Upholstery courses in Annecy, France

Learn Upholstery in a Real French Atelier

All courses take place in Céline Vanier’s working upholstery atelier near Lake Annecy, in the French Alps. This is where client commissions are made every week, where apprentices have been trained, and where most of the projects you see on this site were built.

Two formats are available, both in a very small group: a 2-day class to get your hands on real upholstery and leave with a finished piece, and a 5-day course to understand the whole process in depth. The goal is the same: learn real techniques through practice, with professional tools, and take your own piece home.

Choose Your Format

Who These Courses Are For

Complete beginners are welcome: no experience or tools needed, only the wish to learn properly. Enthusiasts who have already done a few projects on their own will finally get answers to the questions tutorials cannot solve.

Professional upholsterers are welcome too. Whether you want to complete your training, refine a technique you already use, or discover methods you have never worked with, such as hand-tied springs, traditional stuffed edges or modern foam techniques, tell me what you want to work on and I will adapt your project to it.

Which Format Should You Choose?

The 2-day class is the right choice for a first hands-on experience, a specific chair you want to finish, or a short trip to Annecy. You learn the key gestures on a real piece and take it home.

The 5-day course is for those who want to understand upholstery properly: every layer, every step, with time to practice until it becomes natural.

Still unsure? Send me a message with a few words about your project and your level, and I will help you choose.

Your Upholstery Project

In the 2-day class, you either bring your own chair or build a square foam stool from scratch. If you bring your own piece, send me a photo when you book: I will tell you honestly what can be achieved in two days.

In the 5-day course, your frame is included and made in France, ready to be upholstered. Choose the model that suits your level, your style and the way you plan to take it home:

• Adult-size cabriolet chair: the richest and most complete upholstery experience
• Kid-size cabriolet chair: lighter and easier to transport
• Kid-size Voltaire chair: a charming, beginner-friendly traditional project
• Square upholstered stool: a simpler introduction with quicker progress

Wood finishes available: natural wood with matte varnish, stained wood with matte varnish, White Linen paint, Lamp Black, or another Little Greene colour for an additional fee.

Fabric and Finishes

You may bring your own fabric or choose one through our website. I can help you estimate the quantity needed for your model and fabric pattern. As a general rule, you will need up to 1.5 metres of a plain fabric in standard width.

Decorative nails and trimmings are chosen on site, according to your project and taste.

What You Will Learn

Depending on the format and your project, you work on the core steps of upholstery: stripping and preparing the frame, webbing, springs, traditional padding or modern foam, covering and finishing. You learn to use professional hand tools and workshop equipment, and above all to read a piece and understand why each layer exists, so you can keep working on your own once you are back home.

Schedule and Language

Dates and prices for each format are on its own page. Groups are kept very small and once a session is fully booked, no additional dates are added, so booking early is recommended.

Location

Le Boudoir des Etoffes
58 Route d’Annecy
74290 Veyrier-du-Lac
France

Near Lake Annecy, around 40 minutes from Geneva Airport. View on Google Maps

Coming from Abroad

Many students travel to Annecy for a course, and the region makes it easy: the lake, the mountains and the old town are right here. I am happy to recommend accommodation nearby and help you plan your stay.

Getting Your Piece Home

Shipping is not included, but packing materials are provided free of charge. Stools and kid-size chairs are the easiest and least expensive to ship. Larger chairs may require a transport company or a custom wooden crate: I can advise you on the best option for your destination.

Plan Your Upholstery Experience

To check availability, choose the right project for your level, or ask about fabric and travel, contact me directly, or email me at thegirlwithahammer@gmail.com

Travel, accommodation and shipping questions are answered in the course FAQ. You can also download the general terms (PDF).

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Can’t Come to Annecy? Learn Online

A trip to France is not always possible. The Hammer Club gives you access to more than 80 step-by-step video tutorials filmed in this same atelier, from your first project to complete chair restorations.

And because the learning doesn’t stop at the workshop, course participants get [X] months of free access to the full online platform, to revisit techniques and keep progressing at home.