If It's Hip, It's Here (Archives): custom upholstery

Voici! is the new-born child of Los Angeles gallery voila! A highly individual line of limited edition handcrafted upholstery pieces from LA-based Belgian native madame voila! (alias Katrien Van der Schueren) and UK-based madame voici! (alias Jo Laurie).

Using vintage fabrics gathered during travels around the globe, they re-upholster and re-finish vintage furniture, so that they are born again with a new persona. If they can’t find the appropriate pieces or don’t have the right fabric to play with, they create their own toys.

Of their many unusual pieces, the Wordy collection of furnishings with silk-screened quotes from the likes of Oscar Wilde and Albert Einstein printed in a cream, silver or white typewritten font on soft cotton denim is one of my favorites.

The Wordy Double Seater I:

A voici! limited edition piece. They took a low, vintage two-seater sofa and gave it the voici! touch. The soft denim cotton fabric has hand-silk screened designs on the cushions of inspirational quotes by famous leaders and innovators. Ask about getting these quotes put on a fabric of your choice.
Length : 35
Height : 29
Width : 55
$3400, buy it here

The Wordy Double Seater II:

A voici! limited edition piece. They took a low, vintage two-seater sofa and gave it the voici! touch. The soft denim cotton fabric has hand-silkscreened designs on the cushions of inspirational quotes by famous leaders and innovators. Ask about getting these quotes put on a fabric of your choice.
Length : 35
Height : 29
Width : 55
$3400, buy it here

The Wordy Armchair:

This single-seater version of their very popular "Wordy double seater" only seats one and boasts not only a comfortable place to sit, but a recycled vintage chair frame given new life in our studio. The soft denim cotton fabric has hand-silk screened designs on the cushions of inspirational quotes by famous leaders and innovators. This chair is available only in a limited edition. Ask about getting these quotes put on a fabric of your choice.
Length : 28
Height : 29
Width : 30
$1,940, buy it here

Wordy Pillows:

The pillows are also available in pink type on brown fabric.

Like the rest of the collection, you can inquire about other fabrics for the pillows .
$190 each, buy them here.

Above: Arne Jacobsen's classic Egg chair given new life with the "Peony" leather fabric.

Above: detail of "Peony" design

Helen Amy Murray is internationally recognized for hand-crafted, luxury creations inspired by nature and form, to create 3D surfaces within textiles.

above: 'Bird and Blossom', one of her newest designs

Helen won the Oxo-Peugeot Prize in 2004 for her innovative designs. She develops bespoke commissions using luxury materials for applications ranging from interior products, upholstery, wall coverings and art.

Below are some of her previous projects, done for personal and commissioned clients.
She certainly knows how to bring life back into an old wing chair or tub chair! Take a look at these stunning pieces:

Above: Wing chairs enhanced with the Bloom Pattern

Above: detail of "bloom" on wing chairs

Above: an otherwise boring tub chair is reinvigorated with "Bloom"

Above: Detail of "bloom" on a tub chair

Above: A traditional Edwardian armchair upholstered in "Rose"

Here are some of her wonderful patterns, both her newest collection and some of her classics.
These, along with more, were unveiled at the 100% Futures section of the 100% Design show: