Antique vanity beautifully restored

This piece was a victim of Hurricane Katrina and came to us severely damaged and in many pieces. You can see much of the vanity is in pieces on the workbench.

Many people, including some in the furniture repair and refinishing business, might declare such a damaged piece as unrepairable. At Jeter’s Furniture Refinishing, we routinely repair furniture in this condition and worse.

Severely damaged antique vanity

Antique vanity restored to original condition

Your furniture, whether contemporary or priceless family heirlooms, is not ruined until we say it’s ruined and we hardly ever say that.

Veneer Repair

Many people believe veneered furniture is cheap and is not found on quality or antique furniture. The truth is that the application of Veneer is a technique that has been used for centuries.

Dating back to the 1600’s, veneer has been widely used in the production of fine furniture. From Louis XIV, Rococo, English Regency and Victorian to the simple elegance of Art Nouveau, hardwood veneer is utilized to provide fine detail and ornament and also allows the use of expensive woods in more economical ways. Today, professional antique restorers are often employed to return these pieces to their original luster. Often these antiques pieces are priceless family heirlooms and its restoration should be entrusted only to experienced, reputable professionals.

Whether working with period antiques or with pieces crafted since the 20th century, the use of original materials is required to maintain original value.  The original finish is preferred over a stripped and refinished piece. A water-soluble glue that can be easily removed should be used instead of any adhesive that would leave a residue, and, of course, repairs to the original veneer are favored over replacement to preserve as much of the original identity of the piece as possible.

Unfortunately, there are times when the veneer has deteriorated to the point that replacement is the only option to restore the piece. Of course you can be assured we always consult with the customer before any permanent changes are made to an original antique piece as we understand that sometimes — for many reasons — it is preferred to preserve the piece in its original condition instead of making permanent repairs. The success of these projects depends on matching the grain and species with great attention to detail. Quarter veneered tops, contrasting inlays, intricate figuring, and banding details can prove challenging to match and sometimes difficult to locate.

Jeter’s Furniture Refinishing has a century of combined experience at matching veneer from any period and we have a vast network of suppliers for both contemporary and antique furniture.

Let us give you a free estimate for the cost to fix your damaged veneer furniture or antiques. You might be surprised at how economical it is to restore your valuable furniture or antique investments.