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http://www.ellajenkinsdesigns.co.uk/

Ella Jenkins Upholstery, 6 Station Road, Little Bytham (2026)

06/09/2026

Chair of the Week: Whale Tails & Starry Skies ⭐️

This week we're going to rock and roll…

I found this rather tired and worn late Victorian rocking chair on Facebook Marketplace. I was told it had come from a family home in Leeds and had once belonged to a great aunt who had been a nurse.

I loved its shape immediately. Unlike some rocking chairs, which can be rather imposing, this one had lovely, dainty proportions. I could just imagine a weary nurse settling into it with a cuppa after a long shift at the hospital.

Then I stripped it down and discovered something rather wonderful.

Hidden beneath the upholstered arms were the most beautiful carved wooden arms — which, for some reason, had been completely covered up. To me, they immediately looked like the tail of a whale.

And so the idea for the chair was born.

I envisaged a great whale swimming through the sea, with a tiny boat perched on his nose and a starry sky above. It's not an entirely original idea — I've seen variations of the concept before — but this is my own version, using the fabrics and materials I had to hand.

The whale is appliquéd onto a wonderfully patterned blue fabric, with a little boat bobbing on his nose and tiny stars scattered across the velvet sky above.

The woodwork had been pretty badly marked where the arms had previously been upholstered, so there was quite a bit of filling and repairing before I painted the whole chair in this lovely blue.

And now?

Well, I think it works.

There's something wonderfully soothing about a rocking chair, and this one feels particularly at home in a nursery or child's bedroom. A little whale, a starry sky and a gentle rocking motion… perhaps the perfect place for a bedtime story.

A gentle rock, a starry sky and a whale's tail… what more could you want?

30/08/2026

Chair of the Week – The Welsh Rocker

Oh, this one. 😳

This beautiful old American rocking chair was once covered in very tired red vinyl. My client wanted me to transform it into something deeply personal — a scene from the Rhondda Valley in Wales, where she had spent many happy times with her great grandparents in Hopkinstown.

Simple enough, you might think.

Except the brief included terraced miners' houses, a pit wheel, railway tracks to represent her Grandad driving coal trains from the pit to Cardiff Docks… plus a dragonfly, cow parsley and a fox.

A pit wheel. On a rocking chair.

I mean… WTAF? 😂

This was one of those projects where the idea sounded wonderful, but actually making it work was a whole different matter. It was important to me to capture the juxtaposition of the natural beauty of the Welsh Valleys and the adjacent industrialisation. Getting the scale and perspective right on the back of a rocking chair was a challenge. Fitting all the elements together without making the design look cluttered was another. There may also have been a little bit of swearing in Welsh involved along the way.

But that's the joy of what I do.

Using applique, hand and machine embroidery and a little fabric painting, I slowly built up the landscape — the valleys, the houses, the pit wheel and railway — and added those smaller details that made it uniquely hers.

And somehow, it all came together.

This wasn't just about making an old chair beautiful again. It was about taking someone's memories, family history and sense of place and turning them into something they could actually sit in, use and pass down through the family.

My client described the finished chair as “truly magical.”

And I have to admit, I'm rather proud of this one too.

There is another little twist to the story. These “American” rocking chairs often have a rather surprising Welsh connection of their own. I've written about it here:

What Nationality is Your American Rocker Chair?
Read the blog: https://ellajenkinsdesigns.co.uk/the-not-so-american-rocker-the-welsh-secret-behind-this-classic-chair/

This is the third American rocker I've had the pleasure — and occasionally the sheer bloody challenge — of transforming.

And yes… there is another one waiting in the wings. 😬

16/08/2026

CHAIR OF THE WEEK
The Prie-Dieu Who Keeps Getting Admired but Never Taken Home

I have to confess, I’m beginning to feel a little sorry for this one.

She has been admired at exhibitions, oohed and aahed over at events and had plenty of people telling me how beautiful she is…

…and yet, despite all this attention, she is still waiting for someone to take her home.

This lovely antique prie-dieu has been fully restored and upholstered in the most gorgeous deep green velvet, and features a rather special piece of textile art.

A beautiful barn owl swoops down from the moon towards a tiny mouse scurrying through a meadow of hand-painted cow parsley.

This chair was actually the first time I properly experimented with fabric painting. I was slightly terrified that I might ruin it, if I’m honest, but I thoroughly enjoyed the process — and I think the painted flowers work beautifully alongside the applique and machine embroidery.

I added a few tiny touches of red and silver thread hand embroidery amongst the flowers too, just to give the design a little extra sparkle.

She really is one of those chairs that is much more interesting the closer you get. There are little details tucked away for you to discover.

So, if you happen to know someone who is looking for a rather lovely, slightly magical chair with a penchant for moonlit meadows, owls and mice…

she's still waiting.

https://ellajenkinsdesigns.co.uk/shop/antique-prayer-chair-with-owl-design/

09/08/2026

CHAIR OF THE WEEK
The Wedding Leaves Chair

Well, this week's Chair of the Week has quite a story behind it.

And after successfully delivering her to her clients yesterday — despite the A1 being closed and sitting stationary in my car for over an hour in 28°C heat — I think she deserves her moment!

This chair began when the lovely interior designer Alison Anderson approached me about creating a bespoke upholstered bedroom chair for one of her clients.

Alison had found my work online and was also inspired by the wonderful Kit Kemp.

So, I went away immediately and Googled Kit Kemp because, honestly, I'd never heard of her! 🤦‍♀️😂

I was then sent a copy of the couple's wedding invitation, which was to become the inspiration for the embroidery on the chair.

There was just one little problem…

There was no digital file to work from.

So out came the tracing paper and coloured pencils as I tried to work out how I could take the beautiful leafy design from the invitation and translate it into something that would actually work as machine embroidery.

And this is where my lovely friend Kerry came in.

Kerry is a professional embroiderer and, over the years, we've worked together on lots of projects. I developed the design, wording and positioning, and Kerry brought her specialist machine-embroidery skills to turn those ideas into the finished embroidered panels.

But there was another rather significant complication.

This is a very curved chair.

Getting an embroidered design to sit exactly where you want it on a flat piece of fabric is one thing. Getting it to flow beautifully across a chair that curves, turns and changes direction is quite another.

There was a LOT of measuring.

A LOT of repositioning.

Quite a lot of swearing and gnashing of teeth.

And more than a few conversations along the lines of:

“Nope. That's definitely not going to work.” 😂

This was also a long-distance bespoke commission, so there were a LOT of emails.

And I mean a LOT.

There were often three-way conversations between the client, Alison and me, with poor Alison diplomatically translating my:

“Nah, upholstery doesn't work like that.”

into something considerably more appropriate for customer service. 😂

But that's the thing about bespoke work.

Sometimes the starting point is a fabric.

Sometimes it's a piece of artwork.

And sometimes it's a paper wedding invitation from 2018.

Then comes the designing, experimenting, problem-solving, collaborating and figuring out how to make the idea work on an actual piece of furniture.

And finally… you get this.

The Wedding Leaves Chair. 🌿

A chair inspired by a wedding invitation, designed and upholstered by me, with the embroidery brought to life in collaboration with my very talented friend Kerry.

And I am absolutely delighted to say that we are all thrilled with how she turned out.

And perhaps my favourite part of this whole story is that Kerry and I actually met because she bought my Hare on a Prayer chair several years ago.

I was very nervous about approaching her when I discovered she was a professional embroiderer. What if my work wasn't up to her standards?

Thankfully, we got on like a house on fire — and what began with a slightly nerve-wracking approach has turned into a lovely friendship and a creative collaboration that I really value.

So there we are.
One interior designer
One wedding invitation.
One very curvy chair.
One brilliant embroiderer.
A LOT of emails.
A fair amount of swearing.
And very happy clients.

If you've got an idea for a piece of furniture that you'd love to make completely your own, I'd love to hear it.

Bespoke commissions are always welcome. ✂️🪡

02/08/2026

Chair of the Week – Whispers of Spring

If you'd seen this chair before I rescued it, you might have wondered why I didn't just take it straight to the tip!

It had been upholstered in rather unfortunate snot-green Dralon, the elegant carved frame had disappeared beneath that unmistakable 1980s orange pine finish (rather like a very bad fake tan), and the original sprung seat had completely failed.

Then came the biggest surprise...

Instead of replacing the broken springs properly, someone had packed the seat with a piece of gate post! I kid you not. I really wish I'd taken a photograph because nobody ever believes me!

So this chair was stripped right back and rebuilt from the inside out. I replaced all the springs, and painted the frame in a Farrow & Ball colour to give it a softer, more timeless look.

For the upholstery, I chose three luxurious fabrics to create layers of texture, colour and originality. The seat is covered in a beautifully soft textured grey velvet, while the inside features an embroidered designer linen depicting delicate p***y willow branches.

Now for the little secret...

The pearl grey silk satin used on the outside and piping was once my wedding dress.

It had spent years carefully folded away in a box under the bed until I finally decided it deserved a new life.

Well, I wasn't going to wear it again.

So out came the scissors.

Rather than leaving it hidden away in tissue paper, I gave it a second life as part of this chair. I think it's far happier being admired every day than spending the rest of its life tucked away in a box.

I love the idea that beautiful fabrics, just like beautiful furniture, can have more than one story to tell.

Which detail catches your eye first... the delicate embroidery, the pearl silk, or those beautifully carved cabriole legs?

26/07/2026

Chair of the Week – Peacock & Butterfly

Some chairs don't need embroidery, painted details or elaborate embellishments.

Sometimes you simply find a fabric that does all of the talking

This dainty Edwardian open armchair was one of those pieces.

The rich dark green velvet was the perfect partner for the warm wood, which was lovingly revived using my Dad's secret wood-cleaning recipe. Every time I use it I think of him. The smell always makes me smile. It brings tired timber back to life without taking away its character.

The peacock naturally takes centre stage on the seat, but my favourite detail is actually the little blue butterfly on the back.

Most upholsterers would simply centre the fabric on the seat and repeat it on the back. I like looking for those little hidden gems within a pattern that make each chair feel unique. By carefully positioning an offcut, the butterfly became the star of the show instead of disappearing into the background.

It's only a small detail, but it's the sort of thing that catches your eye as you walk past and makes you look twice.

Those are the little moments I love creating.

This beautiful little chair certainly didn't hang around for long. It sold through my Etsy shop in just four days before heading off to its new home in... Knightsbridge.

There's posh! 😉

Which detail would have caught your eye first—the peacock or the butterfly?

19/07/2026

✨ Chair of the Week – The Office Chair That Refused to Be Boring

I absolutely bloody love Facebook Marketplace sometimes. You never know what might pop up. This chair certainly wasn't my usual style, but it caught my eye during Covid when so many of us were suddenly working from home.

It got me thinking... why should your home office be furnished with the usual anonymous black office chair? If you're spending eight hours a day sitting in it, shouldn't it be something beautiful?

Reality was slightly less glamorous.

When I collected it, the black vinyl was ripped, the wood was scratched and tired, and it had definitely seen better days. But underneath all that wear and tear, it had wonderful bones. Turning it over, I discovered it had actually been made in Denmark - a quality piece of furniture just waiting for someone to give it another chance.

Out came my Dad's old secret recipe for restoring wood, and as always, it worked its magic. The rich mahogany slowly reappeared, looking every bit as elegant as it deserved.

For the upholstery, I paired sumptuous burgundy leather on the seat with a stunning William Morris fabric on the back. Antique brass studs were the finishing touch.

What had once been a very ordinary office chair suddenly looked as though it belonged in the library of a stately home. Even pushed neatly under a desk, the William Morris fabric on the back meant it looked beautiful from every angle.

Then came the moment of truth.

My glamorous assistant, Tim, carefully reassembled everything while I stood back admiring our handiwork. Naturally, I decided to be the first to test it.

I sat down...
..and immediately tipped forwards, very nearly introducing my forehead to the workshop floor whilst displaying next week's washing.

After I'd regained both my dignity and my balance, we discovered Tim had fitted the tilt mechanism back to front.

A quick adjustment later, all was well.

The chair was listed on my website and sold within two days.

I was delighted... although I have to admit, I was just a little bit sorry to see it go.

Because every now and then, a chair surprises you.

This one certainly did. 🤣

12/07/2026

Chair of the Week – The Hemlock & Hare Chair
(or, as Eve christened it... "A Self Portrait")

This beautiful Georgian armchair had been sitting in my storage unit waiting for inspiration. The trouble was, with only a few days until the ESC Artists Exhibition at Stamford Arts Centre, inspiration was nowhere to be found!

The chair itself had been quite a challenge. Its elaborate fretwork was badly damaged and putting it back together felt more like a game of Chair Jenga than furniture restoration.

Then, out of nowhere...

"Hares!"

Not the usual moon-gazing hare though. This was an exhibition piece, so I wanted something a little different. For reasons I still can't explain, hemlock popped into my head, and The Hemlock & Hare Chair was born.

I may have got a little carried away hand embroidering the hare's whiskers because I arrived at the gallery with just ten minutes to spare.

"You're cutting it a bit fine," laughed Eve.

"I know... I got carried away with the whiskers. Do you think it looks a bit manic?"

She looked at me, smiled and said, "No... but you do. It's a self-portrait on a chair."

We are still friends ... just!

The chair didn't sell on opening night, but a few days later, at 7.30 on a Saturday evening - just as Strictly Come Dancing started and I'd poured my first glass of Pinot Grigio - my phone rang.

A lady loved the chair... but wanted to know my "best price."

I politely explained that this was an artists' exhibition, not a car boot sale, and after repairing the frame, restoring the woodwork, creating the design and upholstering the chair, I wasn't discounting it.

She apologised...
..and bought it for the full asking price.

Moral of the story? Never interrupt an upholsterer during Strictly... and never ask her for a discount! 😉

12/07/2026

Chair of the Week – The Hemlock & Hare Chair
(also unofficially known as "A Self Portrait")

This beautiful Georgian armchair had been sitting patiently in my storage unit waiting for its moment.

With only a few days until the ESC Artists exhibition at Stamford Arts Centre, I still hadn't created the showstopper piece I'd promised the organisers. I like to tell people I work well under pressure. The truth is I'm simply very good at leaving things until the last possible minute!

The chair itself certainly kept me busy. Its elaborate fretwork had been smashed in several places and putting it back together felt less like furniture restoration and more like a game of Chair Jenga. One wrong move and I was convinced the whole lot would collapse.

Eventually I stood back and thought, "Right then... now what?"

"Hares!" I announced to absolutely nobody.

Hares are always popular, but I couldn't bring myself to do yet another hare gazing romantically at the moon. This was an exhibition piece. It needed something a little different.

For reasons I still can't explain, hemlock popped into my head.

After a quick Google search and a strong cup of tea, The Hemlock & Hare Chair was born. The silhouette was created with machine appliqué and hand embroidery... although I may have become just a tiny bit obsessed with stitching the hare's whiskers.

Fast forward to exhibition day...

I arrived at Stamford Arts Centre with about ten minutes to spare.

"You're cutting it a bit fine, Ella," laughed Eve.

"I know," I replied. "I got carried away with the hare's whiskers. Do you think it looks a bit manic?"

She looked at me for a moment.

"No... but you do. It's a self portrait on a chair."

Cheeky woman.

We're still friends...
..just.

Opening night came and went. The chair attracted lots of lovely comments but remained stubbornly unsold.

Then, a couple of days later, disaster struck.

It was 7.05 on a Saturday evening.

The wine had been poured.

Strictly Come Dancing had just started.

Then the phone rang.

Now, everyone who knows me understands that interrupting Strictly is only acceptable in the event of fire, flood or an international declaration of war.

It was a lady asking about the chair.

First she pointed out all the repairs I'd made to the frame.

Then she wasn't sure about the fabric.

Then came those five words guaranteed to make every artist's blood pressure rise...

"What's your best price?"

I explained, probably with rather more passion than diplomacy, that this was an artists' exhibition, not Facebook Marketplace. Between rebuilding the frame, restoring the woodwork, designing the embroidery and upholstering the chair, there were many, many hours of work invested in it.

Besides...
..she was interrupting Strictly.

There was a slightly awkward silence.

She apologised.

Then she bought the chair for the full asking price.

So perhaps the moral of the story is this...

Never ask an upholsterer for a discount during Strictly Come Dancing.

05/07/2026

Chair of the Week – The Wallflower

Not every chair arrives at my workshop like royalty.

Some swagger in, knowing they're beautiful.

Others simply... tag along.

This little Edwardian chair came as the unwanted extra with two rather handsome chairs and a lovely footstool. The furniture equivalent of "Oh, you can take that one as well if you like."

Poor thing.

It had been thoroughly battered during its lifetime. The woodwork was beyond saving, the seat had given up all hope, and someone had upholstered it in something that can only be described as 'nasty old carpet'.

It wasn't even attractive enough to be charming.

I couldn't quite bring myself to throw it away though. Underneath all that neglect was a lovely shape, a graceful galleried back and it was the perfect size to tuck into a bedroom corner or keep ready when unexpected guests appear.

So... into storage it went.

Where I completely forgot about it.

Months later I found myself with an unexpected day free. Out came the chair.

I looked at it.

The chair looked at me.

"You're still bloody ugly," I said.

The chair remained unconvinced.

So I stripped it back and began the ritual every upholsterer knows far too well...

The Great Fabric Audition.

Out came the posh embroidered linens.

The glorious silks.

The colourful exotic prints.

Each one was lovingly draped over the chair.

Each one was firmly rejected.

This stubborn little thing wasn't interested in showing off.

Then, almost as an afterthought, I reached for a length of classic French ticking stripe.

Silence.

The chair stopped arguing.

And suddenly... there it was.

Not flamboyant.

Not fashionable.

Simply elegant.

Sometimes a chair doesn't want to be the belle of the ball.

Sometimes it just wants to become exactly what it was always meant to be.

And I think this little wallflower cleans up rather beautifully.

Every chair has a story. Sometimes you just have to listen long enough to hear it.

If you have a home for the Wall flower chair, then please do get in touch.

Ella Jenkins Upholstery

06/09/2026

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09/08/2026

02/08/2026

26/07/2026

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