Any ideas what furniture restoration costs?

pinkteapot

Bought a cheap second hand desk which is fab but pretty tatty. It's a modern antique-style one, looks like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Good-quality-Georgian-Victorian-style-Yew-wood-pedestal-desk-ref-368-/201207120305?pt=UK_Antiques_AntiqueFurniture_SM&hash=item2ed8e101b1

I'm planning to sand it back and re-finish (varnish? Need to research what you use!) and also replace the leather in the top.

But I do wonder if I should pay a professional, suspecting I'll make a complete mess of it!

Desk only cost £50. If I could get it done up for say £300 I'd be happy. Replacement leather is going to cost me about £70, plus all the other materials I'd need.

I always imagine that furniture restoration costs a fortune. Anyone had anything done? I don't want to waste the time of restorers by ringing them if we're talking four figures! I sort of picture them only working on hugely valuable antiques...

Norman_Castle

Restorers tend to restore valuable furniture because customers are not willing to pay large amounts to restore low value furniture. Most will restore anything if you're paying. Phone for a quote to satisfy your curiosity.

If you do it yourself use paint stripper. Don't sand it!. Current leather may be restorable. A picture of the desk would help.

Chunks

NC types faster than me. This is what I was going to post:

I had/have some 1980 vintage chairs, which I bought new. They were brown stained solid wood. Seat covers were tired and the stain, chipped and, well, very 1980s. Restorer I approached dealt in fine antiques but was more than happy to quote me. Six chairs and ca. £600 to strip and finish with clear satin wax. Seat covers would be on top (depended on the chosen material).

Binned that idea and had the chairs dipped (£20 each) and I completed the job myself. Cost about £300 all in (plus quite a few weekends work). Very happy with the outcome (chairs now match a light oak table perfectly).

You should be able to find a local restorer to do the work (yell.com is where I found mine) but I doubt you will be pleased with the cost.

Could be an easy DIY 'shabby chic' project (chalk paint and knock back, I think it's called) but I guess that's a non-starter. If you give it a sand yourself (depending on the quality) you are likely to breach the veneers, so I would be careful there. You chemically remove the vanish (say) and reapply but not a simple DIY task.

pinkteapot

Thanks both. I've read about chemical stripping but didn't realise why you do that rather than sand. Think it would have to be a strip job.

My initial thought was to re-stain it in a similar colour and replace the leather. Since been looking at painted desks and wondering whether to get more creative! I don't like the shabby chic distressed look but do like the look of a straight paint job.

I'm pretty handy DIY-wise once I know how to do something correctly. Just go very slowly and follow the instructions! Any paints/stains I'd test out on scrap wood first, and then start with the back of the desk!

I probably won't work on it until the spring (warmer in the garage!) so time to ponder what to do with it. I'll post some photos to see what ideas people have.

I could just leave it. It's solid and all working. It's mainly bashed around the feet and edges and there's only one real scratch/slight gouge in the leather. I'd mainly change the leather for the colour - the current green doesn't go in the room but burgundy would look lovely.

MrTyo

I would do it yourself if you are used to doing handiwork. You can buy fairly cheap desk leathers and fit yourself if that is the main issue you have.