Oak & Origin Antique & Vintage Furniture

Restoration

Old furniture, made whole again.

Our workshop repairs, refinishes and re-upholsters antique and vintage pieces by hand, keeping what makes each one original.

Book an assessment See what we restore
Hand-finished
No spray shortcuts
Period-correct
Materials that match
Quoted first
In writing, before we start
A restoration workbench laid out with chisels, planes and finishing tins beside an antique chair in the Oak & Origin workshop
The workshop, Old Town

The craft

What we restore.

Four skills cover almost everything that comes through the door. Not sure which your piece needs? Send us photographs.

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  1. Strip & refinish

    Old finishes are lifted by hand, the grain is brought back and a new finish is built up in thin, patient layers.

    Typical time 2 – 4 weeks

    A craftsman stripping an old finish from a wooden piece

  2. Structural repair

    Loose joints are re-glued, missing parts are made to match and weak frames are strengthened without changing the original.

    Typical time 1 – 3 weeks

    Hands repairing a joint on an antique frame

  3. Upholstery & leather

    The original shape is kept. Traditional hair, springs and period fabrics are used where they belong.

    Typical time 3 – 5 weeks

    An antique chair being re-upholstered

  4. Veneer & French polish

    Lifted veneer is re-laid and surfaces are polished by hand for the depth that only shellac gives.

    Typical time 2 – 4 weeks

    A hand-polished wooden surface with a warm glow

Our approach

Keep the original. Always.

We repair rather than replace, so the age, marks and character that make your piece genuine stay with it.

Book an assessment Our process
A restored carved hall bench Every repair is photographed and loggedSee restored pieces in the collection
A weathered glazed cabinet waiting for restoration in the workshop

2 – 5 wksTypical turnaround, by piece

100%Hand finished, no spray shortcuts

The process

From first look to final polish.

Four calm stages, the same careful order for every piece, whether it is a small stool or a full dresser. Older pieces were built differently, with solid timber, honest joinery and finishes that deepen with time. That character is hard to find in new furniture, and it is what we look for in every piece we choose. Our work is to give these pieces a second chapter. We repair what is failing, keep what is beautiful, and send each one on to a home where it will be used and looked after again.

  1. 01Assess
  2. 02Strip
  3. 03Repair
  4. 04Finish
A restored painted storage trunk See a finished pieceBrowse restored furniture by era
A tall dark wood chest of small drawers after restoration
Stage 03 · Repair

04Stages, one workshop

  1. 01AssessStudy the piece and agree a plan.
  2. 02StripOld finish comes off by hand.
  3. 03RepairJoints and veneer mended to match.
  4. 04FinishPolish and wax built up by hand.
Start your restorationSend photos for an assessment
Two matching antique chairs side by side: on the left the chair is worn with faded fabric, on the right it is fully restored Before After

Before & after

One chair, written down.

Every piece leaves with a condition report: what we found, what we did and how long it took. Nothing is hidden and nothing is replaced without asking.

Piece
Upholstered side chair
On arrival
Faded fabric and a sagging seat
Work carried out
Re-sprung, re-covered and hand waxed
Time in the workshop
3 – 5 weeks
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The details

Small things, done properly.

A piece is judged by its carving, its hardware and its finish. These are the details we protect most.

Hands carving a floral pattern into an old wooden surface
Hand carvingLost detail is re-cut to match the original.
A brass drop handle on a carved dark wood drawer
Original hardwareCleaned and re-fitted, never swapped.
A craftsman wiping a polished walnut board with a cloth
Hand finishingWax and shellac, built up by hand.

Have a piece in mind?

Send photographs and we will quote in writing, before any work starts.

Book an assessment
An antique armchair with olive green upholstery and a carved walnut frame
Period fabricsChosen to suit the age of the piece.

Start a restoration

Ready to bring a piece back to life?

Send us a few photographs and we will tell you honestly what it needs, what it will cost and how long it will take.

Book an assessment Browse restored pieces

What happens next

  1. 01Send photographsTell us what you have and what worries you about it.
  2. 02Receive a written quoteA fixed price and timing, before any work starts.
  3. 03We restore, you collectDelivered or collected, with the full condition report.