Furniture Repair And Upholstery Business Plans Shorewood Shop

SHOREWOOD, WI — A business dedicated to painting, refurbishing, refinishing and upholstering furniture is setting up shop at the former location of Hayek's Pharmacy in Shorewood.

It's called Home Again, and owner Kristina Bruggeman told Patch she started the business in 2015 through social media and word of mouth. Since then, Bruggeman has opened a workshop in Grafton, and is expecting to open the Shorewood location possibly as soon as June.

The Shorewood space, 4001 Downer Avenue, will be divided into a workroom for the upholstery and retail space for fabric and home decor items, such as pillows, plus some furniture pieces, Bruggeman said. People will be able to consult about what they want for their furniture and browse other items on hand.

The business started with doing upholstery, refinishing, repairs and painting for furniture, and has expanded into selling fabrics. Examples of Home Again's work include sofas given new life, stools with new upholstery, repainted cabinets, refinished kitchen tables and more.

"Most of the stuff that comes in looks pretty rough when it gets here, everybody always apologizes for the cobwebs or the food inside of it, all the crazy stuff we find, but it's fun to see the transformation," Bruggeman said.

Part of the work that appeals to Bruggeman is every day being different. Ten pieces can come through the door, and they'll all be slightly different to take apart and put back together, she said.

"I enjoy working with the clients and you know getting to meet them and hear the stories about their furniture and just kind of you know, guide them through that process of making something look pretty again," Bruggeman said.

Bruggeman chose the Shorewood location because she wanted to avoid a "big box" space, opting instead for something that has some more character, plus it's centrally located to many existing clients, she said.

"I just feel more comfortable in that kind of space," Bruggeman said. "And I think it lends itself well to the work that we're doing."

Home Again's listed services include upholstery, refinishing, painting, repairs, and other odds and ends, according to the business' website.

As Bruggeman gears up for opening the new Shorewood shop, she says Home Again is growing, with three people coming on board in the past six months to help out.

"There are not a huge number of upholsters or furniture finishers," Bruggeman said. "So we are very busy."

More information about Home Again is available at its website.