About
The whole team love antiques for their beauty and craftsmanship. We offer advice to our customers, being always careful not to ‘over-restore’ and explaining fully the process required. We believe that keeping works to the minimum is best practice - less is certainly more with restoration.
We value our relationships with our clients. We listen first to what you want to achieve in determining the level of restoration required and encourage a visit to our workshops to see the work in progress.
We give straightforward advice regarding the appropriateness of an intended repair and where we believe restoration costs supersede the value of the piece we advise accordingly. Our promise is to be honest in our appraisal and whether or not we can work to a determined budget and, since most of the restoration process is done under one roof, we can usually accommodate tight deadlines into our work schedule.
Our clients are diverse; the furniture trade, interior decorators, auctioneers, curators, government and institutions as well as members of the public and private collectors. Whilst the majority of our work is in London and the Home Counties, we are happy to travel nationwide and take on overseas clients as well.
Over the years we have had the pleasure of getting to know many families, both locally and further a field, who wish to restore a broad range of furniture. It’s always a pleasure to rescue pieces that have sentimental attachment to their owners.
We offer the same dedication and skilled service to each and every customer whatever the requirement.
We value our relationships with our clients. We listen first to what you want to achieve in determining the level of restoration required and encourage a visit to our workshops to see the work in progress.
We give straightforward advice regarding the appropriateness of an intended repair and where we believe restoration costs supersede the value of the piece we advise accordingly. Our promise is to be honest in our appraisal and whether or not we can work to a determined budget and, since most of the restoration process is done under one roof, we can usually accommodate tight deadlines into our work schedule.
Our clients are diverse; the furniture trade, interior decorators, auctioneers, curators, government and institutions as well as members of the public and private collectors. Whilst the majority of our work is in London and the Home Counties, we are happy to travel nationwide and take on overseas clients as well.
Over the years we have had the pleasure of getting to know many families, both locally and further a field, who wish to restore a broad range of furniture. It’s always a pleasure to rescue pieces that have sentimental attachment to their owners.
We offer the same dedication and skilled service to each and every customer whatever the requirement.
A very thoughtful service with an excellent result, value for money in my view. To be recommended.
Our Approach
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Our approach is simple. We usually need to see the item to give you a free estimate of options, time and budget. When this is agreed we will collect your furniture and take it to our workshop where it is restored and once complete, we deliver it back to you.
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History
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The business has been a local Surrey firm from 1970. It started out life under the ownership of Michael Hedgecoe in Windlesham before moving to Chobham in the 1980s. Michael steadily increased the business as the popularity of antiques grew. During the heyday of the late 80s and early 90s there were up to twelve people in the workshop.
At this time, Justin Freeland fresh from an army career in the 9th/12th Royal Lancers, left to pursue his real passion in the arts. In 1995, he joined Christie’s Education and received a wealth of knowledge in every field of fine and decorative art. This was where his interest in furniture first germinated, working for the well known London furniture dealer, Partridge Fine Arts based in Bond Street until 2000. It was at this time that Michael and Justin met. On Michael’s retirement, Justin bought the business in January 2001 with the existing eight staff. We are now based in a new purpose built workshop in East Hampshire.. |
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People
Philip Jackson our workshop manager, cabinet maker and polisher - Philip joined in 2001 from Spink & Co Restoration who he served with for 14 years becoming deputy manager and has more than 25 years experience and was trained at the London College of Furniture graduating with Distinction in 1986.
Andrew Harrison, cabinet maker, joined in 2010 from a local restoration workshop in Farnham and has been in the business for over 30 years starting at the age of 16 straight from school.
Mike Pharo, upholsterer, joined in 2007 and has over 36 years of experience in traditional and modern upholstery techniques and materials, again trained at the London College of Furniture and graduated in 1982.
Jim our metal worker is now retired but comes in on demand. He actually trained as a pharmacist but his love of metalwork overtook his interest in medicine and he’s been working metal on the bench for over 30 years.
When demand requires, we bring in other specialists (metal work, caning, ceramic & porcelain restoration, picture restoration, gilding and decorative finishes) to increase our breadth of facilities, capacity and speed of turn round to ensure we can offer a comprehensive service.
Andrew Harrison, cabinet maker, joined in 2010 from a local restoration workshop in Farnham and has been in the business for over 30 years starting at the age of 16 straight from school.
Mike Pharo, upholsterer, joined in 2007 and has over 36 years of experience in traditional and modern upholstery techniques and materials, again trained at the London College of Furniture and graduated in 1982.
Jim our metal worker is now retired but comes in on demand. He actually trained as a pharmacist but his love of metalwork overtook his interest in medicine and he’s been working metal on the bench for over 30 years.
When demand requires, we bring in other specialists (metal work, caning, ceramic & porcelain restoration, picture restoration, gilding and decorative finishes) to increase our breadth of facilities, capacity and speed of turn round to ensure we can offer a comprehensive service.