Stitched Bench

Matthew Nafranowicz is a European-trained traditional upholsterer living in the upper Midwest. His work reimagines eighteenth-century techniques in a modern American context. He designs furniture that reveals the foundational elements of the craft so that they become central to the design. As he reduces design and forms to their essentials, he strengthens the observer’s connection to the craft and materials. For example, stitching that has a structural purpose becomes decorative. The plain upholsterer’s tacks when left visible add a sense of purpose. With his designs, his goal is to educate clients about the beauty of the traditional upholstery craft and honor the traditions in which he was trained.