If you’ve appreciated your church’s majestic entry doors, the stunning woodwork in a downtown Knoxville restaurant, a friend’s kitchen transformed by handsomely refinished cabinets, or a grandmother’s sofa, solidly restored and updated with contemporary upholstery, then chances are you’re admiring the painstaking handiwork of the master craftsmen at C&S Refinishing & Upholstery.
“Over the years, whether it’s big commercial jobs or residential projects, if it’s important, we end up doing the work because there aren’t too many places that can handle allaspects of restoration,” explains owner Charlie Saah. “It’s hard to find an upholstery shop that does complete furniture restoration. It’s hard to find a refinishing shop that does complete upholstery.”
Charlie’s father, Fred Saah, immigrated to Knoxville with his family from Jerusalem in 1972. He honed his furniture and upholstery tradesmen skills in his new hometown and soon opened C&S Refinishing and Upholstery. His sons grew up in the family business, and Charlie inherited his dad’s passion for the craft of restoration.
“I am blessed for what I do and proud to work with my family,” Charlie says. That talented family tree includes: his twin sons Christopher and Alexander, and younger son Andrew, who all came back after college to oversee day-to-day operations for the three-generation family enterprise; his brother Emad, who, after serving in the US Navy, handles on-site repair; and his wife Suzanne, retired from office management. Their youngest, daughter Julianna, recently completed her master’s degree.
The 17,000 sq. ft. facility, featuring a design center and wide selection of premier upholstery fabrics, employs a team of 20 craftsmen, who are like family with decades-long careers.
“Whether Knoxville natives or newcomers, you’re welcome to drop in anytime for a tour. We love showing people our handcrafted processes and explaining why it’s done that way,especially if they’re into history, old-world craftsmanship, fine furnishings and architectural details. For 95% of our work, the only way to do it is by hand by a master craftsman.”
A 70% repeat business with residential and commercial customers bears witness to their expertise, including a roster of high-end clientele like O.P. Jenkins and acclaimed luxury resorts Blackberry Farm, The Swag, and Cataloochee Ranch, for whom they do custom-built furniture, upholstery, and restoration.
“We also work with Knoxville’s fine restaurants like Southern Grit, J.C. Holdway and Babalu, where we did everything from the banquettes to the woodwork. And, we do a ton of doors,” Charlie adds. C&S refinishes exterior and interior doors for residences and historic buildings like Church Street United Methodist, or the newer St. John Neumann, and Sacred Heart Cathedral, where the Saahs are lifelong members and where their children attended school.
But, antique furniture, lovingly and expertly restored, holds a special place in Charlie’s heart.
“When I look at an antique, I know what kind of wood it is, where the wood came from, how old the piece is, and what it was made for. If the tree grew in America, was cut down and made into furniture, I know everything you need to know about it,” Charlie laughs. “I know European as well, but my true love is American-made furniture.
“Whether it’s upholstering a chair, refinishing a mantle, or restoring an armoire or oil painting, our customers trust us with family heirlooms. We plan on being here two or three generations more. So, when my great-great grandchildren get a piece back to refinish or upholster, they’ll be proud of the work we did.”
Restored by hand and heart.
Visit CandSrefinishing.com or call (865) 219-8070.
“Knoxville natives and newcomers are welcome to drop in anytime for a tour. We love demonstrating our handcrafted processes.” Charlie Saah