HABITAT: Expert Advice on Restoring and Refinishing Furniture

Your Home Design Questions Answered

Your Home Design Questions Answered

 

QUESTION: I inherited a trunk from my grandmother that’s not an antique. It needs to be refinished, along with some minor repairs to the wood. Is it worth getting the piece restored, or would it be more cost-effective to just buy a new one?

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ANSWER: Mike Haines, Haines Furniture Restoration: Every piece needs to be evaluated individually. Many furniture restoration businesses—including my own—will provide a complimentary estimate. It’s important to know what purpose the piece is going to serve. Most times, it’s more practical to invest money into a functional piece. Sometimes sentiment plays a great part in whether a client restores a piece. Practically nothing is beyond repair when it comes to furniture restoration. If you find it at auction or inherit furniture that’s made of a quality wood—even if it’s scarred and beat up—it could be restored at a fraction of the price you’d pay to replace it. 1109 Saunders Court, West Chester, (610) 430-8843.

Have a question for an expert? E-mail tbehan@mainlinetoday.com.

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