Restoration Recipes: A Sourcebook of Techniques and Projects for Restoring Antique and Second-hand Furniture

This accessible and practical guide clearly explains new and traditional techniques for renovating and restoring furniture. Over twenty projects showing start-to-finish furniture restorations and illustrated recipe-style instructions make this book an attractive alternative in today's quick-fix culture.

In contrast to the spate of quick-fix makeovers that have become so popular of late, Restoration Recipes promises to offer a new lease on life to old pieces of furniture. The authors, Julia de Bierre and James Bain Smith, both lecture on restoration and have an impressive heritage as dealer-curator and artist-restorer, respectively. They have written this book for "furniture enthusiasts ... who share our love for the well-worn antique or second-hand piece and who wish to progress to the rewarding practicalities of restoration work." This sums up the book perfectly. It begins with a guide to purchasing furniture, offering advice on how to develop an eye, for example going to visit museums and collections and investing in good reference books or back auction catalogues. They also tell you what to look out for when scouring flea markets for a potential bargain.

The authors go on to detail the tools and materials you will need for the restoration of wood, upholstery, and surfaces including marble, leather, paint, and gilding. They address potential problems such as treating wood rot or mending surface cracks and offer tips on how to authenticate modern fittings--for example, darkening the gleam of new metal by applying paint-stripper. Each chapter offers particular examples such as a Neoclassical chair, a marbled tabletop, or a gilded mirror, and certain designs such as the Eames chair are knowledgeably placed in their historical context. The restoration instructions include a list of materials, equipment, and step-by-step methods accompanied by photographs. Techniques explained include French polishing, working with gesso as a foundation for paint or gilding, and reupholstering chairs. Finally, the book gives a list of suppliers of specialist materials and equipment. Restoration Recipes will be a tasty treat for anyone attempting to restore furniture to its traditional splendor. --Karen Homer