Tuesday, March 19, 2024

In with the old

February 14, 2013

Sharon Hoover, owner of Lansing Upholstering Service and Interior Accents, discusses what it is like to work along side her son, Gary Poe in their family owned upholstery shop.

Photo by Adam Toolin | The State News

Growing up on a small farm might seem like a strange place to pick up the trade of antique upholstery and restoration. But one small-town girl’s hobby has launched a career that spans more than three decades, focusing on refinishing “grandma’s old chair” to the beautiful piece of furniture it once was.

Sharon Hoover, owner of Lansing Upholstering Service and Interior Accents, 734 E. Grand River Ave., in Lansing, restored furniture with her sisters as a child.

“We had tenants that would come in, and so us girls would have to go in and work in these tenant homes and rebuild walls and tear up floors,” Hoover said.

What started out as a sibling-oriented project has not strayed away from the family ties. Hoover runs the upholstering service alongside her son, Gary Poe. The two work the showroom of their shop and do hands-on work.

“I can always count on him, he can always count on me, and there are no worries when you have a hard-working son,” Hoover said.

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