Spruce
See that antique couch in the thrift store, the one with stained cushions and a hideous retro pattern? It’s the perfect shape, the perfect size, and the wooden legs match your living room fireplace like nothing has ever matched anything before. You don’t have to spend a ridiculous amount of money on an upholsterer—you can create a household treasure all on your own.
Amanda Brown believes that one-size-fits-all furniture makes for a dreary, unfitting living room that drains energy rather than provides comfort and familiarity. In Spruce, she shows DIY-ers how to make design decisions—like selecting fabrics based on practicality, functionality, and aesthetics— and how to transform undesired items into coveted collectables. Featuring six projects—Louis chair, pair of “slipper” chairs, wingback chair, three-seater couch, ottoman, and several types of pillows—Spruce traces the step-by-step process of upholstering furniture of any shape, progressing from simple frame to completed product.
As the instructions evolve, followers-along can experience Brown’s imagination taking shape through detailed photographs. While the dozens of intricate steps per item may seem intimidating at first glance, these pictures convey exactly how each step is performed and how it contributes to the process. Brown does more than simply relay the steps to reupholster furniture (which resemble works of art more than just chairs)—she explains why each step is necessary and why she chooses one technique over another. The forty-page appendix details specialty equipment and materials, providing readers with all the tools needed to turn a piece with potential into a piece to be proud of.
Reviewed by
Aimee Jodoin
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
