Give Your Vintage Furniture a New Life
There’s something special about vintage furniture restoration. Each piece tells a story. Whether it’s a wooden chest handed down through generations or an old mahogany dining table from a family home, these items are more than just useful; they’re a connection to the past. Sadly, time takes its toll. Wear and tear, fading, and damage can leave those beautiful antiques looking worn out. That’s where we come in.
We’ve spent years helping people across the UK restore their favourite vintage furniture to its former beauty. At Simons Staircase & Furniture Restoration, we combine traditional methods with a deep respect for each piece’s history. Our job is to breathe life back into your treasured items, so they can continue to be enjoyed for years to come.
Why Vintage Furniture Matters
People often ask why vintage or antique furniture is worth restoring. Our answer is simple. It’s not only better built than a lot of modern furniture, but it also has character. Vintage items were usually made with solid wood and detailed craftsmanship. You can see and feel the difference.
New furniture tries to mimic older styles, but it rarely matches the detail and depth of the original. Older pieces have stronger joints, classic curves, and a deeper grain. When looked after, they can last far longer than most flat-packed items made today.
We’ve seen families keep the same furnishings going strong for generations, just with a little care, careful fixing, and polishing. The history they carry can’t be replaced.
What We Do in a Restoration
Every job starts with a good look at the condition of your furniture. We check for deep cracks, loose joints, missing parts, or signs of woodworm. If there’s upholstery, we look at how strong it still is and how well it holds. You’d be surprised how much can be fixed without losing any of the original style.
At Simons Staircase & Furniture Restoration, we treat each item differently. That’s because no two pieces come with the same problems. Some just need a surface lift, while others require hours of careful sanding, structural repairs, or carving. We use old-style pigments, varnishes and polishes that match the period wherever we can.
If you want to see examples of what’s possible, take a look at our Before and After page. You’ll be amazed at what a bit of skilled work can do to even the most tired-looking chairs, dressers, or cabinets.
Matching The Original Finish
One of the trickiest parts of repair work is matching the original colour and finish. Wood changes with age, and the light can make colours shift over time. Our workshop team knows how to work with this, mixing pigments the old-fashioned way and applying the finish in multiple, thin layers.
We pay attention to the type of wood, its grain, and what kind of polish or wax it had in the past. Whether it’s oak, walnut, maple, or mahogany, we’ll bring out that deep, rich tone again. It’s not just about colour, either. The feel of the wood, from smooth curves to hand-cut edges, is all part of the story.
Our aim is simple: to make your furniture comfortable, attractive, and strong again, but without losing its age or charm.
Saving Original Features
One part of our work we take the most care with is retaining original features. Whether it’s a decorative carving on an old cabinet or a handmade dovetail joint, we want to keep as much history as possible. When something really can’t be saved, we replicate it by hand using the same tools and style.
Many customers come to us afraid that restoration will mean their piece ends up looking “too new.” Don’t worry. We’re careful to avoid overdoing things. A proper restoration never hides the age of a piece. It just gives it the strength to last.
Have a look through our gallery of restored furniture and you’ll see what we mean. You’ll spot pieces that have been carefully cleaned, joints tightened, faded wood re-polished, all without taking away their character.
What Types of Furniture Do We Restore?
We can work on a wide range of furniture, including:
- Dining tables and chairs
- Sideboards and dressers
- Bed frames
- Mirrors, clocks, and mantlepieces
- Wooden staircases and bannisters
- Writing desks and bureaus
- Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian period pieces
Whether it’s a single chair leg snapped in a move or a full set of dining chairs chipped and faded after years of use, we’re happy to help.
If your furniture has been damaged by water, sunlight, insects, or just age, don’t rush to replace it. Bring it to our workshop first. There’s a good chance we can bring it back to life.
See the Difference for Yourself
Restoring furniture is a joy, both for us and for the people who bring in their cherished items. Seeing their reaction when the cover is lifted and the wood glows again is part of why we love what we do.
We care about every item that comes through our doors, but we also want you to feel proud of putting your restored furniture back in your home. No matter the size of the job, we handle it with care and attention.
If you’re curious about how a piece might look after some work, we’ve got real examples in our Before and After section that show improvement from all angles.
FAQs
Does restoration affect value?
Restoration can improve the value, especially if done with care. Some antique collectors prefer untouched pieces, but most people want their furniture to look good and last. If done properly, our work adds life without taking away age. We always match period materials and styles.
Can all damage be fixed?
Most damage can be handled well. We’ve worked on cracked joints, missing handles, chipped veneers, and even furniture that’s been in storage for decades. Some jobs take time, but almost anything is repairable.
What if parts are missing?
Not a problem. Our team can craft new parts to match the original ones. Whether it’s spindles, draws, carved fronts, or detailed mouldings, we can rebuild missing pieces to fit in naturally.
Will it take long?
It depends on the work needed. Some simple jobs are done in a few days. More detailed pieces might need a couple of weeks or more. We’ll always give a timeframe up front, so you’ll know what to expect.
What Our Customers Say
Restoration is about trust. Your furniture matters to you, so it matters to us. Many of the people we’ve helped brought in items that were not just old, but loaded with meaning. Some had been hidden in the loft for years, and others were saved from skips.
We’ve had everything from grand Georgian cabinets to small footstools passed on by grandparents. Each one had a story, and it was our job to help that story keep going.
We always use traditional tools and always take our time. It’s never rushed. If you’re still unsure whether your piece can be saved, reach out or look through what others have said about our work.
Help Your Furniture Live On
There’s no need to let age or damage take away from beautiful old furniture. Our team at Simons Staircase & Furniture Restoration has decades of experience in making worn, tired, or broken furniture look beautiful again. We don’t cover up the past; we protect it.
If you’ve been thinking about restoring a family heirloom or just a lovely vintage find, now’s the time. Visit our website and explore what we’ve done for others. Whether you want to bring a single chair back to life or restore an entire dining set, we’re happy to help.
Let’s make your antiques stand tall again.
🔗 Visit Simons Staircase & Furniture Restoration and get in touch to talk about your project today.
