b'choosing and usingResene HalfColonial WhiteReseneWanaka.an upholsterer Dont throw out that old chair your grandmother gave you. If its lasted this long, it might be worth a spruce up.When it comes to furniture, it seems weresentimental value, then it makes sense toisnt afraid to give advice when required.nally waking up to the insanity of buyinghave it reupholstered and restored. While something as simple as changing the something only to toss it out the momentAn old piece with a good frame that hasupholstery on a chair can visually transform it starts to look a bit shabby or outdated.borer has far more integritywhen the borerit,muchmorecanbeachieved.Agood Retro and antique furniture, and even piecesriddled wood is replacedthan some of theupholsterer or furniture restorer can update that are a couple of decades old, are ndingmodern imported furniture we see today,the style of a piece of furniture, or customise new favour with design-savvy homeownerssays Waters. Anything can be repaired. it to suit your needs.who see past the faded fabric and worn springs to the treasure beneath. ForGarthClarkefromDunbarFurnitureThey can change the feet, remove a skirt on a RestorationsinAuckland,restoringretrosofa or chair, raise or lower the legs and back, Theresalotmoreinterestnowin60s and 70s pieces is an everyday job. Here-web chair bases and adjust the composition refurbishing existing furniture, says Markof cushion lling to provide added comfort Waters from Upholstery Craftsman. Somesees a lot of empty-nesters whove had their diningsuitefor30yearsandnowwantandsupport,andevenshrinkorextend people have been burned by buying cheapcouches.Detailssuchaspiping,buttoning imported pieces, and are starting to see theto make it presentable again. With items like this, he says, its generally cheaper toand diamond pleating can also be added, and value in quality second-hand purchases. timber lacquered, stained or polished.refurbish something than to replace it with HisWellington-basedboutiqueupholsterysomething of the same quality.With collectible and antique pieces, it pays to business specialises in restoring older pieces,invest in traditional restoration by someone repairing timber frames and replacing springsAgoodrimudiningsuitewillcostyou around $6000, but having one refurbishedwhoknowswhattheyredoing,advises and wadding, as well as re-upholstering andMarkWaters.A1920ssetteethatsin alterations. Waters receives regular enquiriesmightonlycost$2000,explainsClarke. If its 20-plus years old and still structurallyoriginal condition will take around 40 hours from would-be bidders on online auctions,to rebuild, as its all hand done, he says. asking for quotes to repair a couch, dressersound, its worth doing. You get what you or other item of pre-loved furniture.pay for, so if it was expensive when it was rstWe rebuild pieces the way they were, using bought, its worth keeping. And anythingthings like horse hair and reed stufng, and Classic furniture like Parker Knoll, Cintiquemade from native timber would denitelywhere possible, we try to use environmentally and Don furniture is good quality and verybe worth holding onto and restoring. friendly products like recycled cotton, spun popularbecauseitsuitseverythingfromax and hessian cloth.apartments to bungalows, he says. PeopleClarke recently worked on a 150-year-old are realising that it doesnt take a lot to re- Welsh dresser for a client. Water spilt onIrrespectiveofthevalueandheritageof do this 50s to 70s furniture, and that youthe top had bleached out the colour andyour furniture, its important to have good end up with something pretty groovy.removed the old French polish. Rather thanrapport with your craftsperson and to clearly strippingtheentiretop,hewasabletocommunicate your needs and expectations. So how do you know if the piece you have iscarefully sand and stain the damaged area,The end result will be obvious each time you worth restoring? According to the experts,admire your new treasure.quality, age, good design and sentimentalretainingtheoriginalsurroundingpatina valuearethekeyindicators.Ifyouhaveand enhancing the dressers value.wordsDeirdre Colemansomething thats well made, unusual or hasHowever, like all good craftspeople, ClarkepicturesMark Heaslip60'