This Edwardian chaise came to me from a fine pair of gentlemen fairly local to my studio in Stepney, in a pretty sorry state. At around 2.5metres long it’s definately the longest Chaise I’ve worked on to date. removing it from their 4th floor apartment was pretty backbreaking work for them!

Once it had reached my studio
What followed was a complete strip down , wood refinishing and full reupholstery.
I chose to go traditional for the sprung stitches and stuffed seat , building up the layers with Coir fibre and mixed animal hair.
I chose modern ,sustainable fillings for the inside back and arms of to keep within their budget
The customers fabric choice is, a beautiful cotton #velvet called #graffitistripe from those Beautiful beings @timorous_beasties was tricky to work with because my customer wanted the fabric to run a specific way along the length of the chaise.
trimmed with metres and metres of a squirrel grey cotton velvet double piped which my long suffering walking foot (I will find a willing and available sewing machine engineer soon!) begrudgingly stitched into shape.

I wanted to create a brilliant reel with loads of clips but frankly after many long & late nights finishing this and other projects in time for xmas frankly I’m
busted up.
My heartfelt thanks go out to @the_upholstery_cabin who came in with her bubbly lovely energy on the part of the seat build, and introducing @jacobmorrish for the fine fine assist in the reupholstery of this colossal piece As well as those amazing sundries suppliers @martinsuph , who came with exactly what I needed when I needed it.

The item has now been delivered and installed thanks to a special man with a large long van called Jay .
Yesterday was a triumph when so many things about this project could have (and nearly did) go tits up. I am relieved and pleased it’s in situ safely. I best keep on trucking there are just 2 more projects I need to bring home before I can take that xmas break.

I hope all your plans and projects are also coming on nicely. ...

This frame came to me from @thorinteriors with no cushions and some faulty springs and some pictorial references taken off the web.
CMHR foam composites made and shaped from scratch: I went for deep comfort as opposed to a slimmer profile. Created a new platform lining which covered the cable springs (3 of which I replaced as the original ones were shot!) customer supplied fabric from #ikea which I backed with woolsafe to meet the Uk Fire Regs. Late night finishing meant not great lighting to shoot. Feels super comfy and bright and bold.

My thanks to @thorinteriors for their custom and support.

I need my Bed- Night y’all xx

#Cantilever #chair #bespoke #seat #cushions #ARC #AtelierRayClarke #Soft #homefurnishings ...

@susanaldworthstudio is an incredible artist based in Hackney who approached me a year ago yesterday with a @parkerknoll chair she wanted to transform. When I visited her home to discuss fabric options, I was completely blown away by her amazing work. While examining her stunning etching techniques and digital and lithographic prints, Susan shared some of her sources of inspiration.

Years ago, after suffering an aneurysm or bleed on the brain, Susan began undergoing diagnostic brain scans. This experience sparked her fascination with exploring the self through her art. I was so inspired I had the idea to see her brain scan artwork developed into a digital fabric print that would look stunning on her chair.
However, there were many challenges in developing the fabric. My original digital printers, whom I had used for many years, ceased trading. Another company I found produced the wrong colors and poor quality. Fortunately, I eventually discovered a brilliant digital printing company in @maakeuk that not only got the colors and details spot on but also printed on a recycled eco velvet with woven flame retardancy, complying with all current UK health, safety, and fire regulations for domestic furniture.

I replaced all the worn and degraded foam in the frame with #ultraflex foam made from recycled plastic waste, protecting it with recycled polyester skin wadding. I used #Woolsafe barrier material to certain areas of the frame to create a subtly padded sensation, resulting in a firm yet responsive level of comfort.

To complement the fabric, Susan wanted to darken the wood, so I used a black spirit-based wood stain, locking in the color with a shellac-based sanding sealant. I then applied layers of beeswax and performed fine sanding to polish and buff it, bringing a deep, soft sheen to all exposed wood.
We were both pleased when I finally returned the chair, and I look forward to collaborating with Susan on versions of this design in some amazing colorways. I feel quite chuffed to have completed this completely unique statement piece. I love reimagining furniture as art. My sincere thanks to @susanaldworthstudio! ...

What with recording Podcasts & collaborating on some fresh Merch with @the_upholstery_cabin for
@sit_on_this_workshops as well as wrapping up up valuable customer commissions please forgive my intermittent posting.
Speaking of wrapping up. Included with my most recent completion and are a pair of complimentary scatter cushions which I`ve made from the remnants of @svenskttenn #Barraquilla which I used on this job. Which I`ve trimmed with a gorgeous and fun multicoloured #pompom trimming sourced from those Angels @vvrouleaux.

Collection was made by #Ionel and his lovely wife, who as I type this are on their way up to deliver these beautys to the shippers in #Peterborough, before the scatters and chairs make their final journey over to #greece.

I hope to join them out their in 2025. Get some much needed sun. In the meantime I better keep my ‘ead down and keep completing those commissions!
#svenskttenn #Atelierayclarke #bespoke #scattercushions #multicoloured #pompom #trimming #pop #joseffrank #barraquilla #london🇬🇧 #homedecor #soft #furnishings
Are you looking forward to /planning your holidays? ...

Finally finished and ready to deliver this lush Louis XV styled antique, covered in @romo_fabrics #Linara colour #Goldfinch, to my customer who has the patience of a saint: Well..quality takes time don`t you know!
A full strip down, rebuild and traditional upholstery from the frame upwards! Thank you for following me on this journey. My heartfelt thanks go out to the lovely @the_upholstery_cabin for all her support while I was completing this. ...

For those that have recently started following me Thank you 🙏🏿 and May I reintroduce myself:
I’m Ray Clarke. I love the craft. I love art. I love my family and friends (whom I don’t see often enough) and I particularly love upholstery, re-upholstery and bringing my own art to this craft through developing textile designs , which I get digitally printed to create original statement one-off pieces which I post on @arc_atelier_ray_clarke
I love learning. I Also love practicing it and recently, through @sit_on_this_workshops and recently taught a leisure class at the prestigious @shoreditchdesignrooms. If you are about and want to come and say Hi you’ll find me working away in my Bow-based workshop. Call or text first though as I’m either totally absorbed or i’m out and about.
Whether I’m working alone or assisted, Music is my constant companion, as I hope are you on this journey.
My collaboration with The lovely & amazing @the_upholstery_cabin continues to evolve; with upholstery leisure courses and most recently meeting and chatting to thoroughly lovely inspiring people which we feature on our @sit_on_this_workshops Podcast (available to listen to on @applepodcasts & @spotifypodcasts )

I’ll be honest though..for all my strengths and love for this craft I’m also working slowly on overcoming my weaknesses: principly time management and planning. Perhaps I have some form of adhd (I’ve not yet had a formal diagnosis) which seems to be a thing with a lot of people these days.
Anyways Thank you for following.

Big shout out to ace photographer @nickdavid for sending through the above images from a shoot we did in August. Go check out his work it’s Fantastic!
Much love to you all and have a great week ahead! Rxxx

#AtelierRayClarke #Upholstery #textiledesign #softfurnishingsuk #craft #Skills #SitonThis! #Podcast #Learning #Tuition #classes #art #bespoke #furniture #London ...

#Rewebbing another #williamplunkett #Roclingchair which came into my atelier a short while back as well as anew Bolton twill fitted to refurbished black leather seat cushion linings, cleaning and nourishing the existing hides and fitting new elastic straps on an Australian Made Mid-century modern armchair. Both for a lovely pleased customer over in Wapping who will get many more years of enjoyment from her pieces.

#Repairs #reupholstery #RayClarke ...

And finally this one is ready to head home!… Many thanks to @the_upholstery_cabin for letting me use part of her workshop during the rebuild. Quite proud of the fact the seat pad is made from 100% sustainable materials: CocoLok Rubberised hair , latex foam and wool felt , wrapped up in an FR calico parcel before fitting it inside the custom seat pad cover.

And onto the Next!
#atelierrayclarke #Bespoke #Upholstery #Reupholstery #refurbish #Recover #London ...