Petar Kitanovski, by occupation he is an upholsterer, or a furniture upholstering master. He inherited his love for this craft from his father, and from the age of 17 he started actively working in the family workshop.

The mass production of furniture, on the other hand, also means a massive increase in waste. By reusing old furniture, we also take care of our future. An old armchair, couch or a few chairs whose life can be extended is a plus reason to give them a "new life", rather than ending up ingloriously in a landfill.

- The elders say, "as there was before, you can buy now you won't!". The emotional connection to a piece of furniture is very significant for a family. Quality vintage pieces of furniture can last for many generations if you let professionals take care of them. Give them a chance, and they will repay you with comfort - says Petar.

You are an upholsterer by profession. How long have you been in this business?

- I have been doing this craft for 22 years, more precisely since I was 17 while I was still studying. My father took up the trade in 1967 and up until his retirement he was very successful in upholstering furniture. Immediately after finishing high school, it was somehow logical to continue the family tradition, but it was not imposed on me.

What does bringing an old piece of furniture back to life "from the ground up" mean?

- People who are not in this industry usually think that it is very simple, or rather that it is only a matter of changing the material. The whole process depends on the idea and the need of the client. First, the old material is removed, a measurement or cut is taken to make it identical as it was before, all the pieces are cut, then it is moved to sewing and finally upholstery. This is a permanent procedure that is the basis of an upholstery. Depending on the desire, but also the condition of the furniture, the sponge, filling is changed, where necessary it is sewn by hand, decorative details are added, especially for stylish furniture, etc.

How current is the trend of upholstering furniture today and which age group more often decides to restore old furniture, younger or older?

- From my experience, re-upholstering is always current, but there is a lack of craftsmen who really deal with this. There is no certain age of people who upholster furniture, upholsterers are those who know what it means to make something by hand and last for a long time.

Which materials do you recommend to be the first choice of your customers, in order to facilitate maintenance and longevity? What trends prevail?

- In recent times, the most used materials are in the class of microfiber, which are easy to maintain, and at the same time have a modern design. What I don't recommend is faux leather because it has a short life and looks very faded after a year.

In recent years, in addition to the modernist style, retro-designs, retro-fabrics are also interesting, and the most common colors are gray and cream, but it is still a matter of taste. In any case, they are calmer colors, unlike a few years ago when strong colors prevailed.

Which piece of furniture with a specific design that you have upholstered will remain in your memory?

– I would single out a very old sofa (more than 150 years old) that arrived from the Netherlands only as a construction. I will be immodest when I say that with pieces like these, after so much thought, I have shaped it into a final product worthy of admiration.