Restoration, not renovation
There is a real difference between refinishing a 1980s dining set and working on a piece with two hundred years of history in its surface. On period furniture the original finish, the colour it has taken on, the wear at the handles and the marks of the maker's tools are the value. A perfect new coat of polyurethane destroys all of it.
So we work the way conservators work, and we work reversibly wherever we can:
- Hide glue for joints, because it can be released again by the next person who works on the piece — modern PVA cannot.
- Shellac and French polish where that is what the piece originally wore, built up in hand-rubbed layers.
- Veneer patching with period-appropriate stock, cut and shaded to disappear into what is already there.
- Cleaning and reviving before stripping. A great many "ruined" finishes are actually a century of wax and grime over an intact surface.
- Structural repair — loose chairs, split table tops, broken legs, failed drawer runners, missing mouldings recut by hand.
What we work on
Dressers, highboys and chests. Dining tables and chair sets. Secretaries and bureaus. Sideboards. Mirrors and frames. Grandfather and mantel clock cases. Trunks. Church and chapel woodwork. Marquetry and inlay. Family pieces that came from another country and are not going anywhere.
What it costs
| Work | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Clean, revive and wax an intact original finish | $150 – $450 |
| Structural repair — chair re-glue, drawer, joint, leg | $150 – $600 |
| Veneer repair and patching | $250 – $900 |
| Dresser or chest — full restoration | $600 – $1,600 |
| Dining table — full restoration | $700 – $1,500 |
| Armoire, highboy or secretary | $1,200 – $2,800 |
| Set of six dining chairs | $900 – $1,800 |
For dealers, auction houses and estate liquidators
If you sell furniture, a modest repair before the sale often moves the hammer price by several multiples of what the repair cost. We work with dealers, estate-sale companies and auction specialists across northern New Jersey on exactly that basis: photo quotes, quick turnaround on small work, and no interference in your customer relationship.
Common questions
Will refinishing reduce the value of my antique?
It can, significantly, on genuine period furniture where the original surface is intact. That is why we assess the piece first and often recommend cleaning, reviving and repairing rather than stripping. If a piece has already been refinished at some point, or the finish has failed completely, refinishing usually costs nothing in value and gains a great deal in appearance.
Do you use hide glue?
Yes, on antique work. Hide glue is reversible, which means the joint can be taken apart again by whoever works on the piece in fifty years. Modern yellow glue cannot be released without damaging the wood.
Can you match a missing piece of moulding or veneer?
Usually. We cut new stock to match the profile and grain, then colour it to blend with the surrounding surface. Missing hardware we can often source or have reproduced.
Do you collect from my home?
Yes. We pick up and deliver across Morris County and much of northern New Jersey. Pickup is quoted with the job.
How do I get a quote?
Send photographs on WhatsApp to (973) 876-6136 — the whole piece, plus close-ups of the damage. We reply with a range, then confirm a firm price once we have the piece in front of us.
Have something you thought was beyond saving?
Send us photographs. If we think it should be left alone, we will tell you that too.