Guide · upholstery in Melbourne
Chesterfield reupholstery and restoration is the craft of stripping a Chesterfield back to its frame, rebuilding the springs, padding and deep-buttoned surfaces, and recovering it in leather or fabric so it looks and sits like new. Done properly, it protects the character of a piece that is often decades old while giving it another lifetime of use. At Dylberry Design, a family upholstery and furniture-restoration workshop in Eltham North servicing greater Melbourne, this work is carried out in-house by our own machinist, upholsterer and restorer.
Last updated: July 2026
Get a free quoteCall 0425 832 619A Chesterfield is not an ordinary sofa, and it cannot be treated like one. The rolled arms, low back and buttoned surfaces are built up in layers, and each layer has to be rebuilt in the right order for the finished piece to hold its shape. A full restoration usually means removing the old cover, assessing the frame and springs, replacing worn foam and padding, re-forming the buttoning, and hand-fitting a new cover cut to the exact lines of your sofa.
Because every Chesterfield arrives in a different state, we quote each job on its own scope and materials rather than a fixed price list. Some pieces need only a recover and fresh buttoning; others need the frame re-glued and the seat completely rebuilt. You can send us photos for a free quote, and you deal directly with the people doing the work, so nothing is lost between a salesperson and the bench.
The buttoning is what makes a Chesterfield a Chesterfield, and it is also where shortcuts show. True deep buttoning is pulled by hand, with each button drawn back into the padding and the surplus material folded into clean, consistent pleats that run in the same direction across the whole panel. Diamond tufting has to be measured and set out before a single button goes in, so the pattern stays even across the back, the arms and the seat.
Our upholsterer does this the traditional way, on the bench, one button at a time. That patience is the difference between a Chesterfield that looks tailored and one that looks puckered. With close to a hundred years of combined craft across our small team, the buttoning is treated as the centrepiece of the job, not an afterthought.
Both leather and fabric suit a Chesterfield, and the right choice depends on how you live with the piece. Leather is the classic option. It ages beautifully, develops a patina over the years, and stands up well to daily use, which makes it a strong pick for a family lounge or a piece you want to keep for decades. Full-grain and aniline leathers give the richest look; pigmented leathers are more forgiving of scuffs and spills.
Fabric opens up colour, texture and pattern that leather cannot, and a heavy velvet or a hard-wearing woven can give a Chesterfield a softer, more contemporary feel. Fabric shows buttoning pleats especially well. We can talk you through weights, rub counts and how each material behaves once it is buttoned, so the cover you choose works with the piece rather than against it.
An antique Chesterfield deserves a lighter, more careful hand. Older frames are often solid timber joined in ways worth preserving, and the goal is to keep as much original structure as possible while renewing only what has failed. Where a piece has timber show-wood, we can French polish it back to a warm, hand-finished sheen rather than hiding it under a modern coating.
Newer or mass-made Chesterfields are a different job. The frames and foams are usually easier to work with, and restoration is often about upgrading thin or collapsed padding, correcting sagging seats and recovering in a better material than the original. In both cases the aim is the same, a sofa that sits properly and looks right, matched to the age and value of the piece.
Under the cover, the rebuild is what determines how the sofa feels for the next twenty years. We check the frame for loose or broken joints and re-glue or reinforce where needed. Sagging or fatigued springs are re-tied or replaced so the seat carries weight evenly. Worn seat and back padding is renewed, and we use fire-grade foam so the finished piece meets sensible safety standards without feeling hard or synthetic.
Getting these hidden layers right is why a properly restored Chesterfield feels supportive rather than saggy, and why the buttoning stays crisp instead of pulling loose within a year.
A rebuilt Chesterfield rewards a little routine care. Keep it out of direct, constant sunlight, which fades both leather and fabric over time. Plump and rotate loose cushions where the design allows, and vacuum into the buttoned tufts to stop dust settling. Wipe leather with a soft dry cloth and condition it occasionally; treat fabric spills promptly with a damp cloth rather than soaking them. Done consistently, this keeps the piece looking freshly finished for years.
Plenty of sellers will outsource the tricky parts of a Chesterfield, and the buttoning is usually first to go. We keep the whole job under one roof in Eltham North, from machining the cover to hand-pulling the buttons and French polishing the timber. That means one team is accountable for the result, quotes reflect the real work in front of us, and every job is individually and fairly priced on its scope and materials. Our 5.0 rating from 37 Google reviews reflects that hands-on approach, and because you deal direct with the maker, the sofa you describe is the sofa you get back.
Good to know
There is no flat rate, because every Chesterfield is different. Cost depends on the size of the piece, the material you choose, and how much frame, spring and foam work is needed underneath. We price each job individually and fairly on its scope, and we offer free quotes from a few photos so you know where you stand before committing.
Both work well. Leather is hard-wearing, ages with character and suits a classic look. Fabric offers more colour and texture and shows buttoning beautifully. The best choice comes down to how the sofa is used and the look you want, and we are happy to talk you through suitable options.
Yes. Antique pieces are handled with a lighter touch, preserving as much of the original frame and structure as possible and renewing only what has worn out. Where there is timber show-wood, we can French polish it by hand to keep the traditional finish.
We can do either. A recover alone suits a sound sofa, but many Chesterfields also need the springs re-tied or replaced and the padding rebuilt with fire-grade foam. We assess the frame and interior as part of the quote and recommend only the work your piece actually needs.
Send us photos of your Chesterfield, ideally from a few angles, along with a note on what you would like done. We provide a free quote from those photos, so you do not need to transport the sofa anywhere to get started.
Yes. Our upholsterer hand-pulls the deep buttoning and sets out diamond tufting on the bench, one button at a time. This is done in-house rather than outsourced, which is how the pleats stay even and the finish stays crisp.
Timeframes vary with the scope of work and material lead times. Once we have seen your photos and agreed on the job, we can give you a realistic estimate. Full rebuilds naturally take longer than a straight recover.
Our workshop is in Eltham North and we service greater Melbourne. Get in touch with your location and we can confirm the details for your job.
Send a photo or the dimensions of your booths, banquettes or venue seating and we'll come back with a rough price and turnaround.
Send us the drawings or details and we'll come back with a straight quote, no clout needed, just a great job.
Enquire about a job Call 0425 832 619