Growing up only 300 metres from the garden gates of the Château de Versailles, Upholsterer Elisa was drawn to the beauty and grandeur of its interiors, setting her on a creative path with a love for quality and beautiful craftsmanship at the core of her design philosophy.

“The poetry in its details have stayed with me ever since. That environment shaped my eye for beauty and instilled a lifelong appreciation for respect of beauty, attention to detail and well-made upholstery.”

Having lived in Africa, France and Switzerland, Elisa started her interiors career in London where she first studied interior design at the British Institute of Interior Design and then launched her design business. The pivot to upholstery happened after Elisa went on a course to learn the craft and discovered how much it suited her character.

“I quickly saw how naturally my perfectionism, strength, and eye for detail fit the work, so I kept going, taking on my first commission not long after. That experience set the direction for my future, and I ultimately transformed my business into Elisa Upholstery.”

Elisa now designs and upholsters bespoke pieces for her clients and sources fabrics to suit their individual needs. Taking into consideration the colour, print and practical requirements, such as whether the fabrics need to be child or pet friendly, Elisa will source and present a curated selection of fabrics, and complementing trimmings, during a consultation.

The fabrics Elisa works with play a key role in shaping the design process from day one.

“Every fabric has its own character—its texture, weight, durability, and pattern all influence how a piece will look and perform. Understanding these qualities helps me guide clients toward choices that not only suit their style but also work beautifully for the way they live.”

Inherently integrated into our everyday lives, furniture often has significant sentimental value to their owners, and restoring them with care is a personal highlight for Elisa.

“I once reupholstered an armchair with matching footstool that my client had originally bought with her mother for her mother’s future bedroom. Sadly, her mother passed away before she moved in. But my client told me that her mother’s presence now lives on through the chair and footstool I worked on, which have become the heart of the room.”

“I love seeing the look of satisfaction and happiness on my clients’ faces when I return their project home. Moments like that make the work truly fulfilling.”

Elisa’s success and growth arises, in part, from being intrepid in tackling difficult new projects.

“Any project you have not done before is a challenge. When I was asked to make a canopy, I had never done one. The same happened with a banquette seating. But I love a challenge, so I researched, planned, asked a fellow upholsterer for insight, and got both projects done — and now I know exactly how to do them!”

Upholstery is an ancient craft, evolving from padding wooden chairs for comfort using basic materials such as sheep skin and woven rush matts, to emerging in the Middle Ages as a specialised profession. The invention of foam padding in the mid 20th century revolutionised the craft and allowed designs to become sleeker. Whether it’s a 19th century chair or a modern sofa, care is needed to choose the right materials that best respect the age of the piece. 

Elisa starts the upholstery process by carefully stripping the furniture down to it’s frame, removing the materials a layer at a time. Fabric panels might be kept and used as a pattern for cutting the new fabric. The structure of the furniture is checked and any loose screws tightened. The jute webbing and padding might be replaced if it is worn out.

Fabric is measured and any trimmings such as piping cut to size. Securing in the centre first with a staple and stretching taut ensures the fabric is wrinkle-free. To finish, corners are folded and tucked into neat pleats, excess fabric trimmed and a thin black dustcover is often stapled to the bottom to give the piece a clean finish.

Depending on the complexity and size of the project, the whole process might take Elisa between a few days and a couple of weeks to complete.

Elisa usually works on three to four projects at a time and being located in the historic town of Bath ensures there is a host of beautiful and interesting pre-loved pieces for Elisa to bring new life to. 

“At present, I am reupholstering a beautiful Parker Knoll 972, recovering a modern armchair, and sewing both a bench cushion and window cushions. My work is wonderfully hands‑on and creative, involving everything from using an industrial sewing machine to working with tools like a staple gun and staples/tacks remover. There is always something different to do, so I am never bored.”

It is clear that Elisa loves what she does and it's a care felt through her craftsmanship and enthusiasm for upholstery - a sentiment expressed in a quote by Maryam Hasnaa on Elisa's website - "The vibration of being who you are and doing what you love is magnetic. You will align everything you need in your life with that energy."

You can find more of Elisa's work on her website or Instagram.

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