Restorations

Restoring a piece of furniture is a task that I think about carefully. Before I do a thing, I always examine the piece to determine what actually needs done to it. Making an old piece of furniture structurally sound usually means dismantling it first. Cleaning is the absolute first step. I have received pieces that were filthy from years of sitting in a barn or an attic and cleaning with water and a cleaner/degreaser is usually smart. Scrubbing the furniture and drying it very well also reveals smaller imperfections, cracks or issues that also need to be addressed and deals with mold and other nasties.

Antique furniture or handmade pieces are distinguishable by the scribes on drawer sides for the hand cut dovetails and mirrored carvings are never identical, as opposed to machine cut. I enjoy seeing these clues because it always makes me think about the craftsman who meticulously built the piece. Whether a gentle or complete restoration is called for I always try to pay homage to the original builders. I believe any piece of furniture should be used and cared for properly should last generations. I am not a “Look but don’t touch” type of restorer. I see every ding and scratch as a story and sometimes diminishing them is enough. Like myself with my own wrinkles and laugh lines, a piece of furniture has also had its own life.