There is a discernible difference in the techniques used by fabricators for large vessels as compared to smaller recreational craft, including scale, expense and scheduling. Photo: CHRISTO303 When you think about ocean, lake or river cruise lines, what comes to mind? Luxury travel, certainly. Beautiful, natural surroundings, definitely. And the ships themselves: large, [...]

Photo 1 In our first how-to article, we demonstrated Trevor’s method for fabricating cushions from scratch by making new patterns. We discussed how this strategy gives the fabricator total control over the quality of the finished product; however, it is labor intensive and also requires all new materials, which can make it cost-prohibitive [...]

Before In our last article (Jan/Feb 2013 issue), we tackled cushion patterning. This story focuses on the design side of what Trevor and I do at Kennedy Custom Upholstery. There will always be those extremely straightforward jobs where plain white vinyl or gray canvas is the only choice. But for more complex jobs [...]

At Kennedy Custom Upholstery, we make cushions in every size and shape and for every use. And they all start with a good pattern. Some customers want to just drop off their old cushions for the fabricator to use as the template for the new ones, but for the most control over the result it [...]

Building custom interiors allow us to go from being upholsterers to designers to make something uniquely comfortable and classy. Building a custom interior in a vessel can be a challenge or an excitement. This all depends on how the project is presented to the customer, especially if in the beginning you can portray [...]

A customer brought in this 1923 T-Bucket and requested a show-quality interior that was easily removable - it takes less than one minute to remove. The interior and drink holders are molded out of PVC board and upholstered. Custom bending and forming bolsters from Starboard and PVC board and inside corner wraps can [...]

Updates to a boat’s interior design and upholstery provide boat owners the opportunity to easily express their individuality through their boat’s appearance. Options for creative expression have never been greater thanks to new colors, textures and patterns produced in high-performance fabrics. Fabric trends Traditional nautical colors are updated in this salon through the creative [...]

We’ve all been there. You start a new upholstery job by removing the old fabric and find a little surprise: rotten wood. And although you were aware that some of the pieces would have to be replaced, there was no way of knowing that the damage was so extensive. Now you have to contact the [...]

The transformation of a classic sailboat emphasizes the importance of communication between owner and fabricator. By Mark Brock A quality marine canvas project requires careful attention to hundreds of details, from fabric and thread selection to specifications for grommets and zippers. Despite all of these technical details, success with a fabric transformation aboard ship is [...]

This is where the placement of the new design is going to go on the seat back. Designing new graphics into an upholstery job doesn’t have to be the most dreaded portion of the job; it actually can be the most rewarding. You just need to get comfortable doing some custom work, so [...]