About DICK
BIOGRAPHY
The creative experience for me took place on my first day on the job as an apprentice. It was August 4, 1972. Almost 50 years ago to the day. At the time, I was living on a 160- acre farm in Howell, Michigan with four long-haired-pot-smoking hippies. As a returning Vietnam veteran of the United States Air Force one year earlier, opportunities were abundant for me and other veterans living in the Motor City. But none interested me. Then one day, I answered an ad in the Detroit newspaper and was hired as an apprentice upholsterer paying $3 an hour, which was almost double minimum wage at the time. I was excited to start my new job as an apprentice upholsterer. Once I began preparing pieces for the upholsterers to perform their magic, I began to gain a deep respect and appreciation for the talented craftsmen/women who came before me. Over the next several years, as an apprentice, I was extremely fortunate to have worked alongside some of the best upholsterers in the metro Detroit area. In 1979, the job prospects in Detroit had dried up. The Big Three were struggling. Out of desperation, I decided to go solo. I cleaned up the garage and set up shop. I put a small ad in the local paper with half of my life savings, $400. The phone rang and I had my first customer. Slowly, my home-business gained traction. Soon I began hiring the "Old Masters" to come and help me keep up with my orders. I am forever grateful to everyone who shared their skills and knowledge with me. I am truly grateful to everyone who had a part in our success. As I worked on pieces dating back decades and even centuries, the American furniture industry was stricken with a life threatening disease; CHEAP FURNITURE!! It started slowly then picked up steam as manufacturers realized that many Americans didn't care if their chair or sofa was comfortable or not. They just wanted it not to cost too much. "So what if we throw it out in two years?" was the reply to my quote. “I can buy a new chair for that price!” would be the cry. And a fine chair would be put by the curb for a dump run or someone like me to drive by and throw it in my Jeep. American-made upholstered furniture went from hardwood frames of walnut, rosewood, mahogany, cherry, ash, and maple, to plywood, plastic and particle board. We've gone from coil springs to something indescribable, Something that is way below any standard required of basic physics for support, comfort, and durability. As the disease spread, our landfills were feasting on these past pieces of art. Orphans left by the side of the road, looking for a new home. Our mission, in this venture, is to restore, restyle and re-purpose these fine pieces to their original beauty and luster. We look forward to our next project because "You can cover a chair, or you can cover a chair beautifully!"