Lucy Thomas

I am a designer maker living and working in East Sussex.

I produce modern upholstered footstools. Useful objects, made well.

My practice is informed by the idea that “If you can’t fix it, you don’t own it”.

Alongside regular upholstery jobs (recovers, repairs, reupholstery), I run Rounded by, making & selling upholstered birchwood modern footstools; using 100% natural & recycled materials, these pieces are made for life, not landfill.

With none of the corners that so frustrate upholstery newcomers, I thought the footstools made the perfect 1 day workshop experience, folk come, learn, laugh, make & leave with their very own footstools.

I trained as a Prop Maker at Central School of Speech & Drama, and on graduation worked in Theatres & Festivals including The Young Vic, Stephen Joseph Theatre & Edinburgh Fringe. I fell into marketing films, working at Universal and then Paramount Pictures for years, before realising how much I missed making, so began training in traditional upholstery at The Thomas Calton Centre, and then in more depth at The Good Life Centre, both in London.

Three things I know: Never underestimate the power of a biscuit. Measure twice, and cut once. It’s risky wearing flip-flops in the workshop.