Reupholstering your sofa and bespoke furniture in Singapore

By Joseph Jones
Issue 86 - September 2009

Buying a new couch or carpet in Singapore is a simple enough task. Knowing where to get such an item custom-made from scratch or refurbished, on the other hand, tends to throw up a few questions.

One answer is Artoday. This open-fronted store in Turf City brims with colourful accoutrements of interior décor. These range from hundreds of ready-to-hang canvases – mainly oil paintings of Chinese or Vietnamese origin – to myriad swathes of fabric samples and assorted cushions and curtains.

What makes this business stand out is its ability to custom-make items for your home. Jacqueline Tan, one of the proprietors, explains the process that customers go through when ordering a bespoke rug or carpet.

Firstly, they choose a fabric sample from the dozens available. The average price for a rug or carpet is $14 per square foot, but the more expensive ones come from some renowned purveyors, including Jim Thompson’s Thai silks and English company Blendworth’s range of prints, weaves, plains and velvets.

Once a decision has been made about body, border and size, they will come to the customer’s house to take measurements. The item is then made to order and delivered to your door.

Artoday also has an interesting sideline in bespoke furniture. In the store are a couple of antique-style Chinese cabinets, decorated in traditional red and gold. Jacqueline says that customers are welcome to use these as inspiration for their own self-designed pieces.

Meanwhile, if you have something in your home that is covered in fabric, whether it’s an item of furniture or a cushion or quilt, Jacqueline is confident that her team can give it a new lease of life.

Jacqueline and her colleagues are also on hand to dispense advice on refurbishing. For example, one tip is to avoid reupholstering any item in silk, as it is a material prone to warping in Singapore’s warm, humid conditions, and is particularly difficult to maintain in comparison with fabrics such as cotton blends.

This store is a trove of soft furnishings and a place where anyone with a love of rummaging through art and interior décor can spend some quality time.

Artoday is located at 200 Turf Club Road, on the first floor of Turf City Shopping Mall. For details and prices of the interior design packages, call (+65) 6463 2796 or visit www.artoday.com.sg