Congratulations: Offaly business celebrating 30 years of high quality craftsmanship

Upholstery is a difficult skill to master and South Offaly is fortunate to have an excellent practitioner of the craft living and working in the region.

Kevin Bracken and his father before him have run Bracken Upholstery & Sons for the last 30 years from the company's Whiteford Birr premises.

Kevin says he's very busy these days upholstering chairs and sofas for a large number of people. The tastes have changed over the years and he has had no problem adapting to the changes. “The colours people wanted have varied over the years,” he points out.

“At one stage, green was the most popular colour; then it became blue. Now it's grey. I'm often being asked to upholster the furniture in grey material.” The effect he produces using this grey material is certainly not dull or underwhelming (as the word “grey” might signify for some people). The effect is anything but bland. In fact, the impression created is chic, modern and calm.

Kevin tells me that upholstery is the process of applying padding, springs, webbing, and fabric coverings to a piece of furniture. The skill dates back to ancient civilisations, such as Egypt or Rome. During the Middle Ages those in wealthy households used upholstered items to decorate their homes and soften their seats. During the Renaissance period in Europe it flourished as an art form in its own right. Nowadays, upholstery remains an essential part of daily life and interior decoration. The charm of upholstery lies in its ability to transform the story of a piece, creating something attractive and mood enhancing out of something that had been dull and tattered.

Whether you want to revamp the look of a living room set or you want to give a wobbly, antique chair a second life, Kevin can provide your furniture with the transformation that you are seeking. His upholstery work provides comfort and functionality, as well as bringing personality and an improved mood to your pieces. He can offer you a wide range of beautiful fabrics, of many colours, all at very competitive prices.

Kevin tells me that his Dad, John, used to work for Birr Fabrics, which made upholstery for buses and trains. When the company closed down, John found himself at a loose end. He decided to give upholstery a try and set up his own business. It proved an inspired choice, providing a good living for John and his family.

One of five siblings, Kevin was the only one to show an interest in upholstery. There was something about the craftsmanship of it which intrigued and captivated him. After attending St Brendan's Community School in Birr he became an employee in Hennessy's Joinery on High Street, Birr where for five years he worked as a Cabinet Maker, where he made pieces for kitchens and also worked on windows and doors. At the end of his employment there, he went to a company called Brosna Wood Products in Shinrone, where for four years he worked hard as a Door Maker making doors and kitchen units from teak, oak and mahogany, until they closed down.

“I had been working during the weekends with my Dad and when Brosna Wood Products closed we decided that I should start working full-time in the family business.” John continued working until he retired ten years ago at the age of 80.

“Thankfully, upholstering skills remain in high demand,” continued Kevin, “and I'm often asked to work on suites of furniture or fireside chairs or kitchen chairs. People used to bring me antique chairs quite a bit, but not so much now. The pieces that people often bring me now are usually no older than 15 or 20 years old, they are still in reasonable condition, and the revamping work could include repairing wood parts or replacing springs.”

An antique item which he recently upholstered was an old couch, about a century old, from Ashley House near Nenagh.

“I also had to clean and polish it. It came up very well. They were very pleased with it.”

If you are looking to brighten up your rooms with upholstery work of the highest quality, then look no further than Bracken Upholstery, just outside Birr. Please call 05791 20620 or 087 1223384.