The Reviews

“Brown, a professional upholsterer in Austin, TX, knows how to breathe life into tired old furnishings. Her style is hip, eclectic, and delightful, and she injects her personality into the projects, showing off her upholstery prowess. Brown rounds out the manual by offering interior design options. Accompanying photographs demonstrate technique and illustrate each step. Readers will find information on skills requiring much more detail, such as the sewing and stripping furniture, in the appendixes. VERDICT Though the author only covers five projects — a sofa, an ottoman, and three chairs — she does so in such great depth that quality wins out over quantity. Upholstering is for the brave, and there are a lot of specialty tools here that might intimidate would-be DIYers. Despite these limitations, this is a wonderfully readable volume that speaks to current style. Very highly recommended for any DIY collection.” — Library Journal

“Amanda Brown believes that one-size-fits-all furniture makes for a dreary, unfitting living room that drains energy rather than provides comfort and familiarity. In Spruce, she shows DIYers how to make design decisions—like selecting fabrics based on practicality, functionality, and aesthetics—and how to transform undesired items into coveted collectables.” — ForeWord Reviews

“This book was very impressive. Nice & easy steps with supporting pictures. We will certainly be purchasing this book for our library.” — Melissa Searles, reviewer