Room for Improvement: Reupholster It

WSVN -- Martin Amado: "Have you ever wished you knew how to reupholster furniture? Giving an old sofa or chair or maybe even a thrift store find a brand new look? Well today, on a special Room For Improvement, we're going to show you how."

Martin Amado: "We're at the Habitat Restore in Fort Lauderdale looking for that perfect piece. If you're a beginner, you want to look for something small that has clean lines and not too many curves. And remember, don't worry about the fabric, 'cause that is going to change."

Martin Amado: "I'm here with George Rios with Superior Optimum Services in Boca, who's going to teach us how to reupholster the love seat. So George, what is the first step?"

George Rios, Upholstery Expert: "To select some fabrics."

Martin Amado: "So many choices. What should I be looking for?"

George Rios: "Something durable, upholstery grade, definitely thick."

Martin Amado: "OK. I love the ultra-suedes. It's very neutral, so let's make it happen."

George Rios: "We're just taking off the old fabric. Just rip it off."

Martin Amado: "Next step is to cut the fabric George, correct?"

George Rios: "Yes it is."

Martin Amado: "So how many yards do we need?"

George Rios: "Uh, we're going to measure that sofa, and I already did, and it takes about six yards."

Martin Amado: "Six yards. And how much is this fabric per yard?"

George Rios: "$25 a yard."

Martin Amado: "All right, so for $150. We can get a brand new sofa."

George Rios: "Yes. We're cutting the fabric, so I can sew it. It will fit perfectly."

Martin Amado: "The idea is to have an exact fit, just like a slipcover?"

George Rios: "Yes."

Use old fabric as a template for the new fabric. Then, fold the edges for a professional look.

George Rios: "We'll try on this corner, and now we'll try the other corner. Perfect. This is how we do the corners, so for the people that don't have a sewing machine, they can just do it like this."

Martin Amado: "Just folding the fabric within itself."

Martin Amado: "So, if you haven't figured it out by now, you're going to need a lot of staples, guys. A lot of staples."

Martin Amado: "So now, this is the finishing touch right here, George. What do we do?"

George Rios: "There is double-faced tape right here, and we want to apply it on the edge. Peel it off. This has a lot of excessive material, but once you pull it, voila!"

Martin Amado: "George, it looks fantastic, and it took only how long?"

George Rios: "Uh, three hours from start to finish."

Martin Amado: "Not bad, and we have a brand new love seat. And the good news is, it's going back to the Habitat Restore, and it's going to be available for purchase. So if you want it, call the Habitat Restore. We thank you so much for watching, and we'll see you next time on another Room for Improvement."

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: room@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-576-HOME
Broward: 954-962-HOME
Martin Amado's Website: http://www.martinamado.com/