Replace or Reupholster Your Furniture? We’ll Help You Decide.

When your upholstered furniture begins to look worn or outdated, it’s time to decide whether to replace it or simply refresh by hiring a highly rated upholstery service to reupholster it.  Before rushing to buy a new sofa, chair, ottoman, or sectional, consider these helpful tips to guide your decision:

1. Is the furniture an antique or heirloom? Antique furniture often boasts a level of craftsmanship and material quality rarely found in modern pieces. Many older pieces feature solid hardwood construction, which is far superior to the plywood or particle board commonly used today. If your furniture is a family heirloom or a valuable antique, refinishing or reupholstering it with updated fabric can breathe new life into it without sacrificing its timeless quality.
2. Is the piece unique or a perfect match for your space? If you spent considerable time finding a unique piece that enhances your space or perfectly complements your home’s style, pause and consider working with a skilled professional upholsterer to recover the furniture in a fabric that refreshes its look while preserving its character.  A new fabric can transform the piece, keeping it as the centerpiece of your room.
3. Is the frame still in good condition? If the frame of your furniture is solid and the internal components (such as springs and batting) are in good shape, reupholstering becomes an easy decision.  You’ll only need to choose a new fabric to give it a whole new look.  However, if the frame or cushioning needs repairs, make sure your upholsterer is also experienced in restoration to ensure the furniture is both comfortable and structurally sound.
4. What’s your budget? Reupholstering or restoring furniture is often more cost-effective than buying new, particularly when dealing with high-quality or antique pieces.  Buying new furniture, especially if you want something comparable in quality, can be significantly more expensive.  For heirloom or antique items, investing in refinishing makes much more sense than purchasing new furniture that may not last as long or offer the same quality.
5. Are you eco-conscious? Choosing to restore and reupholster your existing furniture is not only a smart financial move but also an environmentally friendly one.  By giving your furniture a second life with new fabric, you’re reducing waste and preventing usable pieces from ending up in a landfill.  It’s a great way to embrace sustainability while maintaining a stylish home.

In most cases, restoring your furniture is the better option.  Rather than discarding a beloved piece, find a reputable furniture refinishing shop in the area that can give it a fresh, modern look while preserving its quality. There are many good furniture upholsterers in our area, but Jax Furniture Refinishing & Upholstering is the best refinishing service Jacksonville FL homeowners rely on for their furniture repairs and reupholstering.  Our talented craftsmen specialize in transforming antiques, forgotten pieces, and outdated furniture into beautiful works of art.  Whether you’re in Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra, Ortega, or anywhere across Northeast Florida, our team will work with you to bring your furniture dreams to life.

Protecting Outdoor Furniture

One of the most exciting parts about living in Northeast Florida is that we get to experience every type of weather!  We certainly enjoy the warm and wet springtime, the hot and sunny summer and fall, and we even get chilly weather in the winter.  What this means for your outdoor patio furniture is that you need to take care of it in order to protect it during all types of weather.

Many of our customers in Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Southside, and Riverside ask us how to take care of outdoor furniture and protect it from extreme weather, so here are our tips:

1. Store unused furniture in the off-season. If you know you won’t be using your outdoor furniture during the winter months, or if you’re away on a long vacation, it’s best to store it out of the elements, such as in a seldom used sunroom or the garage.
2. Clean and check the furniture before storing it. Before you wrap or pack away outdoor furniture, be sure to properly clean it. If you don’t wipe away insect nests before putting the furniture into storage, the insects will just move right on in with the furniture.  And if you don’t clean away built up grime or mildew from your outdoor furniture, it will sit on the furniture in storage and continue to do damage.  Be sure to also dry your patio furniture thoroughly after you clean it; you don’t want moisture trapped on the furniture if you wrap it or put a covering over it.  Also take the opportunity to examine your outdoor furniture as you clean it and prepare to pack it away.  If you find broken or damaged pieces, discard them, fix them, or make arrangements to have them professionally remedied by a good furniture repair service prior to putting them in storage, otherwise you might forget about the damage and cause an accident when the furniture gets put back into use.
3. Hire professional furniture refinishers. Good professional furniture restoration companies are important to have on hand to help care for your patio dining table, deck chairs, and other outdoor furniture.  If you find that outdoor furniture is damaged, you’ll need to hire professional furniture repair technicians to fix and restore the furniture.  After furniture has been in storage, it often needs attention from highly rated professional furniture refinishers who can apply fresh coats of stain or brand-new upholstery.

To keep up with the weather in Jacksonville and make sure your outdoor furniture stays in tip top shape, call on Jax Furniture Refinishing & Upholstering.  We’re the best furniture refinishing company Jacksonville FL homeowners trust with their favorite furniture, and we’d love the opportunity to provide outstanding service for your favorite furniture as well, from sectionals, overstuffed chairs, upholstered ottomans, and easy chairs, to dining room tables, headboards, and antique chests!

Refresh Your Outdoor Furniture

Summer is winding down, but the hot weather is still in full swing here in Northeast Florida and it’s the perfect time to refresh or totally revamp your patio furniture.  Here are some tips:

• Reupholster – Cushions and padding fades in the sun, and the more hours of direct sunlight your patio gets, the more faded your upholstered furniture will become.  New cushions and pads in a bold, new fabric will definitely give your furniture a new look.
• Re-stain – Hardwoods such as teak make great outdoor furniture, but every so often they need to have oil or a new stain applied in order to keep them in good shape.  Even if you prefer for your teak to have that silver, weather-worn look, it will still benefit from a good sanding.
• Paint – A fresh coat of paint can give nearly anything a facelift.  Furthermore, paint technology has advanced considerably in recent years, and you can find specialized coatings to resist rust or mildew or which have UV protection, and other features that make it great for outdoor furniture.
• Repair – Wicker comes undone, legs become uneven or wobbly, hardware gets rusty, cracks appear, water damage occurs, and other countless issues can befall your outdoor furniture.  A simple repair may mean you get to enjoy the piece more than ever.
• Accessorize – Add colorful accessories to your outdoor seating.  Add bold and bright throw pillows or a new umbrella, and you deck or porch can become your family’s new favorite hangout.
• Clean – Often something as simple as a thorough washing can refresh your patio furniture.  With the right cleaning solutions and a little “elbow grease,” you can get your outdoor table and chairs or other furniture ready to enjoy for the remainder of the nice weather.

 

Give your outdoor furniture the attention it needs to stay in good shape, and you’ll be able to enjoy it for many days to come.  However, if you’re not sure how to make the repair needed, feel uneasy applying the right stain, or just don’t have the time to give your deck chairs and patio furniture the attention they need, call on a good local furniture refinishing company.  Jax Furniture Refinishing & Upholstering is the best furniture restoration shop Jacksonville, Riverside, San Marco, and Atlantic Beach homeowners call for their furniture needs. We specialize in repairs, restoration, and reupholstering, and would love to help you create the look you’re dreaming of for your outdoor furniture.

How To Keep Your Dining Room Furniture In Great Shape

For many of us, the dining room is the setting for big family dinners, dinner parties, and other fun events with family and friends.  For others of us, the dining room may only be used on special occasions.  In any case, you want to keep the dining room furniture in good shape and the room looking great. Our tips will help!

• Dust frequently.  Dust is one of wood furniture’s worst enemies.  Dust is naturally abrasive, and leaves microscopic scratches all over a wooden surface, giving it the appearance of being dingy.  The best way to avoid this is to dust often, even when you don’t think you need to.  Dust at least weekly in order to prevent the buildup of dust.  Dust all smooth surfaces, including the individual chair legs and backing, the table legs, and all cracks and crevices, always wiping in the direction of the grain.  Cotton cloths are best for dusting because the fibers can trap and hold dust particles.  Avoid feather dusters, because any broken feathers or sharp spines can scratch the wood surface.  Avoid any type of cleaning pad or wipe that will leave behind a residue, and any residue can attract even more dust.
• Inspect your furniture.  While tidying up after a meal or dinner party, take the opportunity to inspect the furniture.  Look for nicks and scratches that may have recently appeared on the chair legs, water rings and cracks in the finish of the table’s surface, and other such issues.  Inspect the padding and fabric, as well.  Dinner parties can last for hours, during which time food and wine spills may occur, as well as small tears and other damage.  Inspecting your furniture routinely will allow you to deal with issues as they happen, and make note of larger issues that need to be addressed, even if by a professional furniture restoration company.
• Protect your furniture properly.  Scratches are inevitable on all wood surfaces, but with the right precautions, your wood dining room set will stay in good repair.  Use linen or cotton tablecloths and placemats rather than other courser woven ones that can potentially scratch the surface, or plastic or other synthetic fibers that could leave behind a residue.  Buy or make cork or felt pads to keep underneath heavy candlesticks, flower arrangements, or other centerpieces.  Replace the cork or felt several times per year to ensure they are still effective.  When the table is not in use, cover it with the leaf or soft tablecloth.  Liquid spills, condensation, and other moisture will leave water rings or otherwise damage the finish or even the wood itself.  When a spill occurs, wipe it up immediately.  Use hot pads under any hot plates to prevent heat damage.
• Call the pros when needed!  Even when you take every possible precaution, your dining room furniture will likely still need the attention of a professional refinishing service in order to keep it looking its very best.  The best wood refinishers will make your dining room table top and chairs smooth and flawless once again.  Over time, fabric will fade and become worn, and cushions will lose their padding.  A good upholsterer can recover them to be soft, functional, and beautiful again.

Your dining room furniture isn’t just for admiring – it should be used and enjoyed!  Have family dinners there every night, host dinner parties and holiday events, and don’t worry about what it could be doing to your furniture.  Good refinishing shops are skilled at fixing all blemishes, water rings, discoloration, fabric tears and fading, and other issues.

Jax Furniture Refinishing & Upholstering is the best wood refinishing shop Jacksonville FL homeowners rely on for their dining room furniture and more.  We are the trusted name in antique restoration, wood refinishing, custom upholstering and the first choice among homeowners throughout Ortega, Ponte Vedra, Sawgrass, San Marco, and historic Riverside Avondale.  Let us help you keep your dining room furniture in top shape!

How Do I Find a Trustworthy Furniture Restoration Service?

It’s important to take your furniture to the right upholstery shop to make sure the job is done right.  Before taking your dining room furniture, antique desk, drapes and valances, or other valuable item to be repaired or reupholstered, it’s a good idea to call the upholstery service and find out as much as you can about the tools, equipment, and methods they use, as well as the expertise of the craftsmen.  Find a restoration and upholstering company you can trust, and the hardest part of the job is done!

Here are some indicators of a high-quality upholstery service:

• The technicians should work on good quality equipment, including sewing machines, that can accommodate even thick brocades, leather, and heavy canvas.
• The right tools and materials for the job should be used, such as good mallets and hammers.
• The technicians should be proficient in working with all types of furniture material and all styles of furniture.
• The technicians should have extensive training and experience in working with wood, antiques, upholstery, and all other such fields.
• The workspace and environment should be clean.
• The work should be done on site and not subcontracted.
• The quality of the work should be guaranteed.
• The client should be able to choose from a wide variety of fabrics and materials and should be able to receive guidance in selecting the right material, if desired.
• Technicians should be bonded and insured.
• Strong customer service should be given with every interaction.

 

Jacksonville, Florida is home to Jax Furniture Refinishing & Upholstering, Northeast Florida’s best upholstery service.  Master craftsman Bill Kennedy has decades of experience in upholstering all types of fabric and refinishing wooden surfaces of all sort, and specializes in the restoration of fine furniture and antiques.  Our team is one of highly-skilled professionals, but beyond that we are passionate about our work, and treat each piece of furniture as a the valued treasure it is.  We guarantee the craftsmanship of our work, and do not require payment until you are satisfied. If you live in Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Riverside Avondale, Fleming Island, or in other areas in Northeast Florida, we are the upholstery shop to trust with your furniture.

Bring Antiques Into Your Home’s Decor

Antique furniture is so distinctive and versatile that it has become a mainstay in home decorating. When you incorporate an antique into your home, the room becomes uniquely yours. Your friends and neighbors most likely all have the same pieces of furniture from the well-known furniture brands in town, but with a few refinished antiques, your home will stand out. So, how can you best incorporate an antique into your own home’s design and décor?

1. Restore. First and foremost, make sure the antique is in great shape. You may have dusty relic in the attic that you’d like to add to the room, or perhaps you recently bought or inherited antique furniture that has great potential, but needs attention. Before simply dusting off the furniture and adding it to your room, schedule an appointment for it at a good furniture restoration company. Skilled professional refinishers will repair broken table legs, sand and restain antique headboards, add new springs or foam padding to antique sofas and armchairs, apply a fresh coat of lacquer to an old and faded dresser or armoire, and in general, breathe new life into your antique before you find it a new home in your house.

2. Mix eras. Are you worried that an antique will clash with your existing design scheme? Arranging an antique into an otherwise contemporary or standard setting will only add depth and complexity to the room. Your home may be a Craftsman style home, or may have been built in the Mid-century Modern era, but that doesn’t mean you can’t introduce an antique dining room set from the turn of the century, or bedroom furniture from the Colonial era.

3. Be brave! Don’t be afraid to incorporate a funky antique ottoman or brightly colored antique chest into your otherwise understated décor . In fact, go one step further and have your piece refinished in a way that revitalizes it completely. For example, upholster an antique loveseat or armchair in a bright, modern fabric, or have a highly rated refinishing company apply a bold new paint or lacquer to your antique table and chairs. “Antique” does not have to by synonymous with “outdated.”

Find the best furniture restoration service in your area and let the professionals restore your antique to its original splendor, or give it a new life as a modernized, refinished piece. A great furniture upholstery service or refinisher will adeptly transform your antique into whatever you dream it can be!

Jax Furniture Restoration & Upholstering is the best professional furniture restoration company Jacksonville FL clients trust with their antique furniture. Homes throughout downtown Jacksonville, Fernandina Beach, Riverside Avondale, and Ponte Vedra Beach feature antiques that have been meticulously and skillfully restored by our expert technicians. Fine furniture is our passion, and antiques are our specialty. Let us transform your dated furniture into something new and beautiful that you can enjoy for years to come!

Breathe New Life Into Your Outdated Furniture

When your sofa, armoire, and overstuffed chairs start to feel worn or outdated, it’s tempting to replace them all with brand new furniture. New fabric designs in trendy patterns and colors can futher tempt us to invest in all new furniture. However, buying new furniture is costly, especially when you can get even better results and get great value by visiting a good upholstery shop.

Refinishing And Recovering Your Beloved Furniture

The best upholsterer is a true artisan, able to restore, recover, and reupholster your furniture to fit the look you want. Your favorite loveseat may be looking worn or ragged, but perhaps you can’t bring yourself to part with it. Likewise, your dining room table and chairs may be looking dated. You may also have an antique overstuffed chair in the attic that you would love to incorporate into your living room, if only the fabric weren’t torn and dusty. A good furniture restoration and upholstery company can revitalize and transform these pieces using time-honored tools and techniques. That same loveseat can be reupholstered to look like new, whether using a fabric similar to the original, or using brand new fabrics from your favorite contemporary designer. Likewise, your dining room table can be sanded, stained, and refinished in the look you desire, with new cushions on each dining room chair. Finally, the antique chair in the attic can be transformed from a dusty relic into the treasured heirloom it is!

Quality Furniture, Then And Now

The quality and craftsmanship of furniture has deteriorated through the decades. In the past, artisans and apprentices would create masterpieces of hard woods and exquisite textiles, fit for fine homes, and intended to be passed down for many generations. Today, furniture is often mass-produced, and manufacturers have to cut corners in order to compete in the industry.

For example:
Jute, cotton, and other natural fibers were used for filler and padding in the past, but now synthetic fibers are used.

Hardwood was used in furniture construction, but once now plywood and even particleboard are used.
Joints were glued or dowelled in the past, but now are often stapled.

By choosing to refinish your furniture, not only are you giving it another life, but you are also holding on to better quality furniture!

The Best Furniture Upholstery Company In Jacksonville, Florida

Jax Furniture Refinishing and Upholstering is the best choice for breathing new life into your favorite piece of furniture. Our master craftsmen are the best in the field, highly trained, with years of experience, and award-winning skill and artistry. Customers in downtown Jacksonville, historic Riverside Avondale, and along the coast from Fernandina Beach to St. Augustine trust us with their cherished heirloom furniture and contemporary furniture alike. If you have furniture that needs a repair or a brand new look, we are the upholstery shop for you!

Which Jacksonville Upholstery Shop Is Right For You?

Your furniture is an integral part of your home, both in functionality and aesthetic. Your favorite piece may be a treasured family heirloom that was passed down to you, or an equally valued item purchased brand new as the pièce de résistance to complete a room. Much of the furniture you have in your home receives heavy use and can fade and wear from day-to-day use. In other cases, you may simply want to redecorate a room and have decided that new upholstery is at the center of your design plan. Whether you are planning to redecorate, reupholster, or otherwise change your furniture or window treatments, it is vitally important to select the right upholstery shop and company to trust with your valued possessions. (more…)

Choosing to Restore or Replace Furniture.

 
Restore or Replace?

Making the decision to either restore a piece of furniture or replace it is often a tricky decision.

Often time’s people assume restoring furniture is a cheaper alternative to replacing it. And in some cases it is. For instance replacing a well built sturdy piece of wood furniture is not only going to be hard to replace with something comparable it will most likely be expensive to replace. Furniture like that should be restored.

However, if the furniture isn’t well built and doesn’t hold any sentimental significance, replacing the furniture would be, in most cases, the less expensive option.

When you are trying to decide if you want to replace or restore a piece of furniture, it will help to keep these things in mind:

-Sentimental Value of the piece

-Quality of the craftsmanship

-Affordability

-Finding something similar or that you like to take its place

If you have decided to restore a piece of furniture, it is important to have an experienced craftsman tackle the project for you.

Jax Furniture Refinishing and Upholstering guarantees the work and has experienced and skilled craftsmen that you can trust with your furniture.Call today to set up a free in home estimate.

How do you choose a stain for your refinishing project?

Wood furniture is often put into different categories based on the type of wood used to build the piece. The value of wood is mainly based on its color, grain, and durability. However in the world of furniture refinishing, stain has become a great equalizer. Stain provides craftsmen the ability to turn any piece into something of beauty, regardless of the wood used to build it.

Wood is often stained for a multitude of reasons. Most often, stain is used to emphasize the wood grain and give character. The problem most run into though in a furniture refinishing project is deciding which stain is the best choice for their type of wood and the look they want to achieve for their furniture.

Furniture made of cherry, maple, mahogany, rosewood, and aged pine often look best in their natural color. On the other hand, light wood with poor grain detail can greatly benefit from stain. Choosing the right stain may seem difficult, but the type of wood shouldn’t be the only guideline for staining, your personal preference and style should be the ultimate deciding factor.

Jacksonville Furniture Refinishing and Upholstering has experienced craftsmen that are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about your furniture, and will gladly assist you in selecting the best stain for your refinishing project.