Why do you do this?! (part 1)

This is a question that we have heard from various customers over the years as we have described all of the details that go into restoring a particular piece. We usually laugh and brush it off, and I can’t lie, there are times when we ask ourselves that same question while dealing with a particularly persnickety project. We have never really answered it in a serious way, and I guess it seems like now would be as good a time as any to give it a go. 

The way I see it, since our business has two sides (antique restoration and artisan furniture creation), the answer to this question has two parts as well. Today, I’ll tackle the antique furniture restoration side to the question and I will try to cover the other part next week.

As you walk into our shop, the building itself gives you the feeling of well-worn age. While it certainly isn’t nearly as old as many of the pieces that we restore, its early 20th century post-and-beam construction (mixed with steel reinforcement) just feels old but solid. This feeling is something that we prize in many of the pieces we restore. Some antique pieces are simply delicate by design (and should be carefully restored and displayed), but many pieces were originally very sturdy and have just become a little wobbly over time. These pieces were built in such a way that they can be taken apart, the old dried-up hide glue replaced with new hide glue that will last another couple of centuries, and the pieces are once again as solid and functional as they were when they were new.

We also love to see the care and pride that went into the building of furniture in times gone by. From the wood that was chosen, to the finish that was applied, great care was taken to ensure that the piece—be it a simple chair or a fine high-boy—would last for generations to come. This is something that has nearly been lost today! Many companies are happier to build pieces out of particle board and staple them together, than they are to build something that would last. Granted, the piece made of particle board is much cheaper to manufacture, but it will only last a few years before it begins to disintegrate and the customer gets stuck in a cycle of replacing it with more pieces of the same quality. We fight this trend daily, by taking antiques which are beginning to fall apart after over a hundred years of frequent use and breathing life back into their old bones. 

We enjoy the variety in our work, as no two pieces are the same, and we enjoy the challenge of figuring out how they were made, and how best to restore them so that they last as long as they possibly can without losing their historical integrity. So when you bring your piece in, feel free to ask us how we will approach your particular project, but don’t be surprised when you get more detail than you bargained for; we care deeply about what we do!