Ray Clarke Upholstery & Design

T,was my absolute pleasure and privilege to attend Wells and White Bespoke Upholstery’s AMUSF awards ceremony on Wednesday evening and meet and congratulate the all the students who have produced some lovely pieces, as well as finally meet very special guest and Fellow TV artisan and craftsman Peter Fournel Antique Restoration and Upholstery.

This beautiful wing chair began life as a students’ upholstery project aThe Wooden Mouse French Polishingewoodenmousefrenchpolishing in Rochester.

Due to work commitments, my student wasn’t able to complete it herself, so the chair eventually found its way to my workshop for the finishing touches.

There was one final challenge. My student had chosen the stunning printed velvet called Bangal GaBecca Who | Designerign by Becca Who | Designer, however, there wasn’t quite enough fabric to upholster the entire chair.

So rather than trying to source more, after a fabric consultation my student selected a deep navy velvet which complements the dramatic florals and rich tones of the print. This lush deepLinwood Fabric velvet from Linwood Fabric allows the feature fabric to take centre stage while adding depth, elegance and a little visual breathing space.

Sometimes limitations don’t hold a design back—they help define it.

I think the finished chair has a wonderful balance of bold pattern and understated luxury.

What do you think?

**SOLD!** Magic Monkey Chair 🦧

Back in 2015, I was invited to appear on BBC One’s Money For Nothing, where I transformed a discarded post WW2 Utility arm chair into something entirely new using one of my own original textile designs.

The fabric began life as a series of hand-drawn Simian illustrations that I created myself. These artworks were then developed into a repeat pattern and digitally printed onto a luxurious flame-retardant upholstery velvet, fully compliant with UK domestic furniture fire regulations.

The result became what I affectionately call The Magic Monkey Chair — a bold, playful statement piece combining original artwork, textile design and traditional upholstery craftsmanship.

I’m so over the moon that, after a decade later, Another textile variant of my original design,which I've upholstered onto this chair, has found a wonderful new home with Martin and his wife, who purchased it from me back in April this year.
Seeing a piece like this with my design continue its journey and be appreciated by people who genuinely love it is one of the most rewarding aspects of what I do.

What began as a sketchbook illustration became a printed textile, then a television project, and now a cherished piece of furniture in someone’s home.

A reminder my upholstered chairs are be far more than functional—They’re furniture art which tells a story.

My Thank you, Martin and family, for giving this Magic Monkey Chair a new home for its next chapter.

You don’t post for ages an then …
Same frame design as previous post, same customer, same treatment (refurbish, refinish & recover) though a different (Customer supplied)fabric from Linwood Fabric .

Both pieces now awaiting courier back to their Chingford Home.

It’s been a while since I posted on here. I’ve just finished refurb and recover on this Edwardian tub chair and Customer supplied fabric from Linwood Fabric.

Finished, delivered and fitted.

This bespoke winged headboard and twin bed bases became one of the more technically and mentally challenging projects I’ve taken on in a long time.

The scale alone was a challenge — from physically collecting and manoeuvring the heavy bed bases, to designing the headboard so it could fully dismantle into four sections for transport through narrow staircases and doorways before being reassembled and fitted precisely around the skirting boards with no visible gaps.

There were moments of doubt along the way. Fabric supply delays, scheduling pressure, cashflow stress and the constant balancing act of managing customer expectations while trying to maintain the standard I expect from my work.

But with some valued help from and , I pushed through and completed a piece I’m genuinely proud of — and most importantly, one my clients are happy with.

Projects like this remind me that bespoke upholstery isn’t just about making furniture. It’s problem solving, perseverance and refusing to compromise on quality, even when things get difficult.

Lovely to meet the Mayor of Medway and some familiar faces at the official opening of The art Gallery in Rochester high Street. May The Gallery and Schools activities go from strength to strength.
Check out and sign up for website for details of events and leisure upholstery classes (with yours truly) with dates during May and the coming months published soon!

An Honour to attend and great to meet The Mayor of Medway. Congratulations Heather, Stewart & Manjeet. May the Wooden Mouse go from Strength to strength!