Commissions
Are you looking for someone to restore, upgrade, or re-purpose a well-loved piece that you already have? Contact us!
Every project is different, depending on the piece itself, the material(s) it is made from, the desires of the customer as to the finished look, and our own skills and expertise we bring to the work. We are learning all the time and are open to discussing ideas, and if we are unable to help we are always open to suggesting other craftspeople in the trade who may be able. The majority of the work undertaken comprises of repair, stripping old finishes, staining, painting, sealing, waxing, and some re-upholstery.
Before and after stories
Bespoke Bathroom Vanity Unit
The client approached us with a vision to have a bespoke vanity bathroom unit made with a sink that was ‘less than ordinary.’ We knew the client had an interest in antiques and in gastronomy/cookery, so we found a small sideboard that we stripped, and then a well-used brass (French) confit bowl from which we made the sink. We added the fixures and plumbing fitting so that it is a whole unit that just needed to be attached to the plumbing and drain from the wall. Being in a coastal area, we added rope that would tie the materials together and provide a softer element to the piece. The whole unit was treated with yacht varnish to protect against water spills and stains, and the sink was protected as well to prevent any further degradation of the material. The client was very pleased and it continues to be a functional and beautiful addition to their recent bathroom renovation.
Restored and Updated Arts & Crafts Chair
We were commissioned to restore and update the upholstery of this solid oak Arts & Crafts chair by a client. The chair had been unloved and unkempt for years, with a nasty pvc seat that fell out any time the chair was moved. The wood was dry and rough and it just needed some love (and oil). So we took it to our workshop and stripped the seat, added additional padding to make it extra comfy, re-used the old tacks wherever possible to keep the repair as true to the original as we could, and gave the wood a really good soak in nourishing natural oils to bring back its life and lustre. Old careless repairs had left glue in joins that were painstakingly cleaned, and the upholstery used was recycled from leftover film set scraps. Now the chair sings and the seat honours the beauty of this Arts & Crafts piece as it should. Oh, and the client is very happy.