Working with Lee Martin and craftsman/upholsterer Gonzalo from Kay Chesterfield superceded my expectations for my unusual kitchen banquet. I had a good idea of what I wanted but not the knowledge to execute it--working with such experienced, creative experts brought my sketchy idea into a beautiful reality. I highly recommend this topnnotch firm who were recommended to me by a local antique store. Thanks to the extraordinary Kay Chesterfield team, my friends think I should become an interior decorator.

My experience with Kay Chesterfield was positive from the get-go. Good telephone service, reliable call-backs, informative. The job went off without a hitch; I had two wing chairs reupholstered to my complete satisfaction. The job was ready and delivered as ordered. In the waning days of service and pride in workmanship, incompetence and indifference, Kay Chesterfield pointed a nice contrast.

I took armchair and matching ottoman. The chair came back, using the fabric upside down! How do I know? It was a star pattern, and all the stars' pointy tops are facing down. The seam of the ottoman started to come apart in just 6 months. They don't know how to handle fabrics or upholster properly. Not recommended.

I had an $12000 Baker sofa reupholstered at Kay Chesterfield - they were recommended by a local fabric shop. Their cost was $2400 and the cost of the fabric which I purchased from Calico Corners was another $2800. The workmanship by the Chesterfield team was really sub-standard. The sofa was delivered and returned 3 times because of various problems - the pattern did not match correctly, the skirt was a different style from what was ordered and RECORDED on the order, the cushion fastenings were missing etc etc. Joanne Jones was our sales rep and she was very cooperative and each time we reported a problem she brought the sofa back to have it corrected. This process took about 3 months.

The last time it was delivered, there were portions of the skirt that were different lengths than other portions by 1/4 to 1/2 inch. We decided to let it go because each time they had taken it back to fix one thing, the workers managed to screw up something else. We were TIRED!

Now, about a year later, we noticed that the lining on the skirt has drooped and shows all around the bottom edge by 1/4 in. We pursued this with the company and so far we have received a letter telling us too bad, not their problem, and they won't fix it. They tell us it is the weather that is making it droop. (oh, puh-lease!)

I would never use the company again. The owners may be people of integrity, but the workers are sloppy and seemingly do not care about quality.

We had several chairs reupholstered through Design Expo and these people did the work. I was most impressed by Jo Ann Jones who really knew her stuff--she helped me understand the inside of the cushions and my choices for details. They were also very careful not to damage the furniture in and out and of delivery times and schedules. If I had other jobs, I would go directly to them first.