Next classes will happen in 2026 only. Get ready!

Real life upholstery class (Annecy, France)

If you want to learn upholstery properly, you can use my many tutorials, but you can also learn trought a real in-person upholstery class ! . Try one of my upholstery master classes if you want me to teach you in real life!

UPHOLSTERY CLASSES (Annecy)

Class Overview

6 days
39 hours total
4 students
Maximum per class
English
Course language
Complete chair
Take home your creation
Intensive training
Traditional & modern techniques
Beginner friendly
Step-by-step guidance

These courses offer you a 6-day intensive (39hrs traditional and foam techniques) to make a complete cabriolet chair in the workshop of a French upholsterer. Perfect for beginners – you will be guided step by step by a highly qualified professional.

2026 Available Dates – Book Now Online!

May: Monday 25th → Saturday 30th
June: Monday 8th → Saturday 13th
July: Monday 29th June → Saturday 4th July

Register using the booking form at the bottom of this page

Course Price

2,595 €

6-day traditional upholstery masterclass

Payment options: 1, 2, 3, or 4 installments

Minimum deposit: 595€ to secure your spot

Payment methods: PayPal, check, or bank transfer

Where?

Workshop: “Le Boudoir des Etoffes”

58 Route d’Annecy, 74290 Veyrier du Lac, France

Near Lake Annecy • 40 minutes from Geneva airport

📍 View on Google Maps | Street View

Upholstery workshop interior

Class Schedule & Details

Daily Schedule

Monday-Friday:
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
1:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Saturday:
9:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Class Details

Students: Maximum 4 per class
Language: English-speaking
Level: Beginner to advanced
Accommodation: Not included

What You’ll Learn

  • Master traditional hand tools and modern pneumatic staplers
  • Work with authentic French upholstery materials
  • Learn traditional seat construction techniques
  • Modern foam padding for chair backs
  • Professional fabric covering methods
  • Apply decorative nails and trimmings

For whom?

A course designed for those who want to discover – for leisure or as a career change – the profession of upholsterer. It allows you to acquire the different basic techniques of traditional upholstery and modern upholstery and the covering of a seat. Beginners therefore learn the different techniques and vocabulary as well as the tools and raw materials used by the upholsterer through the renovation of their seat. By the way, it’s okay if you’re not a French speaker: THE COURSE IS ENGLISH-SPEAKING (and a little French for French students, of course).

The Workshop

The workshop will be the one you see on Instagram with @the_girl_with_a_hammer reels. You can view this piece of history here on STREET VIEW.

Goals

CHALLENGE YOURSELF: You have 6 days to upholster and cover the chair that you will bring back home.

This training also aims to discover the profession of upholsterer, its materials, its hand tools, and its basic techniques. Its purpose is to acquire or refine the different stages of traditional upholstery and how to do the fabric covering with the proper finishings. We will use some foam and some modern techniques on the back so you can also bring back home other precious, easy, fast tips for a professional upholstery practice.

Chair upholstery process

Your Chair Project

The frame of a Louis-style armchair or a kid-size Voltaire and Louis XVI medallion chair (kid size or adult size) ready to be upholstered is provided to each student. These chairs are made in France and are included in the price of the training.

Chair examples

You can choose between 4 wood finishes: natural wood with matte varnish, stained wood with matte varnish, White Linen paint, Lamp Black dark grey (or any color from Little Greene with extra fees)

Chair paint colors

 

Your Instructor

Céline Vanier – Holder of a CAP degree obtained from the AOCDTF (Les Compagnons du Devoir) and a BTM degree in upholstery (which means 4 years of apprenticeship), your trainer is an active professional who has been self-employed for 12 years. Céline Vanier, whose daily work you can discover on Instagram @the_girl_with_a_hammer, will be your teacher.

 

What’s Included vs. What You Need

✓ Included in Price

  • Chair frame (your choice)
  • All traditional raw materials
  • Decorative nails (choose on-site)
  • Trimmings (order on Monday)
  • Tool usage (free loan)
  • Professional instruction
  • 2 months website tutorial access
  • Packing materials for shipping
  • WhatsApp class group

⚬ You Provide

  • Your Hands
  • Your Motivation 
  • Fabric (max 1.5m needed)
  • Accommodation
  • Shipping costs

Fabric Requirements

You can bring your own fabric or choose one on our website www.leboudoirdesetoffes.eu. These are all good for seats; no need to buy online we will have them ready for you at the shop. Send the reference of the one you want and we will adjust the quantity according to the size of your pattern and make a single bill for fabric, finishes, and tools if needed. You will need a maximum of 1.5 meters of fabric for a plain fabric (140 cm width).

Finishes

Decorative nails: you will be able to choose between many types on site.
Trimmings: you can choose and order the perfect trimmings on site at the workshop on Monday and get them on time for the covering.

Getting Your Chair Home

Shipping is not included in the price, but we will leave at your disposal for free anything you need to wrap it up properly (box, tape, bubble wrap) and we will bring the package to the post office for you if needed.

1

Free Packing

We provide box, tape, bubble wrap and pack your chair professionally

2

Post Office Service

We take your package to the French postal service. (Or you can let it at the shop for other shipping)

3

Shipping Costs (2024 rates)

With the French National Postal Service in 2024, shipping cost was something around 250 € for 20 kg (adult chair) and 150 euros for a 15kg box with a kid-size chair to ship from France to the USA (same price with Australia, way shipper for Europe). It’s the easiest and cheapest way we found. Check the FAQ page to know more about shipping.

Getting to Annecy

Easiest Route: Via Geneva

Geneva Airport → Annecy: 40 minutes by car

Public transport: FlixBus or train to Annecy station

From station: Uber/taxi to accommodation

You’ll find more information to organize your travel on the FAQ page.

Geneva to Annecy route map

Booking Process

You will have 2 weeks to finalize your booking with a full or a partial payment: 2595 € payable in 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 times with a minimum of 595€ for booking by check, bank transfer, or PayPal payment.

1

Reserve Online

Use the calendar below to select your dates

2

Payment (within 2 weeks)

Minimum 595€ deposit. Full amount: 2,595€ in 1-4 installments

3

Join Class Group

WhatsApp group access to meet classmates and instructor

Every student will also get 2 months’ access to ALL the tutorials here on this website.

Once booked, you will be added to your class WhatsApp chat so you can already meet the team and chat with me easily.

BOOK YOUR COURSE NOW

Ready to learn traditional French upholstery?

Check the UPHOLSTERY FAQ PAGE FOR MORE INFO and contact me if needed.

Scroll on the calendar to see the first classes and BOOK it online.

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First Name*:

Last Name*:

Email*:

Phone*:

Type of Chair*:

Wood color*:

Any comment:

Bespoke wooden protection frame for shipping (recommended for big chairs)*:

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD INFORMATION + GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS here below at any time.

📄 Download GTC-Upholstery-Class-2024

Still have questions?

Find answers to common questions about accommodation, travel, materials, and more in our comprehensive FAQ section.

📋 View Complete FAQ