Services | James Alexander French Polisher Furniture Restorer

Restoration.

Restoration can be as simple as light cleaning to remove disfiguring dirt or grime, such as on the surface of a painting, or it may include near complete rebuilding or replacement, as might be the case with old furniture. Often done in preparation for sale, or by a collector upon acquiring a new piece, the main goal of restoration is to "restore" the original appearance or functionality of a piece.

There is a lot of difference between restoring and repairing. Functionality may be achieved by a repair, but restoring an item properly is an art-form. Finishes might/may be stripped and redone, but it is essential that the original patination is retained, if possible. Stripping is only done as a last resort, especially with antique furniture.

Refinishing.

In woodworking, in particular cabinet making, refinishing refers to the act of reapplying the wood finish on a piece of furniture. In practice, this applies to the wood finish top coat. The top coat could be a variety of products such as paint, shellac (French Polish), lacquer, wax or even varnish. The restorer is traditionally aiming for an improved and renewed finish.

There are a great variety of both traditional and modern finishes, including the use of faux finishes. One interesting modern development in refinishing is the art of distressing or antiquing, making the finishes of pieces look older. Another development is the use of spray guns to finish furniture, a technique I use a lot, it gives an excellent, durable finish and would highly recommend this technique for refinishing modern and well used pieces such as dining tables and chairs.

While refinishing is often undertaken to salvage an old piece of furniture, in the case of antique furniture refinishing has been known to significantly reduce the overall value of the piece.

Design.

Furniture can be a product of design and is considered a form of decorative art in addition to being used in a functional role.

The practice of using natural objects as rudimentary pieces of furniture likely dates to the beginning of human civilization. Early humans are likely to have used tree stumps as seats, rocks as rudimentary tables, and mossy areas for sleeping and even as we have evolved, furniture has been at the very heart of our civilization, being made from the same natural resources. Wood is my choice of material as it offers so much diversity and aesthetic appeal.

All different types of woods have unique signature marks that can help in easy identification of the type. Both hardwoods and softwoods are used in furniture making, and each has its own specific uses.

Common softwoods used include pine, cedar and yew. Higher quality furniture tends to be made out of hardwood, including oak, maple, mahogany, teak, walnut, cherry and birch.

Working alongside you, I can help create your perfect piece of furniture, bespoke to your home or workplace.

Traditional craftmanship with a cutting edge eye for detail.