Family owned and operated, Finlay Furniture has been providing upholstery and furniture manufacturing services in the Wellington region for over 60 years. Established by Nathan in 1956, the business is now in its third generation: his son Greg, who joined full-time in 1984 after working part-time in the workshop, manages the business today, with grandsons Kyle (2009) and Marc (2012) rounding out the family team. The company celebrated its 60th year in March 2016.
The workshop specialises in reupholstery of all furniture and in antique restoration, alongside bespoke manufacturing — chairs, couches, custom seating units, window seat squabs, scatter cushions, headboards and gaming tables, all made to order. Every piece is skilfully handcrafted by master craftsmen and showcases structural integrity, meticulous tailoring and genuine comfort, designed with the Kiwi home in mind.
Finlay Furniture serves domestic and commercial clients throughout Wellington and surrounding areas, including the Hutt Valley and Kapiti, and stands by its commitment to quality workmanship, durability and reliability — delivered on time and beyond customer satisfaction. Free quotes are available by phone or email.
Some Wellington workshops come and go with the decades. Finlay Furniture has simply kept working. Established in 1956 by Nathan Finlay, the business began with a simple offering: direct-to-the-public manufacturing of custom-made furniture, along with reupholstery for the pieces people already loved. More than sixty years later, that offer still stands, now backed by three generations of the one family and a long-standing reputation for quality workmanship, durability and reliability across the Wellington region.
Nathan's son Greg grew up around the workshop, working there part-time before joining the company full-time in 1984. Today he manages and operates the business, with more than three decades of experience mastering the craft to perfection. In 2009 he was joined by his son Kyle, and in 2012 by his other son Marc — making Finlay Furniture a genuine third-generation enterprise. In March 2016 the family celebrated the company's 60th year, a milestone few Wellington manufacturers can claim. A newspaper advertisement from the 1960s, still featured on the company's website, is a quiet reminder of just how long these craftsmen have been at the bench.
The core of the business is upholstery in all its forms: domestic work for sofas, chairs and other home furniture; commercial upholstery for businesses; and careful antique upholstery. Alongside that sits furniture manufacturing — bespoke chairs and couches, custom seating units, window seat squabs, scatter cushions, headboards and even gaming tables, all made to order. Repairs and restoration complete the picture, from wooden furniture repairs and polishing through to full antique restoration and a fabric protection service.
Every commission is customised to the individual customer. The team takes pride in producing pieces that showcase structural integrity, meticulous tailoring and genuine comfort, designed with the Kiwi home in mind and skilfully handcrafted by master craftsmen. Being a third-generation manufacturer, the business has built its name on high-quality, durable pieces — and on supplying satisfied, happy customers year after year.
Among the workshop's stated specialties are furniture customising, recovering, repairs and restoration, and diamond buttoning — the classic, tailored button detailing that gives chesterfields and traditional armchairs their distinctive look. The photo gallery on the website shows the range of past work, and also carries a furniture-for-sale section: pieces available to buy, much of it ready for recovery, for buyers who enjoy a project of their own.
Finlay Furniture serves both domestic and commercial clients throughout Wellington and surrounding areas, including the Hutt Valley and Kapiti. Whether it is a single treasured armchair or a commercial job, the commitment is the same: quality workmanship, delivered on time and at a reasonable price, with customer satisfaction as the measure of a job well done.
The easiest way to begin is with a free quote — ring the workshop on 04 389 9013 or send through an enquiry by email. Finlay Furniture operates from 28 Newtown Avenue in Wellington, open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm and on Saturday mornings from 9am to 12pm. Bring your well-loved furniture, an idea for a bespoke piece, or a family antique, and one of the three generations on hand will talk you through what is possible.