FEATURE STORIES

In the upholsterer's workshop

Staples, horsehair, saddle straps, tufting, piping. Words that sound like they’re from an old workshop, but are still used by today’s furniture upholsterers. One of them is Anki Lundmark, who runs Möbelstudion in Lund—where she breathes new life into old furniture.

Few crafts require as many skills as furniture upholstery. Repairing a worn piece of furniture or restoring it from scratch isn’t just about giving it new fabric—it also involves carpentry, knowledge of materials, and a sense of form and proportion. It’s a field where traditional craftsmanship meets creative expression—and it’s precisely this breadth that attracted Anki Lundmark, who now runs Möbelstudion in Lund, just outside Skellefteå.

“I’ve always enjoyed being creative and restoring furniture. It’s a very broad profession. Anything can come your way—things you never thought you’d do—and you have to know a little bit of everything,” Anki explains.

Sunlight streams into the workshop in Lund. Fabric swatches, tools, and shelves filled with various types of upholstery hang along the walls. The compressed air for the sewing machine hums softly in the background as Anki continues working. In front of her lies a set of leather cushions that are to be reupholstered and reused.

“I enjoy taking things apart and building them from scratch, retying elastic bands, and sewing. And being able to solve problems for the customer.” Taking a somewhat boring armchair, taking it apart, and putting it back together—and watching the result take shape the whole time—is one of the best things.

From 1940s craftsmanship to today’s mass production

The design language of furniture has changed in step with both society and manufacturing methods. Older furniture is often characterized by craftsmanship and natural materials, while furniture from later decades has been shaped to a greater extent by efficient production. The differences are evident not only in appearance but also in construction—something that becomes clear every time a piece of furniture is taken apart in the workshop.

“Every era has its charm, but the 1940s are especially fun because they often feature old upholstery and knotted springs. Newer furniture is often built more efficiently, but sometimes it’s harder to repair than older pieces,” explains Anki.

At the same time, interest in repairing and preserving furniture seems to be growing. Instead of buying new, more and more people are choosing to take care of what they already have—something Anki clearly notices in her work.

“I think you can see that more people want to make the most of things instead of throwing them away. It doesn’t always have to be a complete renovation; sometimes it’s just a seam that’s come undone or something that needs to be repaired,” she says.

In Anki’s workshop, the work continues at a leisurely pace. Fabrics are stretched, the sewing machine hums, and one piece of furniture at a time is rebuilt. Amid staples, horsehair, and piping, a craft lives on—as relevant today as ever.

Text: Sofia Hedenström

Photo: Jonas Wetsling