For many reasons, conserving, repairing, and restoring can often be the way to go. First, the process of restoration can safeguard a favourite piece for ongoing use. Second, restoration is often less expensive than replacement. And third, options for repair and restoration can improve the piece, as well as better its chances for a longer and more environmentally friendly life.
How is it possible to give a used furnishing a longer and better life? Look at the options:
Wood Furniture
First, consider the type of wood furniture you have. Single generation furniture items are usually made of pressed wood and are held together by staples or glue. They are not meant to stand the test of time and do not lend themselves to costly repairs. Pieces with solid wood or veneer over plywood construction are generally quite durable and can last from generation to generation. The better the initial piece, the better a candidate it is for repair and restoration.
Major issues such as water damage, deep scratches, flaking finish, or burn marks can be repaired by stripping and refinishing the piece. A three-step refinishing process will give you the richest colour possible. This is achieved by laying down dye, followed by stain, and finally multiple coats of hand-rubbed clear finish. We do not recommend that you try all these steps at home unless you are experienced at refinishing and can do the work in a well-ventilated, dust-controlled environment.
Design Tip:
To preserve wood furniture, don't use commercial furniture sprays that contain silicones to dust and shine. These products alter the wood, often poisoning it, thus creating a very difficult refinishing project down the line.
Upholstered furniture
To find out if you have a couch or easy chair with good construction, carefully feel under the piece, avoiding the springs that may be sharp. If the underside feels hollow and all you can touch is a piece of cambric (cotton) fabric, your piece does not have the best construction. It is probably wood frame with a foam cushion and does not have tied springs. However, it may still be worth repairing the seams and cushions for a fraction of what it would cost to reupholster the entire piece.
There is a common misconception about the cost of upholstering. It is not true that the average person cannot afford upholstering. Fabrics range in price and, even with labour, the work often costs less than a replacement. Major upholsters offer thousands of fabric choices, as opposed to the three hundred or so offered by most manufacturers.
Reupholstering can also shorten the time you are without your major piece of furniture. Most work can be turned around in a month. Another benefit is that you already know how the size and shape the piece fits your room. Lastly, you would be recycling, rather than discarding, and this benefits us all.
Reupholstering
There are many things to consider when thinking about reupholstering your furniture. If your piece has been crafted in the European tradition, it should be restored accordingly. A quality piece deserves quality and historically accurate restoration. Try to find a firm that does this and avoid the quick fixes of patchwork frames and altered upholstering styles.
Repairing, restoring, and conserving offers many more options than replacement, increases the chances for the piece's longevity, and is often both cost-effective and environmentally friendly to the planet.
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