About

History

1985, Mike Polly

In 1985, Charlotte NC Native, Mike Polly, a third generation furniture upholster and craftsman, was noticing the onset of what would become a future trend… poorly crafted, disposable upholstered furniture, with China soon becoming the nations’s main supplier of upholstered goods. Mike saw the need to maintain the art of true craftsmanship and integrity, learned from his grandfather.

Design Services of Charlotte/ Design Upholstery was birthed from this vision. We are a full-service custom upholstery company specializing in one-of-a-kind, handcrafted pieces as well as restoration and reupholstery of heirlooms and antiques. We offer our services to private individuals, interior design trade, commercial trade and anyone with a desire to change-it-up! All work is performed in-house; never outsourced.

Testimonials



“Design Services is more than just a top notch upholstery shop. Their workmanship is blue chip. But their service is that rare blend of professionalism and the feeling of family. I know when I engage them that my piece is as important to them as it is to me. And it’s not driven by money. Design Services truly wants me happy”

Bourgeoisie, Inc.



“I have been working with Mike and Roger and the team at Design Upholstery for nearly 15 years. It has been fun to watch their business grow as a result of their high quality work and aim to please designers and clients alike. They communicate well and always go the extra mile to make the work they do for me “great". They have been a pleasure to work with and I look forward to more projects together to come”

Jolee Fennebresque

Fennebresque Interiors LLC



“We have outsourced all of our upholstery/fabric needs to DSOC for the last 5+ years. We’ve attempted working with many other companies in the last 14+ years. DSOC in all our experiences, have been hands down the cream of the crop. For countless reasons. These are a few that keep us coming back every time.

1.) Craftsmanship is beyond compare.

2.) Handling the process from start to finish is second to none.

3.) Respectful, courteous and friendly.

4.) Installation process always exceeds expectations.

5.) It’s very rare, if ever an issue they handle immediately.

6.) Attention to detail makes the entire experience flawless.

I would highly recommend DSOC and do. For all of your upholstered needs. Residential or commercial.

Anonymous

FAQ

May I provide my own fabric or must I purchase fabric from Design Services of Charlotte?

Yes, you may provide your own fabric. However, when purchasing fabric from other sources, inspect the fabric carefully as it is rolled from the bolt. We only guarantee fabric purchased from us to be free from flaws.

Does it matter if old fabric is not removed prior to re-upholstering a piece of furniture?

Yes, it does. Covering over old fabric causes the new fabric to slide, thereby sacrificing a crisp look and causing the new fabric to wear-out much more quickly. In addition, soiling from the old fabric can seep through padding and appear on the new fabric. Furthermore, the unsanitary aspect of covering over the old fabric speaks for itself!

Do all upholstery and custom furniture companies operate the same way?

Do not be fooled... all upholstery companies are not alike! Design Services of Charlotte completes all work in-house, while many re-upholstery companies contract your furniture to outside laborers. Your furniture and fabric remain at our facility in a secure, smoke-free environment when you come onboard with us. We welcome our customers to stop by our Charlotte, NC location and take a look as the re-upholstery process takes place. Be aware that re-upholstery is more than simply stapling a piece of fabric to a frame. Possessing an understanding of fabric texture, composition and pattern repeat is key to a good end-result. Pattern matching is extremely important to symmetry and flow.

MORE FAQS