Art Deco and Jazz Modern Style Furniture

Modern Style Furniture

Art Deco or Jazz Modern furniture requires very skilled craftsmanship. Colored and patterned fabrics should be matched to form a balanced look. Sometimes satin and furs or animal skins are used to re-upholster retro-style furniture. Armchairs and sofas have semi-circular backs and square or rectangular bases with deep, smooth rounded upholstery and large seat cushions.

What is Art Deco, Jazz Modern Style Furniture?

Art Deco is a type of design that is re-interpreted from classicism. This style of furniture was developed in France during the 1920s. This luxurious style became popularized ten years later. Art Deco focuses on clean symmetrical lines and geometric shapes to create opulent designs. These details are enhanced with bold colors and metallic accents.

Meanwhile, Jazz Modern Furniture main focus is the curves of the designs and patterns. This makes the designs more relaxed and comfortable while having a subdued color palette.  Both Art Deco and Jazz Modern Furniture are manufactured to produce a rich and elegant new look.

Can Art Deco or Jazz Modern Furniture be re-upholstered and restored?

The answer is yes, here at Foxwood Restorations, we use our restoration techniques and expertise to re-upholster your style furniture the way you want it. The only difference that Art Deco and Jazz Modern style furniture is design and some of the materials. In fact, the high quality of materials is why people should always re-upholster or restore this type of furniture.

No one can determine when a flood or fire will occur, or even when your furniture will start to deteriorate. But, when it happens, you’ll want your furniture to be restored by professionals. That’s where we come in! Contact us today to get your furniture re-upholstered. Our Art Deco and Jazz Modern designs are very popular. If you want to know more about Foxwood Restorations, check out our ‘about us‘ page.

Restoring Flood and Fire Damaged Furniture

damaged stool

Finding someone to restore flood and fire damaged furniture can be a challenge. Most of the time, furniture gets like this through house fires or sudden flooding, making it a stressful time. For some owners, they would rather toss these items due to it being “easier”, especially if it is cheap furniture pieces. However, for people who own antique furniture or sentimental pieces, throwing these items away is not a trivial matter. Fortunately, Foxwood Restoration is known for repairing flood and fire damaged furniture.

Flood Damaged Furniture

Depending on the type of furniture that has been exposed to the flood water, there will be various types of damage. If the furniture is made out of wood, you can expect to see physical damage such as swelling and warping, which can lead to breaking. In addition, the finish might become discolored and cloudy. Mold and mildew growth is also a common occurrence.

For upholstered furniture, you will see sagging in the upholstery and water stains from flood. It also will start emitting unpleasant odors. All of these problems can produce lasting damage if not taken care of soon.

Types of Fire Damage

Just like flood damage, there are various types of damage your furniture can face with fire. Most people will immediately think burn damage, which can lead to missing pieces and damage to veneer. However, there is other damage that you might not think about. Scorch mark can appear, leaving scars on the wood. You also have to deal with soot residue, which can permanently stain wood.

You can also expect charring, etching, tarnishing, and corroding. In addition, your furniture can have some water damage from fire extinguishing measures, leading to more problems!

Bring It to Foxwood!

Whether you have flood or fire damaged furniture, Foxwood will help restore it to its original splendor. Our company has decades of experience meticulously restoring antique furniture for Michigan locals. It’s true, some furniture that has flood or fire damage can’t be repaired. On pieces where repair isn’t obvious or not easily replaced, bring it to the experts at Foxwood!

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How to Recognize a High Quality Upholstered Piece of Furniture

A piece of furniture that has a high-quality old frame combined with high-quality fabric and good workmanship is a stunning piece of furniture. However, there are a few things to know when looking for high quality upholstered furniture. Here are some features that let you know that your furniture needs to be reupholstered or restored.

Here’s what to look for when recognizing a high quality upholstered piece of furniture:

  1. Eight-Way hand tied coil springs placed underneath the deck. This is when an array of coils are tied from all directions: front, back, side-to-side, and diagonal, a total of eight times to create comfort, support, even spacing, and resistance to pressure.
  2. Lined skirting twice the ware. Make sure that the cushions are reversible.
  3. Loose back cushions (so that the filling does not settle).
  4. Check to see if the frame is furniture grade wood.
  5. Be sure that the corners and arms of the chairs/sofas have thick padding.
  6. Make sure all cushions have zippers aligned with the fabric for removal.
  7. The pillowcase stuffing has to have compartments for minimal setting.
  8. The floral patterns must flow from one part of couch to next.
  9. Firm foam block has to be wrapped in padding.
  10. A Protective inner cover has to be within the furniture. This helps avoid scratches when transporting your furniture.

In addition, all fabric should be a high grade, 120 rub fabric, aligned with the pattern, and the skirts should have lining or weights.

Reupholstery is used to fit sofas and chairs with covering, padding, springs, and webbing. At Foxwood Furniture Restoration, we refurbish your antique furniture to bring it back to its original state. With over 70 years of experience, we offer complete and thorough furniture restorations on antiques. If you are looking to have your furniture restored or repaired, we do furniture upholstery in Brighton, MI. Contact Foxwood Furniture Restorations today for our furniture restoration services!

Foxwood Restorations upholstered furniture

Features of quality typically found in furniture that is at least 10 years or older;

Here is some more helpful information when you are trying to recognize upholstered furniture for either purchasing or deciding if you should reupholster it.

Wood Furniture Composition:

  • Softwoods Are made from coniferous trees: pine, fir, redwood, and cedar wood. Softwoods require more care due to being more prone to scratches and dents.
  • Hardwoods Are made from deciduous trees: oak, maple, teak, mahogany, cherry, walnut, and birch. Hardwood is dried to remove moisture.

Furniture Joint Construction:

The construction of a piece of furniture can tell you about the quality of the piece, look for these;

  • Dovetail, Mortise & Tenon are the oldest ways furniture makers put furniture together.
  • Reinforced corner blocks seen from the inside add to the stability and strength of a piece of furniture.
  • Dowels and Screws

Furniture Drawer Structure:

  • Dust panels are thin sheets of wood between drawers in a chest or desk of drawers.
  • Floating Bottoms are not affixed to the sides of the drawer, instead, they float in the groove of the drawer.
  • Metal glide rails drawers run smoothly and have stopped to make sure the drawer does not pull out.
  • Springs hand-tied springs, close together even resistance.

Upholstered Furniture:

  • Cushions are firm foam / wrapped in padding, protective inner cover, and reversible cushions.
  • Fabric high grade 120,000 rub fabric, aligned pattern, skirts with lining or weights.

 

Revised 08/2024

 

 

Tabletop Restoration

Restoring Tabletop

At Foxwood Restorations, we specialize in professional tabletop restoration and refinishing services that bring your antique or damaged furniture back to life. Located in Brighton, MI, we serve clients across Livingston, Oakland, and Washtenaw Counties with expert antique furniture repair and restoration. Whether your tabletop has suffered from years of wear, scratches, or fading, our craftsmen use time-tested techniques to deliver stunning results that last for generations.

What Steps for a Tabletop Restoration?

Tabletop restoration is a meticulous process designed to preserve the integrity and beauty of your furniture. Here’s how we handle it at Foxwood:

  • Initial Assessment: We evaluate the condition of your tabletop, identifying issues like scratches, water damage, or uneven staining. This helps us tailor the antique furniture repair plan to your specific needs.
  • Chemical Stripping: Using safe, effective methods, we remove old paint, varnish, or stains without damaging the underlying wood.
  • Hand Sanding: Our team sands the surface by hand to smooth out imperfections and prepare it for refinishing. This step ensures a flawless base for the new finish.
  • Staining and Sealing: We apply custom stains to match your desired color and style, followed by a protective sealant that guards against future wear. The result? A tabletop that looks brand new and is built to endure.

This process not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also extends the life of your piece by up to 25 years or more.

How Does Natural Wood Affect The Restoration Process?

The type of wood plays a crucial role in the outcome of your tabletop refinishing. High-quality natural woods like oak, mahogany, walnut, and maple respond exceptionally well to restoration. These materials can be refinished multiple times, making them ideal for heirloom pieces.

In contrast to modern, mass-produced furniture (which often deteriorates quickly), antique wood from European or early American craftsmanship holds up beautifully. Europe has a long tradition of restoring and reusing furniture—spanning thousands of years—while America’s “throw-away” culture has led to a loss of many valuable pieces. At Foxwood, we encourage preserving these items through expert furniture refinishing services, as the demand for durable, restored antiques is on the rise.

Pro Tip: If your tabletop is made from teak or other exotic woods, we adjust our techniques to highlight their unique grains and colors. Internal Link: Learn more about types of woods used in antique furniture.

Should the Table Pedestal be Included in the Restoration?

Tables are often restored in parts to save costs and focus on high-wear areas. The tabletop typically sees the most action—from spills to scratches—while the pedestal might remain in good condition. However, if the pedestal shows signs of damage (e.g., from shoe kicks, pet scratches, or fading), we recommend including it for a seamless match.

Restoring the pedestal separately or alongside the top ensures color consistency and overall harmony. This approach can also extend to matching chairs for a complete set.

By opting to restore only what’s necessary, you can keep costs down without compromising quality.

Don’t Forget the Table Leaves

All table leaves should be refinished alongside the main top to avoid color mismatches. Leaves are often stored away, leading to less wear and a different aging process. This can result in slight variations in tone or finish. At Foxwood, we treat leaves with the same care during the tabletop restoration process, ensuring everything blends perfectly when expanded.

If you have questions about tabletop restoration in Brighton, MI, or need help with any antique furniture repair, contact us today!

Repair or Re-Upholster your Chair

If you need to repair or reupholster your chair, then you should contact Foxwood Restorations! 

While chairs are used for sitting, people tend to forget how well-designed this piece of furniture is. Typically, chairs usually don’t weigh that much but are capable of supporting a couple hundred pounds. This includes when it is being rocked or tilted back on two legs. This strength is possible because of the thoughtful position of the bracings between the legs, back, and seat. Materials also play a major factor in the durability and strength of a chair.

So, it is easy to understand how a chair can lose its durability over time. Your chair’s joints could become loose, putting greater strain on the other joints which can cause them to weaken and separate. However, repairing and reupholstering your chair can be a challenge, especially if you have never done it before.

Prevent your chair from breaking or having to repair your chair

Repair and Reupholster Your Chair at Foxwood!

repaired chair

Major problems can be avoided by inspecting and repairing the minor ones as soon as they are noticed. However, if you do not catch these minor issues in time, you don’t need to worry. Foxwood Restorations are experts when it comes to repairing chairs, including the upholstery.

The chair to the right has been re-upholstered with leather and we tightened and replaced some of the joints. This is a great way to save a chair, whether it is an antique piece of furniture that has been in your family for years or just a chair that you love. We can save it and bring it back to life! Contact Foxwood Restorations for more details and any questions you may have.