Everything clients ask before starting.

We restore wooden furniture, parquet floors, and architectural woodwork — by hand, in our Mountain View atelier or on-site across the Bay Area. Our six core disciplines are furniture restoration, parquet floor restoration, custom finishing, water and fire damage repair, antique conservation, and on-site work. Full details are on the services page.

Since 1991 — thirty-five years at the bench in the same corner of the Bay Area. The workshop has moved twice, but the standard and the crew have stayed consistent. Our about page has the full story.

Our atelier is at 2284 Old Middlefield Way, Mountain View, CA 94043. We are open Monday through Saturday, 8am–6pm, and visitors are welcome by appointment. Walking in unannounced is possible, but we may be at the bench with our hands full.

Yes. On-site work extends from San Jose up to Marin, and out to the Tri-Valley and Napa. Travel beyond 40 miles of Mountain View is quoted separately per project. In-workshop work includes free pickup and delivery within 25 miles.

Yes. We carry general liability and professional liability insurance, and every project involving transport is covered by dedicated cargo insurance. Certificates of insurance are provided on request.

No. Every hour of work happens in our workshop or on-site with our own crew. We never send pieces out of state, and we never farm out work to a cheaper shop. If we cannot do something ourselves, we will tell you.

Both. Roughly half of our commissions are on modern pieces — mid-century Danish and American work, custom-built cabinetry, high-end contemporary furniture. The methods differ, but the standard is the same.

Yes. Structural-only work is a normal commission — many clients want to keep the original finish and just make the piece usable again. Structural repairs typically start at $240 and take a few days at the bench.

Yes. We keep a curated library of salvaged period timber — mahogany, walnut, rosewood, satinwood, oak — specifically for this purpose. We match species, grain direction, and age of the surrounding wood so the repair becomes invisible once finished.

Not directly, but we work with two trusted upholsterers in the Bay Area and coordinate the entire commission for you — structural work at our bench, upholstery at theirs, delivery to you as one finished piece.

We will paint a piece if that is what you want, but we specialise in transparent finishes that show the wood. For period furniture we will always recommend a finish appropriate to the era. For modern pieces, we are happy to work with sprayed lacquer in any colour.

There is no minimum. A single loose joint, a stripped screw hole, or a chipped edge is a normal morning at the bench. Small repairs are typically quoted at the workshop and completed within a few days.

Herringbone, chevron, basket weave, and Versailles. Also straight-lay and plank floors when they need historic treatment. Versailles is the rarest — we have worked on three in twenty years of practice, and we document each one.

Very little. We use dust-controlled sanders connected to HEPA extraction throughout. A full room might produce less airborne dust than changing a bedsheet. Floors and furniture are protected with breathable covers before we start.

Yes — this is where the salvage library matters most. We source oak, walnut, maple, and teak from the same period as your floor, match the cut (quarter-sawn, plain-sawn, rift-sawn), and finish each replacement to sit flush with the original.

Usually not, but you will need to stay off the finished floor for 24–48 hours depending on the finish. We schedule work to keep at least one route through the house open at all times. For whole-home restorations, we phase the work room by room.

A single room (150–400 sq ft) takes 3–5 working days. A full home (600–1,800 sq ft) takes 1–3 weeks. Historic or heavily damaged patterns extend the timeline — this is discussed during the free estimate.

A sample board is a small piece of wood — the same species, grain, and age as your piece — finished with two or more options we are proposing. You hold it in your hands, in your own light, and choose the one that fits. Sample boards are free with commissions over $450.

For a family table, a hardwax oil — Osmo or Rubio Monocoat — is usually the best choice. It is food-safe, water-resistant, repairable in place with a cloth and a small amount of oil, and it develops character rather than damage. We prepare samples of both for you to see.

Yes — bring us the companion piece, or send a high-resolution photograph in natural light. We will prepare sample boards matched to sheen, colour, and depth, and adjust twice for free if the first attempt is not quite right.

Yes. We stock a range of low-VOC and plant-based finishes, and by default use oil and wax systems for residential work. If you need a lacquer — say, for high-traffic commercial — we use water-based systems wherever possible.

Restoration returns a piece to a defined prior state — often how it looked when new, and typically for pieces in active daily use. Conservation preserves what remains of the original, prioritising reversible treatments and refusing to remove historic surface. The choice depends on the piece, its provenance, and how you intend to live with it.

If the piece has documented provenance, comes from a museum or important collection, retains significant original surface, or has sentimental value that would be damaged by refinishing — conservation is usually the right approach. We will always tell you which fits.

Yes — full written condition reports with macro photography, material analysis, and treatment proposals. Reports start at $650 per object and are often required by insurers, auction houses, and estate advisors.

Yes, by referral. We have treated pieces for private collections, historical societies, and small institutional holdings. If you represent an institution, contact us directly to discuss scope and timelines.

Yes. Call (650) 967-5761 — the phone is answered by a craftsman, not a call centre. For active damage we triage on the phone, dispatch within 24 hours for assessment, and begin stabilisation as soon as possible to limit further loss.

Yes. We prepare full documentation packages — photographs, measurements, and itemised costs — formatted the way most adjusters expect. Direct billing is available for approved carriers, so you pay only your deductible. Details are on the insurance claims page.

We do not negotiate on your behalf, but we will provide additional documentation, a second written opinion, or an independent appraisal if needed. In most cases a clear condition report from a specialist resolves disagreements quickly.

Often, yes — but we will tell you honestly if the cost outweighs the value. Some pieces, heavily compromised by beetle damage, long-term water exposure, or decades of poor repairs, are better preserved rather than restored. We will always present the options before you commit.

Standard terms are a 30% deposit on approval, with the balance due on delivery. Projects over $5,000 split into three stages: 30% deposit, 40% at structural completion, and 30% on delivery. We accept cards, ACH, and checks. Full terms are on the pricing page.

Yes — up until the sample board is approved and the piece is scheduled at the bench. After scheduling, the deposit covers non-recoverable workshop time. This is always disclosed in writing before payment.

Yes — white-glove pickup and delivery are included for most projects within 25 miles of Mountain View. Beyond that radius, transport is quoted separately and always insured. For fragile pieces we use custom crating and dedicated vehicles, never third-party couriers.

Typically three to six weeks for new commissions, depending on size and season. Small structural repairs can often be handled within a week. The consultation itself is usually scheduled within 2–3 business days.

Five years on workmanship. If a joint fails, a finish lifts, or a veneer separates within that window, we repair it at no charge. Normal wear and tear, physical damage, and damage from improper cleaning are excluded. Full terms are on the warranty page.

Consultations can be rescheduled at any time, no charge. For active projects, we ask for at least one week's notice to release the workshop slot without penalty. Later cancellations are handled case by case — we are reasonable, and we ask the same of you.