Archive · Selected Work

Three decades of work at the bench.

A selection of recent commissions from our Mountain View workshop — furniture, parquet floors, conservation work, and emergency restorations across the San Francisco Bay Area.

Restored 1920s mahogany dining table with new hand-rubbed finish
Furniture
ARC · 001 2025

Mahogany Dining Table — Palo Alto

A 1920s mahogany table with severe veneer loss on the apron and water stains across the top. Full veneer replacement using salvaged period mahogany, hand-rubbed oil finish to match the original sheen.

Duration5 weeks
ScopeFull restoration
FinishHand-rubbed oil
Herringbone parquet floor restoration in a San Francisco Edwardian home
Parquet
ARC · 002 2025

Herringbone Parquet — San Francisco

A 1908 Edwardian parquet floor with sunken boards, extensive gaps, and three previous failed refinishes. We replaced 240 individual tiles, matched the period oak species, and hand-finished in place.

Area620 sq ft
Duration11 working days
FinishHardwax oil
Antique walnut armoire after museum-grade conservation treatment
Conservation
ARC · 003 2025

Antique Walnut Armoire — Berkeley

An 1840s Pennsylvania Dutch armoire with original milk paint and hand-forged hardware. Museum-grade conservation treatment — consolidation only, no refinishing, no removal of historic surface.

ApproachConservation
Duration6 weeks
MaterialsArchival, reversible
Restored French provincial commode with restored marquetry detail
Furniture
ARC · 004 2024

French Provincial Commode — Menlo Park

A late 18th-century commode with extensive marquetry loss on the front panel. We reconstructed missing elements in rosewood and satinwood, matched grain direction, and refinished in French polish.

Duration8 weeks
ScopeMarquetry reconstruction
FinishFrench polish
Water-damaged antique table after emergency restoration
Damage Repair
ARC · 005 2024

Water-Damaged Sideboard — Los Altos

A mid-19th-century oak sideboard damaged by a burst pipe. Emergency stabilisation within 24 hours, controlled drying, stain removal, and full restoration. Documented for the client's insurance claim.

ResponseUnder 24 hours
Duration4 weeks
BillingDirect to insurer
Victorian era parquet floor restoration in an Alameda home
Parquet
ARC · 006 2024

Victorian Parquet — Alameda

Original 1880s parquet floor in a Victorian home, damaged by decades of carpet tack holes and two prior refinishes. We removed the old finish without damaging the substrate, filled and matched each hole, and finished with traditional wax.

Area380 sq ft
Duration7 working days
FinishTraditional wax
Restored oak tables in a commercial restaurant setting in San Francisco
Commercial
ARC · 007 2024

Restaurant Table Refinish — San Francisco

Thirty-four solid oak tables for a Michelin-recommended restaurant, all refinished in a commercial-grade hardwax oil over four nights to avoid closure. Delivered back to service each morning.

Pieces34 tables
Duration4 overnight shifts
FinishCommercial hardwax
Custom oak kitchen island with hand-applied oil finish
Furniture
ARC · 008 2023

Custom Oak Kitchen Island — Los Altos

A solid white oak island built for a family kitchen, finished in food-safe oil and wax. Hand-planed surfaces, through-tenon joinery, and a lifetime guarantee on the joinery itself.

TypeCustom build
Duration9 weeks
FinishFood-safe oil + wax
Institutional furniture conservation project for a museum collection
Conservation
ARC · 009 2023

Museum Collection Treatment — Oakland

Twelve pieces from a private collection, all requiring condition reports and reversible treatment. Documentation was filed with each piece for the client's catalogue raisonné.

Pieces12 objects
Duration14 weeks
DocumentationFull catalogue
Restored hotel lobby woodwork in a boutique hotel
Commercial
ARC · 010 2023

Boutique Hotel Lobby — Napa

Full restoration of a boutique hotel's lobby woodwork — reception desk, wall panelling, and thirty-four pieces of guest furniture. Phased over four weeks to keep the hotel operational.

ScopeFull lobby
Duration4 weeks
OperationsPhased on-site
Versailles parquet floor pattern restoration in a historic home
Parquet
ARC · 011 2023

Versailles Parquet — Hillsborough

A rare Versailles parquet floor, only the third we have seen in twenty years of practice. Full pattern analysis, board matching, and hand-finished restoration in place across three rooms.

PatternVersailles
Area840 sq ft
Duration3 weeks
Fire-damaged antique furniture being restored after smoke damage
Damage Repair
ARC · 012 2022

Smoke-Damaged Dining Set — Orinda

A complete eight-seat dining set recovered from a kitchen fire. Deep smoke damage to all surfaces, some heat-blistering on the tabletop. Full restoration with documentation for the family's insurance claim.

Pieces9 pieces
Duration6 weeks
BillingDirect to insurer

What clients say after collection.

They sent me a sample board before touching the table. I picked the lighter sheen, they adjusted once, and the finished piece looks exactly as I hoped.
JM
Julia Mercer
Los Altos, CA
Our Napa hotel's lobby woodwork had not been touched in decades. They phased the work over four weeks — guests never noticed we were there. Outstanding coordination.
RH
Robert Hallam
Napa, CA
After a kitchen fire, they recovered our entire dining set. Every surface, every joint, and the insurance documentation was complete and accepted on the first pass.
EP
Elizabeth Park
Orinda, CA

Every archive entry started with a conversation.

Bring us the piece. We will tell you what is possible, what it will cost, and how long it will take — before you commit to anything.