Antique & Vintage Furniture Restoration Services

A beautiful piece of antique furniture still needs to function properly. Loose joints, weakened frames, broken legs, damaged drawers, warped doors, missing pieces, and failing previous repairs can all compromise the structure of an otherwise excellent piece.

Our craftsmen repair and strengthen furniture using methods appropriate to the piece and its construction. Work may include regluing joints, repairing drawers and doors, rebuilding damaged structural components, replacing missing wood, repairing broken moldings, reproducing missing decorative elements, and correcting earlier repairs when possible.

When replacement material is necessary, we take care to select wood and materials that complement the original furniture rather than simply using whatever is most convenient.

Not every antique needs to be stripped and completely refinished.

Whenever an original or older finish can reasonably be preserved, cleaning, waxing, color matching, touch-up work, and localized finish repair may be preferable to complete refinishing. This approach can retain more of the character and patina that developed naturally over the life of the furniture.

When an existing finish has deteriorated beyond practical preservation, has been badly damaged, or has previously been refinished inappropriately, more extensive refinishing may be the best solution. Our team can prepare the surface, match color, enhance the natural grain of the wood, and apply an appropriate protective finish designed to complement the age and character of the piece.

The objective is not to make an antique appear factory-new. It is to create a finish that looks appropriate to the furniture while allowing it to withstand practical use.

Original hardware can be an important part of an antique’s design and character. Whenever practical, we prefer to preserve and reuse original drawer pulls, hinges, locks, escutcheons, fittings, casters, and decorative metalwork.

Hardware may be cleaned, repaired, adjusted, or restored as part of the project. When an important component is missing or no longer usable, we can evaluate appropriate replacement options.

Final restoration work may also include drawer and door adjustments, touch-up, leather work, electrical work on appropriate furnishings, hardware installation, and other details required to make the piece operate and present properly.

Antique furniture does not need to look brand new to be beautiful.

Old wood, mellowed color, small variations, hand craftsmanship, and signs of age are often exactly what distinguish an antique from newly manufactured furniture. Our goal is to preserve that character whenever practical while repairing the problems that prevent the furniture from being enjoyed.

For some pieces, a careful cleaning, waxing, structural repair, and limited touch-up may be all that is necessary. Other pieces may require extensive veneer work, carpentry, upholstery, or complete refinishing.

Particularly rare antiques with significant untouched original finishes may be better candidates for minimal intervention or conservation rather than aggressive refinishing. We will evaluate the piece and discuss the restoration approach that makes sense before beginning substantial work.

Learn more about our approach to antique furniture refinishing and original finishes.

Every restoration begins with an evaluation of the furniture’s construction, materials, existing finish, structural condition, previous repairs, and intended use. Clear photographs are usually the best way to begin this process before transporting the furniture to our workshop.

Once the project is evaluated, we develop an appropriate restoration plan. Some pieces require primarily structural repair, while others may involve veneer work, surface restoration, refinishing, upholstery, hardware, or a combination of several disciplines.

Structural problems are generally addressed before cosmetic work begins. Loose joints, broken components, doors, drawers, frames, and other mechanical issues are repaired so that the piece is sound before moving forward with finish and detail work.

Wood, veneer, and surface repairs are then completed as appropriate. Original finishes are preserved whenever practical. If refinishing is necessary, surfaces are prepared, colors are matched, and new finishes are applied with the age, wood, and character of the furniture in mind.

Upholstery, hardware, electrical components, decorative details, and final adjustments are completed toward the end of the process. The finished piece is then inspected for appearance, operation, structural integrity, and practical everyday use.

There is no single formula for deciding whether furniture is worth restoring.

High-quality solid wood furniture and well-made veneered furniture can often be excellent restoration candidates. Dovetailed drawers, quality joinery, good hardwoods, beautiful veneers, carved details, and strong overall construction are all indications that a piece may be worth preserving.

Financial value is only part of the decision. A dining table that has been in a family for generations, a grandparent’s desk, an inherited dresser, or a favorite chair may have personal importance that far exceeds its resale value.

There are also situations in which extensive restoration may not make economic sense. Some modern manufactured furniture made with particle board, MDF, extremely thin veneers, or severely compromised materials can cost more to restore than its finished value would justify.

We will give you an honest assessment. If we believe a project requires more work than makes practical sense, we would rather discuss that with you before substantial restoration begins.