and an old chair, which I immediately noticed. It was a perfect fit for our apartment, which we were redecorating. However, the chair needed a new look and a more sturdy interior, so I enquired about the cost of a restoration. Since I like to try things out myself, I decided against the high costs and embarked on an adventure: upholstery.

I watched YouTube videos for hours, gradually gained restoration skills and created the first chair I restored myself. Video by video, chair by chair. Today, two chairs are finished and I’m working on the third.

I always choose the era of the furniture so I can (hopefully) use it for another 50 years. Reuse is very important to me, and the chairs retain their character with their shape and design – and yet somehow, something new always emerges. That moves and fascinates me.

I record the original condition and photograph every step when dismantling the chair. What I remove, I replace. I reassemble/stitch the chair back together with new insides and a new outfit. I only replace material when I really need to. Everything else can stay and carry on the story.

Sometimes what comes out in the dismantling process is ‘quite yucky’, but it’s still incredibly exciting. A broken pencil – an accident doing homework? A two-franc coin, maybe from a child’s pocket money? A seat spring that’s broken because someone jumped for joy? And now I’m in the midst of a story. The truth remains hidden.

As well as these little discoveries, the technology and materials themselves tell stories. Finding foam isn’t anything earth-shattering. An interior with a spring core, on the other hand, is something special and needs special attention in terms of upholstery so that the chair stays comfortable or can be made so.

I have to find suitable replacement materials from different places, especially in order to replace old techniques. The chair should be beautiful, inviting and comfortable again. This is achieved with an eye for detail and a lot of work by hand.

Perseverance – ‘keeping at it’ – is also key, and the reward is that the work is meditative and at the same time stimulates my creativity.

It’s helpful to document everything ;-) and have a ‘feel’ for materials.

Being patient and waiting for the moment when there’s room for creativity. When your day-to-day life demands something different, it’s better to take a break and only resume when the time is right. It is also important if the chair isn’t progressing the way you’d like it to.

The beautiful balance between working with the head and the hands. Hands on the keyboard or the stapler in your hand. Doing it myself makes me better understand and appreciate the work and craftsmanship of others. I am also proud when I see my restored chair standing next to a bought one.

I’m learning how to experience and appreciate the process involved in restoring old furniture. It brings me a lot of peace and joy. I can also finally see what I’ve put into the work. In the end, I have a beautiful result: a new old chair, homemade!

Each chair has its own story – and the joy of breathing new life into it is priceless.