I’ve been repairing and restoring furniture for more than 30 years, with a particular appreciation for antiques, vintage furniture and well-made pieces that deserve to be preserved rather than replaced. I’m now making those services more widely available throughout Oakland, Piedmont, Berkeley and the greater East Bay through Regency Antique & Furniture Restoration.

Regency Antique & Furniture Restoration: Preserving Furniture Worth Keeping

One of the things I’ve always appreciated about older East Bay homes is the craftsmanship. That appreciation extends to the furniture inside them. Older dining tables, chairs, cabinets, desks and other pieces were often constructed from quality hardwoods using traditional joinery. After decades of use, however, even exceptionally well-made furniture can develop loose joints, scratches, worn finishes and other problems.That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time for replacement.

Furniture and Chair Repair

Loose and broken chairs are one of my specialties. Dining chairs take an enormous amount of stress over their lifetime. Eventually, old glue can fail and joints begin to move. A chair may start with a slight wobble and become increasingly unstable.Depending on the construction and condition of the chair, the proper solution can involve carefully separating loose joints, removing failed adhesive, repairing damaged areas when necessary, and regluing and clamping the chair so the joints are solid again.The objective is not simply to hide the problem. It’s to make the furniture functional again while preserving as much of the original piece as possible.

Antique and Vintage Furniture Restoration

Regency also works with antique and vintage furniture that has accumulated years—or generations—of wear.A piece doesn't always need to be completely stripped and refinished. In fact, that isn't necessarily the best approach for older furniture.Sometimes a careful cleaning, waxing, polishing or localized finish repair is enough to dramatically improve a piece while retaining the character and patina it has developed over time.Services include furniture waxing and polishing, finish touch-ups, scratch and ding repair, minor wood repairs, minor veneer repairs, chair regluing and other restoration work.I approach each piece individually. The appropriate repair for a frequently used dining chair can be very different from what should be done to an older family heirloom.

On-Site Furniture Repair

Another advantage of Regency is that many repairs can be performed right in your home.Large tables, cabinets and other furniture can be difficult and expensive to transport. If the repair can reasonably and safely be completed on-site, I'll come to the furniture rather than requiring you to move it.For projects requiring more extensive work, pickup may also be possible depending on the size of the piece and the repair needed.

Preserve Rather Than Replace

There is something satisfying about giving a well-made piece of furniture another chapter.Furniture can also have value that has nothing to do with what it would sell for. A dining table may have been the center of family gatherings for decades. A chair might have belonged to a parent or grandparent. An older cabinet may simply fit a home in a way that a new piece never will.That's why my philosophy with Regency is simple:Preserve what makes a house a home.If you have a chair, table, cabinet, antique or other piece of furniture that needs some attention, text me a few photographs at 669-202-8888. Ideally, send one photograph showing the entire piece along with a few close-ups of the area that needs repair.I can usually get a good initial idea from the photographs of what may be involved and whether it's something Regency can help with.

Regency Antique & Furniture Restoration 669-202-8888 Serving Oakland, Piedmont, Berkeley and the greater East Bay.