Category: Furniture Restoration Blog

Get ready for Christmas.

 

It wont be long until we are getting ready for Christmas. What is it? 90 days away now? So how can you get your home ready for extra guests and festive fun?

Firstly, stop hiding that old sofa of yours under throws or blankets. You could go buy yourself a brand new sofa but what is the wait time on most new sofas? 8 weeks?  Probably cutting it a bit fine even in September (which is fast going to be October). At Furniture Restoration we can reupholster your sofa in 2 weeks. That’s right, 2 weeks.  That will include new foam, a material of your choice and any repair work that may need to be carried out.

How is your dining room table and chairs looking?

How much better would your Christmas decorations look on your table if it was freshly polished or had reupholstered chairs? The example below shows the huge improvement one of our customers had when they had their dining  chairs restored with us. Restoring is also an opportunity to bring a whole new look to your furniture. Our team would be more than happy to discuss some more extreme changes to your furniture.

Before and After dining room chairs

Is the furniture in your spare room in working order?

If you are going to have guests you will need space for their clothes. If your furniture has dodgy doors or falling drawers we can help you get that back into shape.

Have you been in your attic or shed lately?

Do you have someone who is always hard to shop for? Well maybe you have some old antique or vintage stuff lying around in your shed. We can bring it back to life for you. This Michellin man statue was restored by our team last year and our client was extremely happy with it.

Michelin Man

Buying furniture for restoration.

We are all about reusing and restoring old furniture here at Furniture Restoration Ireland :”You need a new finish not new furniture”.

But what if you are just starting our and you don’t have any old furniture? Some mass produced companies with their easy build and retro feel can be very appealing. But is that really what you want? Will that stand the test of time? Or do you want are some real unique quality items that will also see you being kind to the environment.

If you choose the later than head down to your local charity shops or flea markets and look at the furniture with a new appreciation for what can be. If you are looking for furniture from a specific era be sure you go out there with a clear vision in your mind, not only for what the furniture should look like, but what the furniture could look like. Create a board on Pinterest if you want. This can help you create and communicate your vision. To qualify as real vintage furniture, it should be at least 30 to 40 years old. Anything more than a 100 years old qualifies as antique.

Two things before you start.

Firstly have a budget for buying the furniture and getting it restored.

Secondly this will not be a quick turnaround, if you want that do go to IKEA. ( then again that place is a maze you may get lost )

So what should you look for when shopping for furniture to restore;

  • Find a good place. Visit places like Dublin Flea market, auctions car booth sales even try Done Deal. This will give you an idea of what resources are out there and what kind of prices you are likely to pay. Visit them often and keep an eye out for any sales or reductions.
  • Furniture like cabinets, chests, wardrobes, tables and chairs tend to hold up better over time. Examine it before you make an offer on it- does it have woodworm, damage from storage, hinges missing, drawers not sliding, all things that can help in negotiation of the price. Also all things furniture restoration can fix easily.
  • Don’t let small things like scratches bother you these can be easily fixed. If you are looking at plastic furniture you should be looking out for any cracks or strains.
  • If you are looking a sofas or upholstered chairs don’t be put off by damages material or missing foam. You want to check if it is sturdy and good quality. It is easy to put in new springs, foam and reupholster.
  • Consider taking pictures of the item and sending it to us to get a quote on the work needed before you buy it. This will give you a good idea on the true price of the item.
  • Use your imagination. You may see a piece of furniture you can up-cylce or repurpose. That antique coat stand in the bathroom for robes? That coffee table as a night stand ?! Using unique furniture in different place can express your individual style.

Past experience

This piece was recently picked up by our customer at a bargain price at an antique auction.

Antique Table
Antique Table

However the pod was loose thus making the table top unstable. We set about making the table structurally sound and completed the work with an over all clean and polish. Such a beautiful table. Keep your eyes open at antique auctions and do not hesitate to contact us for any restoration or repairs that may need to be carried out.

Upcycled Dresser

 

Here at Furniture Restoration Ireland we love helping people rediscover their furniture. We recently had a lovely customer in who had purchased this dresser 20 years ago!

The customer did not want to get rid of it but also felt that a restoration to its original state wasn’t right for her either. We discussed all the options she has available for a new look.

The transformation.

The first step with this project was sanding. The benefits of getting Furniture Restoration Ireland to restore your furniture is all of our team are experts in the area.

At Hanley’s Furniture Restoration, we have 30 years experience in the handling of antiques and fine art. We have extensive knowledge in all areas of furniture restoration, reupholstery, French polishing & Furniture Repairs.

Sanding your furniture at home yourself with the wrong paper can damage your piece of furniture.

When our team had completed the sanding they prepared the wood with a primer.

Primer is a thin paint that soaks into the grain slightly. When you apply the paint directly to bare timber the moisture can be soaked out of the paint. Resulting in it drying too quickly and potentially causing flaking.

We then painted the drawers and front in an off white.  We kept the top of the dresser and mirror natural. This created a nice contrast.

It has really added new life to an old piece. The customer was delighted with the new look.

 

If you have any old furniture that you would like to give a new lease of life give us a call to discuss your options.

Furniture Restoration

Furniture can break down in many way over the years. Discolouration, broken legs, loose part or even more extensive damage like water or fire.
It is best to fix the damage once you become aware of it. Ignoring the problem will just cause more damage.
We are often asked why should someone repair the furniture rather than replace it.

Here are a few reasons why you should repair rather than replace.

•Of course, you can throw away your old furniture but they just don’t make furniture like they used to.
•Maintain the same feel of the room
•Keep the family memories of the antiques
•Save money and time
Repairing old furniture can breath life back into your living space. If  you are lucky enough to have antique furniture it is always a focal point of any room.
So now we have convinced you to repair rather than buy new furniture let’s talk about the repair part.

D.I.Y option

Basic repairs are not difficult and can be completed over a few days. Simple repainting or tightening of screws are easy for most of us, and can help update your look.
Before you begin any restoration project, be sure you understand exactly what’s involved and what tools or materials are needed. If you are using any products with fumes, consider doing the project outside or in a well-ventilated area. If you just don’t have the time to do it yourself call in the experts .

Hire a professional

If the furniture is an antique, requires reupholstering or you are constrained by time, you should call in Furniture Resturation Ireland. Tackling a project you are not equipped for can make tHe situation worse. At Hanley’s Furniture Restoration, the team have over 39 years experience in working with antiques. They have extensive knowledge in all areas of restoration and reupholstery.
No matter what your damaged furniture is in need of, FRI have the expertise to make it look new.
So before you head off to the dump with that worn leather sofa or scratched dining room table, call Furniture Restoration Ireland.