Turning Something Old into Something New

Ellen Baker (left) opened Raleigh Fabric and Design in 2020, offering hundreds of fabric choices as well as design services including reupholstery, custom sewing, and custom monograms to customers throughout central North Carolina.

That old chair in your living room that belonged to your grandmother? It doesn’t work with your décor, but it’s comfortable and well-built, and you can’t bring yourself to get rid of it because it’s a family heirloom. That’s where Raleigh Fabric and Design can help. 

Ellen Baker opened Raleigh Fabric and Design in early 2020. She was working in real estate when a client who was moving overseas asked her to help sell some furniture that she couldn’t take with her. “I started a little storefront and called it The Little Red Hen,” Ellen says. “More people asked me to sell things for them, and eventually, I moved the store into the lower level of a fabric store.” She enjoyed learning about fabrics and upholstery, so when the owners put the store up for sale, Ellen decided to buy it. 

“We opened on January 20, 2020, and about six weeks later, we had to close because of the pandemic,” Ellen says. “Then the National Guard called to see if we had a particular fabric they needed for masks. We had the right fabric, so that became our focus for the next few weeks.”  

The pandemic inspired many people who were spending more time at home to renovate, and that included looking at some pieces of furniture that could use a new life. “People realized they could reupholster an old chair or sofa, and then they decided to replace their drapes, so the pandemic really jumpstarted our business,” Ellen says. “And that trend has continued as the demand is still really high for our services.” Those services include reupholstery of chairs and sofas, custom sewing of draperies, bedding, and indoor and outdoor cushions, as well as custom monograms. Patrons can choose from a large selection of fabrics and trims.