Service · Nahkur OÜ Võru
Antique furniture restoration.
Grandmother's chaise sofa, the family leather suite, the Soviet-era armchair. We preserve original style and use period-appropriate techniques. Nahkur OÜ personally handles every restoration at the Võru workshop - since 2012. Chaise sofas from €800.
Why grandmother's furniture is worth restoring
In every second home in Estonia there's a piece of furniture you don't want to throw away, but don't want to use either. Grandmother's chaise sofa in the cellar. Grandfather's leather armchair with a torn cover. A 1960s Standard sofa set with sunk springs. These pieces are typically better built and more durable than today's mass production - solid timber frame, quality springs, hand-assembled.
The problem: dirty cover, broken foam, sunk springs. But the frame is sound. Restoration gives the furniture a second life - often better than it was new, because today we can combine an old frame with the best craft and modern materials (if that's what you want).
What antique restoration includes
- Chaise sofa restoration - full restoration of a curved-back antique sofa. We strip the old cover, assess frame condition, repair timber parts, refresh foam or preserve original filling.
- Grandmother's sofa cover replacement - when the frame is sound and usable, the main work is sewing and fitting a new cover.
- Antique armchair upholstery - bergère, Voltaire chairs, classical Western styles, Estonian factory pieces 1950–1980.
- Period-appropriate techniques - hand stitching, button tufting (capitonné), nail upholstery, traditional horsehair or foam filling. We use them depending on whether the goal is museum-accurate or usable.
- Frame repair - if the timber is cracked, loose, or insect-damaged, we partner with a woodworker before upholstery.
- Spring system restoration - old coil springs back into service: tightened, fastenings repaired, replaced where needed.
- Leather or fabric selection - we recommend period-appropriate material (classic leather, linen, brocade, velvet), you decide. See materials.
Which antique pieces are worth restoring
Not every old piece is worth restoring. We assess each case individually, but general guidelines:
- Solid timber frame (not chipboard) - check whether wood grain is visible at frame corners. Flat-pack chipboard furniture usually isn't worth restoring.
- Hand-built - if you can see hand stitching, sanded arm details, individual touches - it's craft, not conveyor.
- Sentimental or family value - grandmother's, grandfather's, great-grandmother's furniture you want to pass on.
- Estonian factory-made 1950–1980 - Standard, Edelweiss, Lutsu, Tarvi products are often high quality.
- 19th century or earlier - always worth restoring if at all possible.
If you're unsure - send a few photos, we'll answer honestly. Sometimes we recommend not to spend - if the value doesn't justify the work, we say so directly.
Chaise sofa - a chapter of its own
The chaise sofa (German Schneckensofa, Russian диван-улитка) is a classic curved-back antique sofa with scrolled arms shaped like a snail - hence the name. Popular in Estonia from the late 19th century to the 1950s. Typical features:
- Curved back, providing good lower-back support.
- Curved wooden arms - often beautifully hand-carved.
- Originally: horsehair filling, hand-sewn cover (often classic brocade or linen).
- High back, deep seat - built for long evenings, not hours of Netflix.
Chaise sofa restoration from €800. We preserve the curved back, arms, legs. We refresh filling (you choose: original horsehair or modern foam) and cover. Typical timeline 4–6 weeks. A well-maintained chaise sofa lasts another 50 years.
How restoration runs - 6 steps
- Photos + enquiry. Send 3–5 photos of the furniture from different angles. Describe condition: frame, springs, cracks.
- Initial estimate. Indicative price within a few days. This is a guideline - the exact price is set after physical inspection.
- Transport & inspection. Bring to Võru - usually with a transport partner for antiques. We inspect the full piece, agree material, technique, timeline.
- Strip & diagnose. We remove the old cover and filling. Assess what the frame, springs, timber need. If something unexpected appears, we contact you before continuing.
- Restoration. Frame repair, spring restoration, new filling, cover sewn and fitted. 4–6 weeks - hand-crafted on every step.
- Handover + care. Furniture back to you. Care instructions included so restoration lasts 30+ years.
Material selection for antiques
Each period favours different materials. Recommendations:
- 19th-century furniture - classic brocade, jacquard, linen, real leather. Avoid synthetic textured fabrics.
- 1900–1940 (Art Nouveau, Art Deco) - velvet, linen, real leather. Strong patterns suit this period.
- 1950–1980 (Estonian factories) - heavier upholstery fabric, quality synthetic leather is era-accurate, real leather for classics.
- Chaise sofa - classic real leather (black, russet brown) or dense brocade. Avoid pale or delicate covers - this furniture is for use.
Prices
Starting prices (excl. VAT):
- Antique armchair - from €400
- Chaise sofa (2-seater) - from €800
- Chaise sofa (3-seater) - from €1100
- Antique 3-seater sofa - from €900
- Antique leather suite (sofa + 2 armchairs) - from €1800
- Period-appropriate hand stitching / button tufting - surcharge 20–40% on base price
Physical inspection is always required for antiques - without seeing the piece, we can't give a firm quote. We work on an hourly basis - 25 €/h plus VAT.
Frequently asked questions - antique restoration
Is it worth restoring grandmother's sofa?
How much does chaise sofa restoration cost?
Do you preserve the original style?
How long does antique restoration take?
Do you collect the furniture?
Do you restore Soviet-era furniture?
Restoration vs conservation - what's the difference?
Send an enquiry
Call +372 504 9764, email info@nahkur.com. We reply within 24 hours on business days. Send a few photos - we'll answer honestly whether the piece is worth restoring.