Madderdyer Upholstery

03/11/2026

My magnetic hammer and my last commission have a very special relationship.
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My client's mother was a very talented leisure upholsterer who took classes with Desmond Gaston. She fully reupholstered this chair many years ago (last photo). I was lucky enough to receive some of her old tools when I started my training, including her magnetic hammer.
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Now ready to have the chair reupholstered, my client chose a beautiful Linwood Fabric printed linen that I have wanted to use since I first saw it.
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The stitched edges on the back and arms were still firm so I was able to reuse these pads with a new layer of hessian and a new row of top stitch over the top. A complete new seat with an independent sprung edge and some pattern matching and the chair is good to go.
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My client has a revitalised chair that still has elements of her beloved mother's talent within it. And the magnetic hammer that worked on its last incarnation worked on it again.

17/10/2026

We need to focus on repair not replace.

On this International Repair Day we are calling on the government to recognise repair as a core part of the UK's Net Zero strategy.

If you believe in keeping things in use, that skilled people deserve to be valued, that repair should be easy to access and that our economy shouldn't depend on constantly replacing what we already own then please add your voice and sign the petition.

Urge the government to support the UK's repair industry

17/10/2026

Good as new, better for the planet.

Today is International Repair Day and we’re joining forces with We Are Repairs | Ally & Gem and other repair businesses across the UK, to encourage everyone to repair not replace.

A report from Suez (2025) found that if every UK household re-used or repaired JUST TWO extra items a year, it would:
Keep 23 million more items in use.
Generate £1.6 billion for local economies.
Create 74,200 skilled jobs.

Let’s spark momentum for a future in which fewer household items are wasted, more are repaired, and corporate power is balanced by collective demand for a sustainable future.

17/09/2026

Pair of mid century chairs delivered back to the client yesterday.
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The puppy chewed areas (see final photo) have been smoothed out and the wood given a lovely warm tone with Rubio Monocoat UK interior wood oil.
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The client chose a beautiful animal fabric from Saint & Poet Upholstery Fabric in warm autumnal tones, and Button Covering Services did her usual fabulous job with the buttons.
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Fully reupholstered with foam-free materials.

06/08/2026

Love it when a client makes a leap and goes bold with their fabric choice.
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This fabulous Saint & Poet Upholstery Fabric animal fabric is a real beauty.

28/07/2026

Next up is a pair of Garrett Master mid century chairs. Not a brand I've come across before so I'll be doing a bit of digging on that.
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My client has had these for a few years but an exuberant puppy took a liking to them and had a chew. They are now being brought back into use having been stored away until the pup had grown out of chewing.
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One stripped, one to go.

27/07/2026

This beauty is having a little break whilst I tackle another commission. She'll be back to have her seat finished and outsides done in September.

05/06/2026

Spent a pleasant hour or so this morning carding the hair that I took out of my current commission so that it's all ready when I want to put it back in.
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Being able to reuse materials in a chair is a great sustainable way of working, as well as keeping some of the history of the chair in its future life.
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Thanks to for letting me pop round and use Bertie.

05/06/2026

I've a favour to ask. Long read but please stick with it.

The UK government is currently consulting on the fire regulations for our domestic furniture. Our current regulations were created in the 1980s after a number of deaths, mainly due to dropped ci******es, and resulted in huge amounts of chemicals being pumped into upholstery materials and fabrics. So much so in fact that 20% of your home sofa is likely made up of chemicals.

Fast forward to now and it has become clear that these chemicals are equally problematic with the WHO recently classing one of them TCPP carcinogenic. In independent studies they have been found to affect fertility and cause development issues in children, immune issues and cancer. These chemicals permeate our skin and build up in our bodies with the effects often not being obvious for years. These chemicals are long lasting which is why upholstered furniture now has to be incinerated at high temperatures instead of put into landfill.

We are the only country in the world to have such chemicals in our furniture however although domestic fire deaths have reduced since the 80s they have not reduced significantly compared to Europe and the US where these chemicals are banned. Reduction is far more likely related to a reduction in smoking and an increase in domestic smoke detectors. And where deaths occur they are more likely to be smoke related due to the chemicals.

The govt no recognises that things need to change and is proposing to change the 1988 fire test to a cigarette test in line with the EU and US. Along with a couple of other proposals which can be found at the link below. These proposals will mean healthier furniture in your homes, healthier materials for upholsterers to use and less furniture needing to be incinerated in the future.

I would be really grateful if you would take the time to respond to the govt survey at the link below. Use the Respond Online button at the bottom of the page and once you are through the demographic questions then please respond with Agree to the 4 questions posed. Deadline is 23 June.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/product-regulation-fire-safety-of-domestic-upholstered-furniture

For those worried about what this furniture is doing to your home then I would advise the following:
1) Use throws or blankets on your upholstered furniture so that off gassing is not happening next to your skin.
2) Regularly hoover your upholstered furniture.
3) Open windows to air your rooms.
4) If buying new furniture think about where you buy it from. There are companies who only use natural materials and fabrics. They will cost more but this type of furniture is an investment and should last years to come.
5) Consider buying 2nd hand, older pieces and having them reupholstered by someone who uses sustainable, natural materials and fabrics.

Thank you if you have read this far.
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04/06/2026

My client had these chairs for many years before having them reupholstered. Now that they have they couldn't be more pleased with them.
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If you're thinking of having something reupholstered get in touch and we can start to talk about your vision for your treasured piece of seating.
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