Spruce

Starred review from September 1, 2013

Brown, a professional upholsterer in Austin, TX, knows how to breathe life into tired old furnishings. Her style is hip, eclectic, and delightful, and she injects her personality into the projects, showing off her upholstery prowess. Brown rounds out the manual by offering interior design options. Accompanying photographs demonstrate technique and illustrate each step. Readers will find information on skills requiring more detail, such as sewing and stripping furniture, in the appendixes. VERDICT Though the author only covers five projects--a sofa, an ottoman, and three chairs--she does so in such great depth that quality wins out over quantity. Upholstering is for the brave, and there are a lot of specialty tools here that might intimidate would-be DIYers. Despite these limitations, this is a wonderfully readable volume that speaks to current style. Very highly recommended for any DIY collection.

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from December 15, 2013
It stands to reason that a big, heavily illustrated book of instructions on how to upholster furniture should be as attractive as the finished projects it presents. And that is certainly the case with this gorgeous book, which perfectly matches complete, precisely written directions with correspondingly crisp, helpful photographs. Brown is an Austin, Texasbased upholstery shop owner whose expertise simply leaps off every page. Her guiding philosophy is that upholstered furniture is the root of an interior, and to that end, she addresses nonprofessionals who are learning to upholster their own furniture, taking them through six projects that can be categorized as advanced but for which all necessary skills are taught along the way. These projects include a pair of slipper chairs, an ottoman, and a sofa. Specific activities required for completing the projects include padding and constructing boxed arms, attaching webbing and burlap to the arms, attaching the dust cover to the bottom of the sofa, and cutting out fabric for the cushions. Sound dizzyingly complicated? Take a breath and follow Brown step by step, and you'll be surprised at how talented you may become in the art of upholstery. This is a bible, a catalog, a wish book, and an excellent library reference source.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)