What services does your NYC upholstery workroom provide for designers?

Our workroom provides complete upholstery fabrication services including custom cushions, banquette seating, furniture reupholstery, custom upholstered furniture, headboards, and decorative accessories. We work exclusively with interior designers and architects on luxury residential projects.

Do you accept COM (Customer's Own Material) for upholstery projects?

Yes, we welcome COM from all major fabric houses. Our workroom has extensive experience working with designer fabrics including delicate silks, high-pile velvets, and performance textiles.

Where is the Rafael Interiors upholstery workroom located?

Our upholstery workroom and showroom is located at 46 West 21st Street in Chelsea, Manhattan. We serve clients throughout New York City, Greenwich CT, Westchester, and the Hamptons.

Can you fabricate custom banquettes and built-in seating?

Yes, custom banquette fabrication is one of our specialties. We create built-in banquettes, window seats, and custom bench seating with precision measurements for seamless installation in luxury residences.

Luxury sitting room with custom upholstered sofa and ivory linen drapery by Rafael Interiors upholstery workroom NYC

Upholstery Workroom NYC — Premier Fabrication Studio for Interior Designers

Expert upholstery fabrication, custom cushions, banquettes & designer furniture — handcrafted in our Manhattan workroom by Rafael Interiors.

New York’s Most Trusted Upholstery Workroom for Design Professionals

For three generations, Rafael Interiors has operated one of New York City’s most respected upholstery workrooms, serving as the behind-the-scenes fabrication partner for the city’s leading interior designers and architects. Our Chelsea-based atelier at 46 West 21st Street is where visionary design concepts become tangible reality—where bolts of sumptuous fabric are transformed into exquisitely upholstered furnishings that define the character of Manhattan’s finest residences.

As a full-service upholstery workroom in NYC, we specialize in the precise, detail-oriented fabrication that discerning design professionals demand. From custom cushion fabrication and banquette upholstery to complete furniture builds, every piece that leaves our workroom reflects an unwavering commitment to artisan-level craftsmanship and the highest standards of the trade.

Comprehensive Upholstery Workroom Services

Our upholstery fabrication studio offers a complete range of services designed to support interior designers, architects, and luxury homeowners throughout the New York metropolitan area. Every project receives the same meticulous attention to detail, whether it is a single accent chair or a full-residence furnishing program.

Custom Cushion Fabrication: Precision-cut foam cores with hand-applied down wraps, boxed edges, knife edges, and waterfall details for sofas, sectionals, window seats, and built-in seating
Banquette Upholstery: Bespoke banquette seating for dining areas, breakfast nooks, and hospitality environments—built to exact specifications with reinforced frames and commercial-grade construction
Custom Furniture Builds: Fully custom upholstered furniture fabricated from designer specifications, including sofas, club chairs, ottomans, and chaises longues
Furniture Reupholstery: Expert restoration and reupholstery of existing pieces, from treasured antiques to contemporary designer furniture
COM Processing: Experienced handling of Customer’s Own Material, including cutting, pattern matching, railroading, and quality inspection of designer fabrics
Decorative Details: Hand-applied welting, tufting, nailhead trim, channel stitching, and other couture finishing techniques

The Design Collaboration Process

We understand that for interior designers, a workroom is more than a vendor—it is a creative partner. Our collaborative process is structured to support your vision from initial concept through final installation, with clear communication and transparent timelines at every stage.

The process begins with a detailed consultation at our Chelsea studio, where we review drawings, specifications, and material selections. Our master upholsterers assess each project for structural requirements, fabric behavior, and construction methods, then provide a comprehensive proposal. Throughout fabrication, we maintain open communication and welcome studio visits so you can inspect work in progress. Every finished piece undergoes rigorous quality review before white-glove delivery and installation at your client’s residence.

Fabrics & Materials: Working With the World’s Finest Textiles

Our workroom maintains established relationships with the most prestigious fabric houses in the industry, including Romo, Zinc Textile, Mark Alexander, Kravet, Lee Jofa, Clarke & Clarke, Fabricut, and JF Fabrics. Whether you specify a delicate silk velvet, a performance-rated outdoor textile, or an artisan hand-woven fabric, our team understands the unique handling requirements of every material. We are equally experienced in processing COM shipments from any source, ensuring your specified textiles are treated with the utmost care from delivery through final application.

Artisan Craftsmanship & Workroom Standards

What distinguishes our upholstery workroom from mass-production facilities is an uncompromising dedication to traditional hand-craftsmanship informed by three generations of expertise. Every frame is inspected and reinforced as needed. Springs are hand-tied using eight-way construction for lasting comfort and structural integrity. Foam cores are custom-cut and layered with premium materials. Fabrics are precision-cut with careful attention to pattern alignment, grain direction, and seam placement. The result is furniture that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of the most demanding design professionals in New York.

Areas We Serve

From our Manhattan workroom, we serve interior designers, architects, and homeowners throughout New York City’s most prestigious neighborhoods and surrounding communities. Our delivery and installation teams are experienced in the specific requirements of luxury buildings across the Upper East Side, Tribeca, SoHo, the West Village, Central Park West, and throughout Manhattan. We also provide full-service fabrication and installation for projects in Greenwich, CT, Westchester County, Northern New Jersey, and the Hamptons.

Schedule a Workroom Consultation

We invite interior designers, architects, and homeowners to visit our Chelsea atelier to discuss your next upholstery project. Contact Rafael Interiors at (212) 337-3200 or email Morris@rafaeldecorators.com to schedule a private consultation at our workroom at 46 West 21st Street, Manhattan.

SCHEDULE A WORKROOM CONSULTATION

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an upholstery workroom?

An upholstery workroom is a specialized fabrication studio where skilled artisans build, reupholster, and restore upholstered furniture. At Rafael Interiors, our workroom handles everything from custom furniture builds and cushion fabrication to banquette construction and furniture restoration, serving as a trusted fabrication partner for interior designers and architects throughout New York City.

Do you work directly with interior designers?

Absolutely. The majority of our work is produced in collaboration with interior designers and architects. We offer trade-professional services including COM processing, custom fabrication from specifications, and dedicated project management to ensure seamless execution of your design vision.

Can you fabricate custom banquette seating?

Yes, banquette fabrication is one of our core specialties. We build custom banquettes for dining rooms, breakfast areas, and commercial spaces, constructed to exact measurements with reinforced hardwood frames, high-resilience foam, and your specified upholstery fabric.

How long does a typical upholstery project take?

Project timelines vary based on scope and complexity. A single-piece reupholstery typically requires three to four weeks, while custom furniture builds and multi-piece projects may take six to ten weeks. We provide detailed timelines during the initial consultation and maintain transparent communication throughout the fabrication process.

What areas does your workroom serve?

Our upholstery workroom serves clients throughout Manhattan, including the Upper East Side, Tribeca, SoHo, and the West Village, as well as Greenwich CT, Westchester County, Northern New Jersey, and the Hamptons. We provide white-glove delivery and professional installation for all completed projects.