Laszlo did a gorgeous reupholstery job on a pair of mid-century-style dining chairs we bought used a few years ago. The original white vinyl was cracked and chafed, and the foam had lost all of its cushion. With Laszlo, they got a complete aesthetic makeover, and brand new foam. It's a joy to sit in them now. Laszlo is a true craftsman, of the kind you do not find easily these days. Easy and pleasant to work with throughout the process. Fairly priced. Highly recommend. read more

Laszlo's European Upholstery - Furniture Reupholstery Near Me - Berkeley, California

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If u look at the photo he didn't have enough material to match the chair so he used a completely different color for the footstool. I brought him the footstool so they could match it. I had to give the chair away. When I talked to him about it he became defensive as if he did nothing wrong. I wouldn't take anything to him unless you want it ruined. read more

Laszlo's European Upholstery - Pillow and ottoman that Lazlo reupoholstered for me - Furniture Reupholstery Near Me - Berkeley, California

Value Quality work, craftmenship and without a doubt the best in berkeley! Laszlo values his work and always takes his time to do the job efficiently. Beautiful chairs and fabrics plus a good selection of foams to choose from. Thank you for your quality work and honesty! read more

I decided I wanted to get special pillow covers made for two small reading wedge pillows that I would like to use on my sofa. Maybe it's an unusual request to have pillow covers for these types of pillows made, but I decided to move forward with it because I have scoliosis and wanted to get more back support while sitting on my sofa. I brought the two pillows, that I had bought from The Company Store, into Laszlo's along with the fabric from Room & Board. The person at the front hemmed and hawed about the pillows, took them back to the seamstress, who said maybe she could do it or maybe not, and then after he hit the pillows a couple of times, said that he did not want to take the job. When I asked him why he said it was because the pillows were poorly made, didn't hold their shape well and were probably made in China. He then proceeded to look at the tag to confirm his suspicion and then said just what I thought China. It is fine to reject a job because of the difficulty of the task, but I did not know that customers could not bring products from China into this store. I did not know that the "European" in the name meant only European, literally. This type of xenophobia is unprofessional and should not be supported. read more

Laszlo re-upholstered a ca. 1970's lounge chair I had inherited from my uncle. It is now better than new, literally because he actually improved how the cushioning was sitting against the springs. The price was quite reasonable. He is a master of his craft, hard to find such talent these days. I highly recommend. read more

Laszlo is a creative artist of the highest order--as imaginative as he is marvelously meticulous. For years I have been enjoying the many pieces of furniture he has made and/or reupholstered for me: among my favorites are the living room couch (gray with accents of bright red) and the "happy chair" in the dining room and the little antique settee with a large-dragon fabric his wife Aggie found. I couldn't recommend him more. Completely worth the price he asks. Superb craftsman and a lovely man as well. read more

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I had two dining room sets reupholstered. Wonderful fabric selection and beautiful job! Absolutely recommend this business. read more

Laszlo's European Upholstery - Dining room chair. - Furniture Reupholstery Near Me - Berkeley, California

The person who I assume was Lazlo that answered the phone wasn't interested in me explaining what I had to be re upholstered. He cut me off to actually tell me he wasn't interested and that I should go elsewhere LOL. There are plenty of customer service oriented upholstery professionals in the area who I actually found and use for all of my interior design projects now. read more

I just posted five photos of the incredibly beautiful reupholstery job done by Laszlo. Both he and Aggie are wonderful people who are extremely talented and professional. They both spent good deal of time with us helping us to pick the perfect fabric and finishing for the chair until we were all satisfied with the final choices. They really know what they are doing as the end result is spectacular! The job done on this chair is lovely and the photos will speak for themselves so please take a look at them. The chair is a French empire chair with the gold dolphins on black wood, and the new upholstery is a beautiful burgundy velvet stripe with gold finishes. You cannot miss it. The photos are numbers 26 through 30. For any future reupholstery job, I will definitely be a repeat customer with Laszlo. Lisa W. read more

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Within a short couple of days they reupholstered an antique desk chair and it looks spectacular!

Highly recommend Laszlo's European Upholstery! We had 2 dining sets of chairs recovered. He has a nice selection of fabrics. We chose an Italian fabric that arrived within a couple of weeks. Each chair was given new padding to rebuild the comfort of the chair. The redone chairs are beautiful! read more

I have a wingback chair I pulled off the side of the road a few years ago that desperately needed attention. I knew it was going to cost money to get it done correctly, so I waited and saved, paying attention to specific shops. My ultimate choice, once I had the capital, was Laszlo, based not only on online reviews but also upon photographs of his work. The quote, once I brought it in, was about half again as much as I thought it would cost. Even so, Laszlo and his shop had a good vibe about it so I went ahead and agreed to his price; my curbside find needed a complete overhaul and I figured he was up to the job. He advised me that the work would take a couple of months. Almost three months later, I got a call from him letting me know that the chair was ready and that it looked pretty good. When I went to pick it up I was shocked and amazed in the best possible way at the finished product. I literally could not stop smiling. The near-collapse, discarded junk chair I pulled from the street is now a masterpiece that will likely last me the rest of my life. Points to ponder: 1) You get what you pay for with Laszlo. Yes, there are more affordable places out there, but what ever you save on the front end with money you'll likely be loosing out the back in quality. 2) He's got opinions, and he will tell you up front what he thinks is best for the piece. I can totally see how some panty-waisted Berkelyites might object (and perhaps call the ACLU, because that's what you do when someone harshes your mellow) but he does know what he's talking about and in the final wash, he will do what you want. I think he's probably got a pretty low threshold for nonsense, though, so exercise caution. 3) The work is amazing, but good work takes time. read more

I brought a chair in for an estimate ($400) on reupholstery of an antique rocking chair. The owner/proprietor was very friendly and left a good impression. Since I didn't know whether the price was low or high, I took the chair to a second place (also a well-reputed store) for another estimate, which was $275 for the same job. I'm sure the man does good work, and I WANTED to give him the business because he's local. I called to ask whether he might do it for $300, and he was extremely insulted, told me he had expenses, he wasn't illegal, hadn't just jumped over the fence yesterday, wasn't a gypsy, etc... So that left a very sour taste in my mouth. In short, if you're willing to pay a premium, he PROBABLY does good work, but don't try to negotiate with him! (Note, the other store that I decided to use was none of those things either.) read more

My wife and I cannot speak highly enough about the work Laszlo has done for us. Trained in Europe, he maintains a high level of artistry and craftsmanship rarely found today. He has designed, built, and upholstered several pieces of furniture for us that will eventually be passed down our generation line. It should also be mentioned that his wife, Aggie, also creates exquisite designer pillows in a variety of styles. It should also be said that given the quality and precision of their work, their prices are well worth it! If you are looking for the highest quality and craftsmanship available in our community, this is the place! Dan Droke and Marilyn Palla-Droke read more

We brought our Mission style sofa base to Laszlo for a consultation. It was truly tired and broken down, and we weren't sure how to proceed. We soon knew that we were dealing with a real professional, unlike others you are likely to encounter in the Berkeley furniture scene. Laszlo diagnosed our problem, and patiently explained our options. He guided us through great color and fabric choices. He took on our piece, and then did his magic. When we came to pick up our base, we could not believe the transformation. Completely rebuilt, absolutely beautiful, incredibly comfortable! We were so thrilled, we asked Laszlo to redo the bolsters as well. Just got them back, completely rebuilt, perfect in every way! We recommend Laszlo's work very highly. read more

After reading the other reviews, I can read between the lines. I have had a few things re-upholstered and Laszlo is absolutely correct that you get what you pay for. Why have a cheap upholstery job done on a fine piece of furniture? If you want it cheap, buy a new one. I would sure love to read the other 25 reviews. Why only the negative ones? read more

This little shop is a real gem, our family has been coming here for years. Laszlo is wonderful and it's very hard to find such old world craftsmanship for old furniture. We had a 50's chair done (re-cover) and the turn was fast (10 days) and the price reasonable considering the quality of the material (a great match) and the effort to fix all the little problems. Well worth the drive across the bridge because there is nobody in SF that I can trust as much with precious family heirlooms! read more

I have used Laszlo for numerous pieces of furniture in my home - two antique couches from the 30's, a set of antique dining room chairs (Limbert Brothers), an antique stool, and a pair of chairs - one antique and one new. Every item is exceptionally done, extremely comfortable, and has maintained its cushion and fabric. I used fabric I bought myself from a fabric store for the dining chairs - which he did about 12 years ago. They have held up beautifully and are very comfortable for long hours sitting at the table over leisurely dinners. I have also ordered fabric through Laszlo. Most of his fabrics are from either Italy or France. He carries both old-style fabrics and the latest micro-fabrics. I have often trusted his recommendation on the finishing details - the nails, the welting, etc. While looking at the other reviews, I can see that people were offended by Laszlo's direct style. However, I would rather have Laszlo tell me that a sample I brought to him was not a good fabric than to spend hundreds of dollars having something upholstered with a fabric that wasn't going to hold up. Who would I return to if the upholstery started looking shabby after a few years? I'm sure it would be to Laszlo. He was giving this woman good information which may have saved her money in the end. Additionally, one of the couches I purchased at an auction house. I had Laszlo pick the piece up, assess it, and he took it to a furniture repair person he recommended. That person is also an exceptional crafts person to whom I have taken many pieces over the years. Laszlo coordinated all transportation of my couch through completion. I could not have been happier with the results! I cannot recommend Laszlo's Upholstery highly enough, and I wouldn't take my furniture to anyone else. read more

Laszlo does fantastic work and is high quality. He repaired buttons on my expensive love seat bottom and rear cushions and was reasonable and easy to work with. Highly recommend him for all your furniture and upholstery needs. read more

This review is long overdue.Laszlo and Aggie have done several projects over the last twenty years, and I have never been disappointed.. Recently, they build a wonderful blue sofa .They listened, and we tried different seat heights and cushion types, and the result is not only beautiful, comfortable, but suited to my needs. I used my own fabric, but Laszlo has a wonderful selection of great fabric, reasonably priced - and he has a wonderful design sense I cannot recommend them enough Anne B read more

I have used Lazlo's Upholstery for numerous projects and as someone with very high expectations, I believe he is the best upholsterer in the bay area. Lazlo upholstered 8 contemporary dining chairs with fabric he recommended twenty years ago that still look great today, plus, an antique armchair with expensive upholstery fabric from a design house that is still utterly beautiful, two chairs and a bench in a classic Scalamandre fabric and some other pieces in a contemporary Donghia fabric. These pieces will not go out of style due to the high quality of upholstery work. When you buy an expensive fabric, or any fabric for that matter, it is essential that the person who cuts the fabric has some sense of design and can see the best way to layout the fabric design on the piece of furniture. Determining the design/layout of the fabric on the piece that is being upholstered before the fabric is cut is critical to the piece. Other wise you end up with a mediocre looking piece of furniture. Knowing how to cut the fabric and how the fabric's overall design will look on the piece takes many years of training. It may not be so important with solid colors but fabric with a pattern can be tricky. Lazlo is an expert with a high level of European training. He is truly an expert and you will not regret having your furniture, whether heirloom quality or contemporary fun pieces, upholstered by Lazlo. Although a bit of a curmudgeon at times, he is simply the best upholsterer in the bay area and I cannot recommend him more highly!!!!! read more

This guy is great! Owning 4 cats certainly has a fair share of wearing down furniture. No biggie, when things get rough ya just gotta throw it to the curb...but wait! What happens if it's a prized piece of furniture that has a high sentimental value? Say you used it through your prime in college, or your first love gave you your first (fill in your own blank here) on that chair, so you simply want to make it last? Easy answer, you bring it to Laszlo and know that he will do a FANTASTIC job of fixing it! In my case, I wasn't very hopeful with my piece, but after speaking with Laszlo, he seemed to have GREAT confidence and that made me feel like I chose the right person for the job. Thanks again!!! read more

Laszlo completely rebuilt my antique French deco club chairs this winter, and then made some slip covers to keep them safe from my cats. He is an incredibly meticulous fine European craftsman, a rare artist who truly understands his craft, pays attention to every detail, and puts a lifetime of knowledge into his projects. The slip covers are quite beautiful just as they are, though what they are covering is much more grand. I highly recommend his work! Laszlo and his wife are also very kind and easy to work with. My old and now new chairs look gorgeous and are worth every cent! read more

We started off with a couch designed and made for us by Laszlo's, and over a few years have progressed to thinking of them first whenever we need to replace or add a new couch or chair in our home. Laszlo and Aggie have a deep knowledge and long experience in making pieces that are highly functional in the sense that I want in home furniture: very comfortable, able to take constant use, while having a practical artist's sense of beauty, grace and proportion. I consider their work to be 3-D art, while fitting the specific shapes and needs of the human body at ease. So it can be fun, give a light feel and timeless elegance to a room, and also do its job for the user. So far we have gotten 3 couches, a chair and a footrest, one at a time, and always went back for more. Their workshop/storefront on Claremont Ave. is not a large showroom but more the working area of a small, advanced craft and design shop. On our first visit I wasn't even sure we were in the right place since it has no retail feel, more like walking into a deep fabric closet with halfmade furniture here and there. Laszlo is not a sales type either but knows everything about his work, and he and Aggie are dedicated to making the best. They have a series of established designs for pieces of furniture, and can also create unique pieces to fit a space, environment and family, or to suit your fancy. We have enjoyed both unique pieces designed in collaboration with us the users, and in tried and true shapes that have stood the test of time. They have access to a wide range of beautiful and durable fabrics, woods and metal, from classic to whimsical, of high quality. I could see how someone might go in with a typical retail type expectation, and maybe not connect with the whole experience right away. But if you treat it as a working conversation with outstanding design/craftspeople, and a process leading to receiving something unique, timeless, beautiful and durable, while learning new stuff too, you may find as we did, that truly captivating and useful furniture can become part of your home, in a fun way. These people are like under-discovered treasure. read more

In the last 12 years, we've had Laszlo make furniture (2 love seats, a chair, & an ottoman) and reupholster (a chair & a very old foot stool) for us. Both times, the quality of the experience, the craftmanship, design advice, and finished results have exceded our expectations. The chair he just finished reupholstering had been reupholstered 15 years ago, in a less than satisfactory way. Laszlo rebuilt the inner seat and back cushions so expertly the chair is now more comfortable than when it was new, as well as looking gorgeous. I don't understand these negative reviews, because they completely contradict my experience, and those of my friends who recommended him to me. Carol Bieri read more

We used Laszlo's maybe ten years ago to reupholster some chairs and they still look as good as the day we brought them home. So when we needed to reupholster our couch, we didn't hesitate to go to Laszlo. He ended up talking us into having a new couch made rather than redoing the old one - it wasn't that much more expensive and we could get exactly what we wanted, and better quality. We live nearby, so we could actually look in and see the progress and see the quality of the work. Solid hardwood, very heavy fabric. We were impressed. I cannot over-emphasize that what he makes is real furniture, something that will last into the next generation, not something that will last just a few years. I've talked to a friend that used to work in a Berkeley furniture store, asked him how long one of their couches should last, and he said seriously you can expect them to last from three to five years. If you only need a piece of furniture to last a couple of years then Laszlo's will probably be too expensive. But if you expect to use something for a lot longer then Laszlo will be less expensive in the long run. read more

Laszlo is the PRO. He picks my furniture up and then delivers it back. His work is A-1, the best. He has a wide selection of fabrics and colors and his wife is a whiz at helping you decide. He has the professional skill at upholstery. His wife has a fantastic design ascetic. They had done two sets of dining chairs and three Mission chairs for me. And, a small Mission sofa. I have never been disappointed. Jane Fischer read more

Laszlo is an extraordinary gentleman. I brought a very simple problem to him. He was gracious, quickly went to work to solve the problem and I left more than happy with his work. Laszlo you have a customer for life. I cannot thank you enough. read more

Laszlo and Aggie have done wonderful work with us over ten years, starting with making us cushions and throw pillows for our window seats, and moving on to reupholstering some antique chairs for us. Each experience is a model of respectful communication, aesthetic collaboration and professional pricing. Laszlo is a highly trained artist/craftsperson, and we're sure that it would be very difficult to find anyone else in the region with his level of knowledge of fabric, upholstery and design. So when he recommends one fabric over another, or gives us a choice about details, we trust that he knows what he is talking about--that's his area of expertise. It's important to Laszlo and Aggie that the work hold up and look good over time, and they give you the compliment of their honest opinion of your furniture and your fabric choices.The proof is in the finished work: at first glance you see a lovely chair (for example). Then you get up close and see the incredible attention to detail in the welting, the gathering of the fabric, the invisibility of the sewing, the precision of nailheads. Having lived with each piece over time, we can attest that this is work that lasts--and we have kids and pets! Working with this couple is an experience that shouldn't be missed. The work is not cheap, but great work like this shouldn't be. We feel lucky to work with them, and happily look forward to our next project together. read more

I was drawn to Laszlo and Aggie's store some years ago because I always loved whatever furniture pieces they displayed in their windows. they somehow achieve the exciting combination of elegant and playful. Go figure. So - after much deliberation, communication, indecisiveness, I ended up with a couch and two arm chairs that are fabulous. My friends say i have the happiest living room they've ever seen. The craftmanship is beautiful, the fabric is stunning and the pieces are oh so comfortable. When you work with this incredibly hard working, happy couple, they become your friends. Which means you return and return and always long for whatever else they are showing. Very nice experience. read more

Lazlo has upholstered our furniture for more than twenty years. He is the last of the old-world craftsmen. He has taste and skill and usually fabrics. Five stars are not enough. 5+. read more

I recently brought my leather couch cushions in to have the stuffing replaced. Lazlo proved to be not only an experienced and knowledgeable craftsmen, but a charming and professional gentleman. It is clear he and his wife take great pride in both the quality of the work and the customer service they provide. The order was completed on time and with skill and courtesy. Their price was competitive and fair. I would not hesitate to recommend this business. read more

I've just come from another excellent consultation with Laszlo and Aggie at Laszlo's European Upholstery in Berkeley. Over the course of about an hour, these excellent designers/artists helped me find the perfect fabric [art deco] for the perfect chair [high back] and ottoman! Their great talent with fabric and design, along with their understanding of my taste, made for the creation of a most wonderful chair!!! Just as with the other items they have made for me, my new chair will be a joyful sight and a comfortable fit! read more

I've been patronizing this delightful, airy shop on Berkeley''s Claremont Avenue for over 15 years where Laszlo and his wife Aggie tirelessly demonstrate traditional European craftsmanship whether they're recovering simple cushions, re-upholstering a completely worn-out chair or building a sofa from scratch. Their workmanship, work ethic and high standards are unsurpassed and their prices are fair. In this cozy shop, Laszlo has on display chairs of his own design which are marvels of workmanship, and since he loves to talk about design and his craft, a visit to the shop is never brief. read more

Laszlo's work is superior. He takes pride in his work and does a beautiful job. His prices aren't any higher than other upholsterers in my experience. He covered a chair for me last year that continues to be admired and hold up after two years, he built a beautiful leather ottoman that has withstood grandchildren jumping on it, spills etc. I recently brought in a small ottoman to be covered and his price was very reasonable. read more

A number of years ago, I ordered 2 stunning chairs from Laszlo, and all my friends were green with envy. I long dreamed of having Laszlo make another chair, and a matching sofa, and I recently decided to satisfy this dream. I now have a drop-dead gorgeous living-room. Not only does Laszlo do spectacular work, but he works with you on color and design, making sure that you have exactly what you want. And did I mention comfort? Sitting on my chairs and sofa is like floating on a cloud. Here's one of them. read more

This is the best upholsterer in California! Laszlo created a sectional couch for me with a gorgeous pomegranate-blossom fabric from Italy that I would have never been able to find without him. It is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and will be handed down in my family. He did the work on time and within budget and even delivered the piece. You won't find his kind of European quality very often in the States. I can't recommend him highly enough. read more

We are very pleased with the chairs that we had redone with Laszlo. It was a pleasure to work with him and his wife, from start to finish. They helped us pick a fabric that works for our home/family, and then finished the project promptly as soon as we made our decision. Our dining set now looks like new (well, it's antique--but let's say the upholstery looks beautiful!). I would recommend Lazlo to anyone and will return with future projects. read more

If you're looking for fantastic custom-made furniture at a reasonable price (note that doesn't mean cheap), go see Laszlo and Aggie. Their chairs and ottomans are locally made, and they really know how to do beautiful upholstering. They have tons of fabrics -- too many, actually, and when I was overwhelmed by the options, they made a house call, bringing swatches with them, no charge. huzzaa! They're old school artisans, but don't be fooled -- Laszlo has very modern ideas if you let him run wild. They're also old school when it comes to customer service -- Laszlo called to give us updates on delivery (and delivered for free), and when a miscommunication resulted in a design element that we hadn't expected (or wanted), he re-did the job, no charge, was very gracious about it. The chair looks great, and even better, it's REALLY comfortable. Just the place to park myself on a sunday morning with the crossword and a cup of tea. The only problem: now we need another for my husband. read more

Laszlo is a fine craftsman who takes obvious pride in his work. He repaired three dining chairs and reupholstered another for us. Before giving me an estimate for the work, he partially disassembled the chairs to see what work was necessary and explained what was required to do a proper job. One dining chair was $20, another $50, and the third $75 because the repair was more complex. I had received an estimate of $50 each from another shop for the first two chairs, so I believe his pricing is very fair. The fourth chair needed new upholstery, new springs and padding. I selected an Italian fabric that looks contemporary and tasteful. And that chair has never looked better! I appreciated Laszlo's care in positioning the seat and back fabric pieces, and the piping as well, so that the pattern flowed between them. That work was $600, and I felt it was worth every penny. I highly recommend him. read more