After studying Textiles (Design and Application) at London Guildhall University, Rachael has had an extensive career as a freelance textile product designer and bespoke Passemanterie Designer. She has now taken on her father's (Terry South) established upholstery business.
Drawing on her experience travelling and working with weavers in India, Central America and Europe, Rachael has added exciting flair to her approach to furniture and upholstery.Her aim is to apply traditional technical excellence with a contemporary execution. Rachael is also passionate about supporting re-cycling and sustainable living, hoping each reconditioned piece of furniture will last for another generation of use.
Drawing on her experience travelling and working with weavers in India, Central America and Europe, Rachael has added exciting flair to her approach to furniture and upholstery.Her aim is to apply traditional technical excellence with a contemporary execution. Rachael is also passionate about supporting re-cycling and sustainable living, hoping each reconditioned piece of furniture will last for another generation of use.
Services
Each upholstery commission is dealt with using a personal approach. Rachael will consult about the most appropriate techniques and materials for your furniture. Rachael's aim is to create a durable and sustainable item of furniture, with a carefully considered fabric to suit the item's use and location.
Reviews (8)
Siobhan Crozier
Dec 31, 2020
Report
Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value
Collected two old cane chairs, expertly restored by Rachael South. The new cane looks amazing, with the seat also coloured to match the back of the Thonet cafe chair. Thanks to Vanessa Butt Upholstery for putting us in touch with Rachael, whose highly skilled work has put life back into these two neglected family pieces.
Collected two old cane chairs, expertly restored by Rachael South. The new cane looks amazing, with the seat also coloured to match the back of the Thonet cafe chair. Thanks to Vanessa Butt Upholstery for putting us in touch with Rachael, whose highly skilled work has put life back into these two neglected family pieces.
Lyndon Barreto
Oct 12, 2019
Report
Rachael did a fantastic job recaning our rocking chairs. They look beautiful! She was friendly and professional throughout the process, only too happy to help and advise. It's wonderful to see someone so passionate about and skilled in their craft, all of which shows through in her output. Thanks Rachael!
Kirsteen McLean
Sep 17, 2019
Report
Rachael did a beautiful job of reupholstering a favourite, but very worn out, chair. She offered great advice on fabrics, and we are so happy with the fabric we chose and Rachael’s upholstery work. She turned an old chair in to a beautiful new piece of furniture at a very reasonable price. She is also very pleasant to deal with, and efficient with communication, pick up and delivery. Highly recommended!!
Caitlin Page
Oct 16, 2018
Report
I have just had my newly upholstered armchair back from Rachael and I am absolutely delighted with the results.
She has done a beautiful job on it and in truth it looks sooo much better now than it did when it was new 15 years ago.
Rachael also fixed the seat cushion which had the irritating habit of falling forward onto the floor.
Rachael rates are very reasonable too.
I’m now saving up to get a beloved old sofa -45 years old -recovered soon!
Thanks Rachael!
She has done a beautiful job on it and in truth it looks sooo much better now than it did when it was new 15 years ago.
Rachael also fixed the seat cushion which had the irritating habit of falling forward onto the floor.
Rachael rates are very reasonable too.
I’m now saving up to get a beloved old sofa -45 years old -recovered soon!
Thanks Rachael!
Friederike Huber
Oct 10, 2018
Report
I had been looking for an upholsterer for some time and I am so happy to have found Rachael. She is simply excellent! She re-upholstered a wing chair for me and everybody who sees it comments on how great it looks. She's also given some old sofa cushions a new lease of life and we all sit much more comfortably now. She's helpful, very knowledgeable, reliable, lovely to deal with and just very very good at what she does. I can't recommend her highly enough.
Mark Woollett
Sep 21, 2018
Report
Rachael has done a number of jobs for us - re-upholstering an old Ercol chair and making scatter cushions She recently made box cushions for a 5 metre bench which had to fit precisely. She came over to measure up and gave a quote within a day, recommended which material to use and even ordered for us. Despite delays with the material, which weren't her fault, they were delivered to our door and fit perfectly. Rachael is great to deal with, her rates are reasonable and her work is top quality. I can't recommend her enough.
P. Glod
Jul 11, 2018
Report
Hugh D.
Dec 18, 2013
Report
Rachel re-did two beautiful old Ercol chairs we'd found. She helped us choose covering, restrung the bases and went out of her way to find poppers to hold the covering on to the base. The final result was incredible and we're delighted with her work. She picked up and delivered. Her communication was excellent throughout and we cannot recommend her highly enough!
