FURNITURE RESTORATION

Choose from two furniture restoration workshops that we offer at The Goodlife Centre. Revamp your tired woodwork. Get the Ra Ra back into your furniture - jazz up those car boot finds and upcycle old junk.

For an in-depth experience join our 10 week project based course, Furniture Restoration,  led by John Hollerbach - a Bachelor of the Sciences in Restoration & Conservation and a professional restorer for more than 10 years. He also lectures at universities, colleges and institutions in London. Students love his warmth and enthusiasm for the craftsmanship of time gone by.

Bring a small piece of retro furniture or an old antique box to work on - a tatty writing slope, tea caddy, jewellery box, or similar veneered antique boxes are ideal projects for beginners and are also handy for transit. These objects can be purchased from flea markets, charity shops, antiques fairs and fetes.

Designed to give beginners the skills and knowledge to repair and restore antiques, the 10 week course covers wood and joint repairs, veneer removal and repairs, French polishing and surface decoration. At the end of the course learners will better understand the techniques required for traditional restoration and the materials involved in the process. They will also have good experience of historical objects and invaluable knowledge in differentiating between the priceless and the junk.

Kate Russell is a professional furniture restorer who brings priceless heirlooms back to their original beauty with her knowledge and craftsmanship. In our one-day furniture restoration workshop, Wood Revival, get a rare  opportunity to work with Kate or John and access their expertise. Get a chance to experience French polishing as well as easy ways to freshen up your furniture. Kate or John will walk you through how to tackle those forlorn but beloved pieces of less valuable furniture that need some tender loving care.

You will learn how to identify what solution to apply to a problem piece-  whether it’s a white ring left by a cup or a scratch in the varnish - and have hands on practice of removing varnish and refinishing woodwork. You will also explore the world of glues and clamps to learn about tackling a wobbly chair and re attaching loose trims and veneers.

All personal protection and the use of tools and basic materials are included. NB: A small item of your own is required to work on for the 10 week project-based course.