Meet the maker: Headboard edition
Our made to measure service is at the heart of what we do at Jane Clayton & Company, it’s where it all began back in the 1970s. To give more of an insight into the skill and craftsmanship that goes into making each and every unique piece for our customers, we caught up with our expert headboard maker Neil in our in-house workshop. We found out more about how Neil got into upholstery and making headboards, as well as answering some of the questions we get asked a lot about headboards.
Tell us about your career to date and how you got into making headboards
I've been upholstering since 1987, starting out with an apprenticeship after leaving school and the rest is history! I'd describe myself as true perfectionist, which lends itself well to upholstery. Over the years I've worked on a wide variety of upholstery projects, ranging from headboards and beds, to more bespoke work for leading brands.
What do you love about upholstery?
The way you can take a piece of furniture that’s old and tired and restore it back to its former glory, giving it a new lease of life so it lasts for years to come. The pleasure I get when I see the look on a customer's face is unbeatable. I also teach upholstery and really enjoy passing my knowledge and experience onto my students.
What is your favourite type of fabric?
I love anything made of wool and particularly a wool tweed - a natural product, which always looks smart and lends itself to all occasions and pieces of furniture. Plus, its lovely to work with.
What is your upholstery pet peeve?
That would have to be people not realising the skill and expertise that is involved in producing beautiful upholstery. People are surprised by how intricate and tricky it can be.
The start of the headboard-making process where the shape is cut out of a sheet / Plain bordered headboard in Strawberry Thief by Morris & Co
What are the benefits of having a made to measure headboard?
The main benefit would be having a headboard made that’s not only personal to your own style and the décor of the bedroom, but also the high quality of our headboards. They are all made here in the UK in our in-house workshop, handmade to the highest standard.
They are the talking point in a room, and it’s great to have something that fits your exact requirements.
How many different styles do you do?
We do 4 styles: plain, plain bordered, plain curved and shallow buttoned. I’ve done all sorts of quirky shapes and sizes in my time though! From time to time I do more bespoke shapes but not very often. They're great if you're looking for something really unusual or to make a bold statement within a room. I'm seeing a lot of curved headboards at the moment which look great!
What fabric is best for a headboard?
I would say it depends on the size of the headboard, for example if you had a single headboard a smaller-scale pattern might work better but overall there’s no golden rule. That’s the beauty of having a headboard make bespoke for you – the possibilities are endless!
Is there fabric on the back of them?
We use a cream lining cloth on the back of each headboard which just gives a neat finished look to the headboard.
What is the difference between bed and wall mounted?
A bed mounted headboard is fixed to the base of the bed whereas a wall mounted headboard is screwed into the wall behind the bed. They both give the same look it’s just personal preference really!
How do you fit a headboard?
The method of fitting a headboard depends on whether its bed or wall mounted. Read our guide on how to fit a headboard which talks you step by step through both methods.
Headboards made by us for @annacascarina, @clairemurrayinteriors and @alicegraceinteriors
Can you see the fabric join?
Our aim is to always match fabric as close as possible so that you do not see the seam, however sometimes it might be slightly noticeable especially with less busy fabric patterns. Although, not every headboard has a join, it depends on the fabric and the size of the headboard.
How long will it take for my headboard to arrive?
The current lead time we work to is 3-4 weeks for headboards however this may change from time to time depending on peak trading periods.
What is the best way to clean and care for a headboard?
I always recommend vacuuming a headboard every week or so to remove the build up of dust. Due to the nature of headboards you may need to clean the fabric from time to time too. For detailed care instructions, please visit the specific fabric item page on our website or contact customer services at 01761 404505 or email [email protected] with your fabric information.
