I
NTERIOR
designer
Alma Fennell
encourages
furniture
shoppers to think about
the long run. Instead of
buying cheaper plas-tic,
pressed wood, and
man-made particles, a
better investment is to
restore family treasures
or buy a used piece made
of durable real wood.
“What people are
purchasing today is junk,
made out of cardboard,
pine, particle board.
The lifespan is about
seven years then it goes
into the landfill, which
harms our environment,”
says Fennell, owner of
Drapery World in Wilm-ington.
“We rebuild and
reupholster old existing
furniture. When we
build it, we use nothing
but hardwood frames.
Our showroom displays
antiques that you can
modernize. Apply any fabric you’d like to put on it and
have an excellent piece that will survive 100 years.”
Fennell is an expert seamstress. She can fabricate,
upholster, or restore a variety of things. She makes drapes,
coverlets, valances, and cornices. Most anything pertain-ing
to decorating can be applied to furniture restoration
— even furniture in unexpected places.
“I just did an airplane!” she exclaims. “This gentle-man
brought in the chairs and we met the government
specifications, did the paneling all around the cockpit
and the passenger part. We did all that. We can do boats,
yachts … you know the ARRIVE Hotel downtown? We
did the outdoor cushions around the pagoda, a green fern
pattern, it is absolutely beautiful Sunbrella material that
stands up to sun and water.”
Top: Alma Fennell, owner of Drapery World, positions
cording on a reupholstered Victorian chair. Right: William
Holt and Bruce Stahler remove fabric from a modern chair
made of cheap materials. Cardboard can be seen on the
side.
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WBM november 2020