The elegance of a display cabinet

There’s something wonderfully elegant and old world glamour associated with traditional display cabinets and some but not all are fitted with beautiful stained glass.

More often than not these cabinets are in quite a state - sometimes they have been left in the gargage or under the house for a several years.

Oh the stories these wonderful old pieces could tell …

The veneers may often be broken or damaged , the beading broken and a crack in the glass.

The finish would have been worn and scratched and they are a long way away from their original beauty.

But we love a challenge and we pride ourselves on our craftsmanship when attending to restoration.

We respect the work of the craftspeople from yesteryear and endeavour to preserve their workmanship and keep the authenticity of the piece - this is such an integral part of the restoration process - we dont want a beautiful 100 year old piece looking new we want it looking as beautiful as the first day it was made..

Our team work diligently on each piece delicately restoring and restoring its longevity.

But back to our display cabinets..

We have had the honour of working on some beautful cabinets in the last few months and the final result has been nothing short of wonderful

Happy clients with their treasured heirlooms once again ready for years of living

The sophistication and elegance of traditional display cabinets

Restoration Projects of late

We have had the privilege of completing some beautiful restoration projects in the last few months and as always we are proud to share the wonderful results.

Our team pride themselves on their attention to detail and their quality craftmanship on all work

Albeit a chair reglue or a more complex chest of drawer restoration.

We love what we do.

This unique ladder has been restored into a beautiful object d’arrt for our client. We are loving the brass details

How cute are these little silky oak stools - a beautiful keepsake restored to bring out that stunning grain.

A truly unique heirloom, this 1920’s miner’s couch has definitely seen better days but with some extensive repairs and a beautiful repolish this couch is waiting for its upholstery to complete its magnificent makeover

Preserving History ; rediscovering a timber masterpiece

In a world full of modern conveniences, there is something truly magical about unearthing a hidden treasure from the past.

Recently, our team had the privilege to work on a captivating project that involved a remarkable timber inlay created by a talented woman after the war.

Unveiling a Family Heirloom:

Our client was taken by surprise when she stumbled upon her mother's creation tucked away in long forgotten box at the family home.

It was as if time had stood still within the intricate patterns of the timber inlay.

During a time when there was a scarcity of skilled workers, women were encouraged to pursue "non-traditional" skills, and her mother's talent sprang to life on this forgotten piece.

 Embracing Sentiment and History:

Overwhelmed with joy and a desire to honor her mother's legacy, our client entrusted us with the task of restoring and preserving this exceptional treasure.

The sentimental value attached to the inlay made it even more important to bring it back to its former glory. Our team knew we had an extraordinary responsibility - not only to create a visually stunning piece but also to retain the emotional connection it held.

With meticulous attention to detail, we embarked on the restoration journey, carefully breathing new life into the timber inlay.

Made from a combination of Silky Oak, Silver Ash, and Qld Maple, the inlay's intricate designs came alive once more.

Each stroke was a tribute to the craftspeople of that era, a testament to their talent and dedication.

To showcase this exquisite work of art, we decided to fashion an occasional table around the restored timber inlay

Our choice of Cambia, a versatile and elegant material, complemented the inlay's timeless charm.

With expert craftsmanship, we brought together the old and the new, blending nostalgia with contemporary design.

It was an honour to be able to put into fruition this wonderful slice of history

Pre restoration. the Beautiful work of Pearl Moran

Prepping the beautiful inlay

That beautifully restored inlay . The sensational timber really pops after careful restoration.

The addition of cambia highlights the gorgeous grain and the intricate pattern of the inlay

A beautiful end result combining history and craft

Adored and Restored...

There is always a case for Restoration …

The act of preserving something (in particular something of high sentimental value) will always have so many advantages.

From a pure ecological standpoint , restoring and repairing existing furniture considerably reduces our footprint on the planet , thus reducing landfill. A win win situation

It is always a pleasure to restore and repair furniture for our clients - the immense satisfaction we garner through the process is only outweighed by the pure joy and happiness we see when our clients take hold of their furniture.

It truly never gets old.

The recent restoration of our 1940’s English Oak Chest of Drawers is a beautiful example of restoring somethng from the past and keeping the beautiful memories it holds alongside with it …

in need of some restoration and care

More than just costmetic repairs, those drawers really need some attention

Our repair process for this Chest Of drawers required extensive work to the the body of the cabinet, as well as working our magic on those drawers, so that they glide effortlessly every time .

The whole process was finshed with a clean and a beautiful wax finish to bring out the deep hue of the original stain

A beautiful end result

No more annoying stuck drawers .

Our beautiful restored Chest of Drawers is a wonderful example of keeping yesteryear alive.

The things we leave behind ...

Our love of furniture restoration runs deep, the process of restoring, repairing and bringing back to life a treasured family heirloom is one of we find immensely rewarding.

The work is often labor intensive and intricate but we gladly face up to the challenge in the name of preserving beautiful furniture .

We were lucky enough to be involved in the restoration of this beautiful 1880’s inlaid box. Handed down through the generations it was time to restore what was needed , preserve and make original once again…

Complete with the original 1880 day stationary this box had beauty in the detail.

Cornered veneers in need of some TLC

Such a beautiful family heirloom

Complete with the 1880’s stationary

We carefully repaired the external veneers before reg re glueing any areas that were in need.

For the internal area, we restored and kept the original purple lining.

Beautiful details before restoration

Beautiful repairs on this family treasure

All in the detail

more glorious detail

A beautiful finished product …

Stuart finished the restoration with beautiful polishing … the icing on the cake.

A glorious end result for our lovely client, so that this treasure can be enjoyed and passed down through the generations just like it was meant to be

Tools of the Woodworking Trade

Essential to our craft, hand tools are many and varied in our Woodworking Workshop.

They are treasured items, sometimes given as gifts to the craftsperson, sometimes they are found by chance in an out of the way Antique/junk shop, and sometimes they are handed down by a family member or friend.

Whatever the reason they become an integral part our furniture making and restoration processes.

There are times when a machine won’t do the fine, intricate things needed in say carving a dining chair back legs or repairing a veneer to an antique commode.

The tools of our trade can sometimes look dusty, worn but that just adds to its character and seasoning and like a fine wine only improves with age.

Hand planes in their varying sizes.

A mix of English and Japanese mortice chisels which Stuart has had for over 32 years and are still going strong.

Japanese bench chisels are the “go to” chisel for our Fine Woodworking Classes.

Cane Chair Restoration

With spring only a few weeks away (where is the year going ??) this little makeover is well timed to welcome in the new season.

A gorgeous classic cane lounge chair in dire need of some attention was transformed into a fresh , colourful new addition to this inner city Brisbane home.

A beauty in the making

Just waiting to be made over

A stunning result

Fresh , crisp and ready for spring

We repaired where needed and repolished in white 2 Pack for a clean crisp backdrop to that wonderful effervescent new upholstered seat .

The timely process of restoration

Restoration or refurbishment is the process of repairing, fixing , modifying, repainting and repolishing an item of furniture.

It can often be a lengthy process, as repairs especially to antique pieces that are hundreds of years old require skill, patience and craftsmanship to ensure every detail is completed successfully whilst often keeping the delicate infrastructure intact, especially the case with veneers, paper thin and fragile, the successful repair of these can really make or break a treasured heirloom.

The argument for restoration is a strong one, sustainably wise and of great sentimental value, the journey of restoration is often an emotional one.

The adventure of restoration provides us with such a sense of satisfaction . Being involved in our clients’ family history and being able to restore a much loved item of furniture for them is one of the best things about our work. Being privvy to such an evocative journey reinforces our love of why we do the things we do.

There is so much history in each and every piece, a tapesty of lives interwoven and we are honoured to be able to enrich each and every piece of furniture, albeit it a tiny child’s chair, or grandmother’s dressing table, a great great grandfathers chair or a favourite aunty’s dining table .

Restoration is a gift for now and the future

A forgotten dressing table , some would say has seen better days …

An old dressing table is now a gorgeous new bathroom vanity

The benefits of blue

It doesnt take much to rejuevenate a room, adding new upholstery injecting some colour , will bring new life into a space, giving it new life and new energy.

By recolouring these quaint chairs, a whole new world of decorating opportunities open up.

We used Dulux Northen Sky in 2 pack for these family heirloom chairs.

the use of 2 pack is a personal choice, but we used it in this intstance to provide sheen and longevity .

A fabulous fun result for these chairs !

Beautiful Restoration of a Chiffonier

We take so much joy in the process of restoration.

To turn something broken, old, and in dire need of some TLC into something beautiful and serviceable once again is a joy and a privilege for us.

Fresh out of the workshop last week was this gorgeous old chiffonier ; in need of a makeover.

We removed the old finish, repaired the veneers and the drawers and other areas that needed some adjustments.

We then sanded and polished and colour matched to blend in with the clients existing decor.

Beautiful once again , restored chiffonier.

Restored to its former glory, the restoration process has given new life into this wonderful piece.

Ucyling teak to make a beautiful bedroom ensemble

Wanting to make use of an old Teak Malaysian Wall panel,our clients were keen for us to make a new bed out of this 300 year old beautiful panel.

A wonderful way to upcyle, and re use a piece of history, we made a new bed head and footer.

A wonderful result…

Character and ambience abounds in this wonderful bedroom

The teak bedroom ensemble blends in beautifully with the existing decor

Restoring a Georgian Rocker

What a delight it was to be able to be a part of a wonderful birthday surprise between two sisters.

This quaint rocker belonged to two little girls and was used often to listen to bedtime stories

Fast forward 50 years or so and this little chair was in need of repairs and repolishing and what could be a better present than having it restored for a surprise birthday present ?

We repaired and restored this gorgeous piece including painting it white, and adding new rattan as well as a duck egg blue fabric to contrast with the freshness of the white .

A glorious result for this wonderful old rocker full of cherished memories and now it will go on for many more generations.

Just one of the reasons we love what we do !

A stunning Makeover -English Oak Sideboard Restoration

There is so much satisfaction gleamed from restoring a wonderful piece of furniture to its former glory. This quaint English Oak Sideboard was in dire need of some attention.

Using traditional techniques, this exquisite piece of history will now take pride of place in the family home and will be enjoyed for many years to come