I. RENEWAL

When a full reupholster is not warranted.

Tailored slipcovers and cushion recoring give a piece a second life at a fraction of the cost of frame-up reupholstery. The frame is sound, the look needs to change, the cushions have gone flat, the zipper has failed — none of these problems requires a full strip-down. We solve them at the bench in days, not weeks.

Request a Quote Slipcover vs Reupholstery — when to choose which
Cream linen slipcover being tailored over a vintage Camelback sofa on a workshop bench
From the workshop

II. TAILORED SLIPCOVERS

Fitted to your piece. Washable. Reversible.

Tailored slipcovers are pattern-cut to your specific sofa, chair, or dining chair — not a one-size sleeve. Cotton duck, linen, or performance fabric (Sunbrella, Crypton, Perennials) for washable rooms; silk, velvet, and certain wools for dressier rooms (dry-clean only). Pre-shrunk before cutting so the cover does not shrink off the frame after washing. Boxed-cushion construction to match the original; piping or welt to spec. Reversible — if you decide to reupholster later, the underlying piece is untouched.

Bergerie slipcover-fitting bench — Camelback sofa shown in three states: original tired oxblood velvet 'before', mid-pattern-cut in muslin with pieces pinned in brass pins on a fitting platform, and finished cream-linen tailored slipcover with crisp boxed seat-cushion and self-welt piping, bolt rack of cotton duck / linen / Sunbrella / silk-velvet behind, brass tape measure and pin cushion
From the workshop

III. CUSHION RECORING

New foam, new Dacron, original cover.

When the cover is still in good shape but the cushion has gone flat, recoring is the answer. We open the existing cover, pull the failed core, install fresh high-density polyurethane foam (1.8 to 2.5 lb density depending on use), wrap in Dacron for a softer feel, and re-zip. Down-feather wraps for soft seats, channel-stitched or boxed-edge construction to match the original. Cost runs roughly 30 to 50 percent of full cushion replacement.

Cushion recoring anatomy mid-process — failed compressed yellowed polyurethane core slumped on the bench beside a fresh dense high-density foam block with visible 1.8–2.5 lb cell structure, Dacron batting wrap half-folded around the new core, original cover laid flat with heavy-duty YKK zipper open, down-feather pillow rack and channel-stitched cushion samples on a pegboard behind
From the workshop

IV. ZIPPER & SMALL REPAIR

Replacement zippers, seam repairs, button work.

Failed cushion zippers, split seams, popped buttons, missing tufting — small repairs at the bench, usually same-week turnaround. We replace zippers with heavy-duty YKK in matching color, hand-stitch repair seams, and replace buttons or rebuild deep-button tufting on Chesterfields and tufted ottomans. No charge for evaluation.

Bergerie small-repair bench arranged for same-week turnaround — tufted oxblood-leather Chesterfield arm mid-rebutton with three completed diamond-pattern tufts and two in-progress, curved upholsterer's needle threaded with waxed twine, leather tray of covered buttons, pegboard of heavy-duty YKK zippers in oxblood / oyster / charcoal / dove-gray / ochre, cushion cover with split seam being hand-stitched
From the workshop

V. COST & TIMELINE

Slipcovers 3 to 4 weeks. Recoring 1 to 2.

Tailored slipcover for a sofa: $600 to $1,400 plus fabric, 3 to 4 weeks. Slipcover for a chair: $250 to $500 plus fabric. Cushion recoring (foam, Dacron, new zipper, original cover): $80 to $200 per cushion, 1 to 2 weeks. Zipper replacement only: $40 to $80 per cushion, same week. Free pickup and delivery across the DC metro for residential clients.

Bergerie renewal-completion staging area for same-week DC-metro pickup and delivery — long oak bench staged with finished tailored cream-linen slipcover folded on a quilted pad, row of four freshly recored cushions plump and new with brass YKK zipper pulls, tufted oxblood-leather Chesterfield seat-cushion with replaced buttons, wooden cargo dolly with blanket-wrapped Camelback sofa, Federal-period DC-metro pickup-route map
From the workshop

Frequently asked

Should I get a slipcover or reupholster?

Slipcover when the frame is sound and the look needs to change but you want to preserve the option to revert. Reupholster when the structure underneath needs work — failed springs, broken webbing, frame separation, foam below the cover that is breaking down. The journal article 'Slipcover vs Reupholstery' walks through the decision with a checklist.

How is a tailored slipcover different from a one-size sleeve?

Tailored means pattern-cut to your specific piece. We measure the sofa, draft a paper pattern, fit it on the frame, mark adjustments, and only then cut fabric. The result drapes to the corners, sits flat across the seat, and stays in place without bunching. One-size sleeves are stretchy fabric tubes — they look and stay wrong on any piece that is not their template shape.

Can a slipcover go in the washing machine?

Yes — for cotton duck, linen, and performance-fabric slipcovers. We pre-shrink the yardage before cutting, so the cover comes out of the wash the same size it went in. Slipcovers in silk, velvet, or certain wools are dry-clean only.

What foam do you use for cushion recoring?

High-density polyurethane: 1.8 lb density for occasional-use seating (formal living rooms, guest rooms), 2.0 to 2.5 lb for daily-use seating (family rooms, primary sofas). Wrapped in Dacron polyester batting for a softer top feel, or in down-feather pillows over the foam for the highest-touch seats. We do not use cheap 1.2 lb foam — it bottoms out within a year.

How long does cushion recoring take?

If the existing covers are reusable, 1 to 2 weeks. If covers need recovering at the same time, 3 to 4. Same-week turnaround on simple zipper replacements. Pickup and delivery across the DC metro included for residential clients.

Can you fix popped buttons on a Chesterfield or tufted ottoman?

Yes. Replacement buttons in fabric- or leather-covered to match. Re-tufting (the deep-button pattern that defines a Chesterfield) by hand using waxed thread, with the proper tension to keep the buttons sitting at the right depth. Common repair, fast turnaround.