Today we’d like to introduce you to Ria Nicholas
Hi Ria, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
About three years ago, I started “flipping chairs.” No, I don’t throw chairs while throwing tantrums! I merge my design style with upholstery technique to re-imagine tired, old chairs or settees into fantastically fearless furniture for the bold! I take antique and vintage chairs, strip off the old upholstery, paint or refinish the frames, curate an appealing fabric combination – or design the fabric myself if necessary – and finally re-upholster these pieces into practical works of art for sale across the country. I also provide custom work or just the design part for those who have a local upholsterer they want to use to avoid the expense of shipping.
I arrived “fashionably late” to the creative upholstery scene after I retired from teaching. All my life I have loved creating. From drawing just for fun, to a photography hobby, to writing everything from poetry to a non-fiction reference guide – I was never genuinely happy unless I was creating something. I’ve always NEEDED to create – like I need to breathe! Upholstery, however, had never even appeared as a blip on my radar until I answered an upholstery challenge. I thought, “Why not give this a try?” I was immediately hooked! To me, chairs present the perfect art medium. They come in so many distinctive styles, allowing for literally endless possibilities for creating unique looks using various fabric combinations and paint options. Here was something I could grow into a business – but, more importantly, it was something I could feel enthusiastic about.
The original upholstery challenge led to more courses. Eventually, I accumulated the skills and worked up the courage to build my own website, www.RiaNicholasDesigns.com, and to open my own Etsy shop by the same name. I have now sold and shipped chairs all over the United States, from California to New York and from Wyoming to the Carolinas. So, for me, retirement didn’t signify the end of my productive life. I embraced it as a graduation from repetitive responsibilities into a whole new world of opportunity. I want this optimism and exuberance reflected in my craft!
Reupholstering chairs allows me to express three of my passions: First, I’m safekeeping a bit of history and being kind to the environment by keeping these precious heirlooms out of a landfill and reducing the need to produce more chairs. Secondly, it allows me to give full reign to those creative impulses I mentioned. And, finally, I’m providing my customers with a unique and valuable product – and hopefully some joy and inspiration.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh, goodness, no! It hasn’t always been a smooth road. But does anything worth doing ever go 100% smoothly? It’s been – and continues to be – a steep learning curve for me. Early on, I had to give away a few chairs at a loss, and I’ve had to throw out a good amount of fabric as a result of messing up my cuts. But then, as a retired teacher, I know that it’s impossible to learn and grow without making mistakes along the way. Every step up the ladder comes with failures. But unless you have the grit to rebound, you’ll never reach the top. Plus, I get a satisfaction out of the learning process itself.
Social media continues to present more of a challenge for me than the actual upholstery work does. Perhaps that shouldn’t come as a surprise to someone of my generation. But I never-the-less embrace social media for the wonderful networking and marketing tool that it is! I’m currently concentrating on FB, Instagram, and Pinterest. I know there are many more platforms out there, but I find I do better when I focus on just a few at a time.
And, speaking of focus, one of my greatest challenges has been in figuring out who I am, stylistically speaking. I tend to have so many interests and likes that I initially found it difficult to niche down. But I’m finally here! Today, if you asked me what genre of chairs I like to create, I’d have to say, ‘chateau chic.’ I now ask myself with every chair or fabric purchase, “Does this further my brand?” Unless the answer is a resounding “yes,” I don’t buy it. The chairs and settees I create aren’t shy! They are statement pieces. They’re opulent conversation starters that bring a little jewelry to any room. I say, “Dare to be audacious!”
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m on a mission to redefine the word ‘old’ – both in terms of the vintage chairs I creatively transform and in terms of how I approach this stage of my life. At 66, I definitely don’t consider myself old! I prefer to think of myself as “ripened to perfection.” The chairs I artistically reupholster aren’t old either. They’re individual, elegant, and far more interesting and well-made than their newer, mass-produced counterparts!
Art nouveau, art deco, and Hollywood regency styles probably inspire me the most, although there are also some wonderful Victorian pieces out there. I look for chair frames that bring something special to a space: elegant or unusual shapes, interesting carvings or strikingly clean lines, asymmetrical pairs or smart rattan pieces! I like to bring out the details with antiquing and paint or with other refinishing techniques.
When it comes to upholstery fabric, I again look for the extra-ordinary: sheen, texture, embroidery, or an unusual or unexpected pattern or combination of fabrics. If I can’t find a pattern I like for a particular project, I’ll design one myself and have it printed. I’ve even gone so far as to upholster a tasteful, black & white image of a vintage, semi-nude on the back of a settee. I’m sure that raised some eyebrows!
The trick with this endeavor is to respect the historical nature of the piece while bringing it into the present day. That isn’t always easy. It takes careful thought. Then, when I think I’ve got what I want . . . I stop and edit. A little bling goes a long way! More is more. But too much is still too much! It’s important to strike that perfect balance.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
The best way to learn upholstery, in my opinion, is hands-on. So, my advice to those just starting out is to take a leap and, as the Nike commercial says – just do it! Try upholstering just for fun in the beginning and keep your expectations low. If you are taking it up as a hobby or unless you have successfully completed enough courses to be proficient, keep your day job! I have had the advantage of being able to rely on my teacher retirement and other sources of income. Starting an artistic upholstery business was not a do-or-die endeavor for me.
Start out by keeping it simple. Buy an inexpensive dining chair with a pop-out seat at a thrift store. Get some inexpensive fabric to recover it. You can even use an old bed sheet for practice. Look at some ‘how to’ videos and give it a try. Once you gain confidence, you can gradually move on to more complex projects.
I was actually surprised at how difficult upholstery is. I once saw a nice, old armchair on FB Marketplace. The post said, “If you don’t like the fabric, just staple some new fabric over the top. It’s easy.” No, it is not easy! FB Marketplace is full of ‘project chairs’ abandoned by people who underestimated the difficulty of re-upholstering them. You do have to know what you’re doing. But if you’re patient and willing to put in the time and effort to learn, you can get there. If you try it and find that you love it, then go for it! I, for one, have no regrets.
Pricing:
- Prices vary, depending on size, style, uniqueness or difficulty.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.RiaNicholasDesigns.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ria.nicholas.designs/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rnicholasdesigns/
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RiaNicholasDesigns
Image Credits
Photos of me are by James Zura. I took the photos of the chairs and settee myself.
