A Restoration Studio in Locust Valley New York
- Antique Restoration
- Repair
- Refinishing
- French Polishing
- Preservation
- Upholstery
- Carving
- Gilding
- Custom Furniture
John Coffey, antique restorer
For over forty years John Coffey has been repairing, finishing and preserving wooden objects as well as making one-of-a-kind furniture. He specializes in French polish—the application of shellac using a pad—creating a thin finish that shows wood to its best advantage. While not impervious to damage, shellac has the ability to be redissolved and reworked, making it easily restorable should it get dull or damaged. Beyond the usual repair and refinishing work, John also restores marquetry, gilding, and upholstered furniture, balancing the preservation of original materials with the need for the furniture to function and be presentable. Since transporting the furniture is as important as the restoration, he usually picks up and delivers the objects and places them in the home. To get started with a project, call him at (516) 676-4216 and make an appointment with him to examine the object. He will find out what your needs are and discuss what he can do to give your beloved antique new life. You are invited to explore the website to see more examples of his work.
To those in the allied trades, there are pages devoted to techniques and materials. Please feel free to test these ideas and comment in an email.
Using a hand plane to make an element of the cornice molding on the wardrobe pictured above.