Furniture Restoration Emergency? Call Charles Lewis.
Monday, December 10th, 2007
Basic furniture restoration is a great skill for furniture owners to possess. Sometimes we spill wax, or use an oil that causes discoloration. That’s when we need to know how to undo the damage we’ve done. Furniture can also become discolored or damaged through normal wear and tear, through no fault of the owner. But what happens when a piece needs more than average care? Modern bar tables and other new pieces are resilient, but what if you’ve got an antique that needs patience and loving care?
When there’s a real furniture restoration emergency, Charles Lewis of Lewis Furniture Restoration in Burkburnett, TX, knows how to handle it. He says that furniture restoration is in his blood. (In fact, he won his first blue ribbon for a cutting board he made in fifth grade.) Lewis can restore just about anything, from cedar chests and pianos to bureaus and bed frames. He considers himself a steward of old pieces, the likes of which we’ll never see duplicated.
Most of Lewis’s pieces are family heirlooms. He acknowledges that, sometimes, the sentimental value of a piece is worth more than the financial value. He also hesitates to restore a piece to perfect condition unless the customer specifically requests such. Instead, he likes to leave certain scrapes and nicks to speak of the furniture’s history. It brings character. A lot of his clients agree.
Lewis is still learning his trade, and loving every minute of it. He’s particularly fond of the style and detail of antiques, things you don’t find in modern furniture. He took formal course at the Dakota County Technical Institute in Minnesota, and also attends various classes and workshops in order to be the best craftsman he can be.
“This is my passion,” says Lewis. “It’s just recycling furniture.”
