How To Restore Antique Furniture
Many purests in the antique furniture world say that furniture restoration can ruin what makes an antique piece so special. Refinishing an antique wood piece is like taking a Picasso painting and 3D technology, they’ll say. I understand this comparison, though I also think 3D Picasso sounds pretty awesome, but I am not a purest, I’m a realist. Sometimes a piece, no matter how beautiful it once was, needs to be restored to be salvaged. And if the choice is between restoration and the landfill, restoration is the only responsible thing to do. Here are some tips on how to restore an antique piece of wood furniture.
The Art of Restoration
When we talk about restoring antique furniture what we are really talking about is preservation. We want this piece to last another 100 years, so we need to take every detail of restoration seriously and cut no corners. The first step to any restoration process is figuring out what kind of condition the piece is in and what improvements are absolutely necessary. If the finish on your piece is still in tact, it may only need a good cleaning.
Cleaning Techniques
Hopefully your piece is just suffering from years of dust combined with a waxy coating and the finish is still salvageable through a good cleaning. When cleaning an antique piece of furniture you want to use an oil-based wood cleaner or conditioner. These commercial cleaners should cut right through the dust, dirt, and waxy build-up. Do not spray the cleaner directly on the piece, rather apply it to a soft cloth first then rub it into the piece. Let the cleaner sit for an hour or two then remove it using a different cloth. Depending on how dirty the piece is you may have to repeat this process several times. When the piece looks clean, be sure to buff the piece to remove the excess oil from the cleaner.
After the piece dries, there may be a light haze on the finish, you can remove this haze by rubbing steel wool on the piece. Remember to go with the grain and don’t use too much elbow grease, you don’t want to strip the finish.
Replacing Missing Parts
Replacing parts on an antique piece may be the biggest hurdle you face when trying to restore it. You don’t want to replace an antique part with a brand new piece, other than a noticeable clash, it takes away from the value and feel of the piece. For missing pieces I do recommend going to a restoration professional. A professional restoration expert will try (if it’s possible) to replace the missing parts with vintage materials to best match the age of the piece. As much as you might want to do a fully DIY restoration, without the years of experience or connections to match a piece with antique parts, you will have trouble getting your piece to where you want it and where it should be.
The way a professional will replace a missing piece is quite interesting actually. For example, say your piece is missing an inlay. The professional will take a mold of the missing inlay by using a clay-like compound around the still existing inlay. That mold will be filled with plaster, when that plaster dries, they will send it to a high-quality woodworker to make the replacement inlay out of a similar wood as your piece.
Some things you want to do yourself, unless you happen to be a high-quality woodworker, I suggest you let the professionals handle this part of restoration.
Continued Care
Restoration doesn’t stop once your piece is back to the quality it once was. Restoration is worthless unless you continue to care for and appreciate your piece of antique furniture. Use the cleaning methods we discussed earlier to keep the piece in the quality you’ve gotten it to. The biggest danger to antique furniture is not misuse or children; it’s neglect. Just like an old car needs regularly scheduled tune-ups, an old piece of furniture needs the same regular attention.
Getting Antique Furniture for Your Home
I have always enjoyed the process of decorating a new home. Whether it was my first apartment or the home that we purchased for our family, creating a beautiful living space is something that can reward everyone for years to come. Something that we found to be quite helpful in creating the perfect setting for friends and family to enjoy when gathering at our home is antique furniture. The classy feel of furniture that has withstood the test of time cannot be matched with more modern renditions. The appearance, “personality”, and overall feel of rooms that are furnished with vintage furniture can bring even the most sparsely decorated room to life. The advantages of older furnishings are numerous, and because I believe that they have transformed my living spaces into scenes from glamorous movie sets, I will share the reasons that drew me to the genre in the first place…
Craftsmanship
We’ve all heard the adage “they don’t make them like they used to”, haven’t we? Well, whoever coined that phrase must have been talking about home furnishings. Antique furniture was built to last, as many families built the furniture on site or purchased it from a craftsman who constructed it. There were very few “outlets” that had sofas or armoires lined up in aisles in a “Mega Store”. The origin of such furniture is a reason why each piece was made with great care. It was the craft of the designer and they took the construction of furniture very seriously. Good luck getting a love seat purchased today to last for more than ten years – which is why vintage furniture that is decades old is so incredibly appealing!
Unmatched Style
Regardless of how many times I notice furniture designers attempting to bring the “classic” look back, something just isn’t right, and it wasn’t until recently that I was able to put my finger on it. The missing component is “authenticity”. Why purchase furniture that is designed to look antique, yet crafted to be disposable?
However…
It should be noted that antique furniture is generally more expensive than new furnishings you will find today. Again, this is because it will last for generations, allowing you to pass it down to your children when they one day own a home of their own. The extra expense involved with furnishing your home with antique furniture is of no consequence when you remember that it may be the last dining room table you ever purchase. This is how we viewed it when we made our purchases, and we haven’t been disappointed yet.
Vintage craftsmanship is unequalled in the modern furniture industry. The class and mystique that is generated through authentic, hand crafted items is something that will generate conversations with everyone who sets foot in your home. When purchasing furnishings from this niche, remember that they are pieces of art that should always be taken care of. With proper care of the vintage furniture, it will maintain its luster for another century, adding elegance for years to come.
Budgeting for furnishings is never easy, as it can be tricky to accurately estimate the cost of antique items. However, if you have a range in mind when you set out to find the perfect dining room set, you can find incredible deals. Many do not realize the importance of getting quality craftsmanship, but because we understand just how valuable long-lasting furniture can be, it has become a hobby of sorts. There are several shops out there that can help you find exactly what you’re looking for within your budgetary restrictions. Explore your options and see why homes furnished with antiques always carry an illustrious glow
How To Sell Antique Furniture
When you’re in the market to sell antique furniture, you need to find a way to connect with genuine buyers, who have an interest in what you’re selling. There aren’t many things that hold their value particularly well nowadays, so it’s reassuring that antiques really do. Ensuring you get the maximum interest possible when you plan to sell antique furniture will ensure you can get the highest possible price in return.
Auction rooms and antique shops throughout the world hold a glorious array of period furniture. Beautifully crafted designs, painstakingly built by hand, that have survived for hundreds of years. The variety of antique furniture available to buy, from desks to chairs, and from tables to lamps, is mouth-watering for any antique enthusiast.
When you’re looking to sell antique furniture it’s important you weigh up the pros and cons of the many different places you can sell it. For example, an online auction may give you a worldwide audience – but you need to think about logistics – is your furniture fragile and likely to break in transit? If the answer is yes, you should think about selling to a local dealer, or putting it up for auction at a local auction house.
Finding a reputable dealer to sell to isn’t hard, and that’s good to know because before you can think about selling your antiques you really need to have a ball park figure of what they’re worth. Reviews can be found online of the many different antique dealers and independent valuators in your area, so you’ll know who the best bet is, when it comes to getting an accurate estimate of the value of your antiques.
If your antique furniture has sat proudly in your home, you may need to think about getting some restoration work or repairs done before you sell it. After all, a perfect antique commands much higher prices than a flawed one – and you want to get as much as possible for your furniture.
Not everyone who deals in antiques does it purely for fun – a lot of people can make a living from it. If you already do, or you’re planning to start making a living from antique dealing, then it’s worth looking into the many different avenues available to buy antiques from – before going on to sell them for a higher price.
Some dealers sell antique furniture that they’ve painstakingly restored. The mark ups can be huge – but don’t forget about the time and effort that is required to restore a flagging piece of furniture into a real antique treasure! Even if you just wheel and deal antiques for a hobby, you can earn a tidy sum – but you have to be on guard against fake antiques when you’re looking to stock up.
Whether you sell antique furniture for a living, or you’re thinking about auctioning off a few heirlooms – remember that a little research goes a long way.