A woman working on a Mid-Century Modern armchair.

Starting a Furniture Restoration Business: What to Know

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What to Expect From This Guide to Starting a Furniture Restoration Business

This guide walks you through the key decisions and practical steps involved in starting a furniture restoration business. The bullets below highlight only part of the planning, financial, and opening guidance included.

Inside the guide, you will find:

  • Startup steps: Follow an ordered path from evaluating your fit and local demand through planning, workshop setup, and opening preparation.
  • Industry interviews: Hear from restorers and other professionals on training, workshop practices, client expectations, specialties, and independent ownership.
  • Startup FAQs: Review practical answers on credentials, home workshops, equipment sequencing, terminology, and buying an existing shop.
  • Business fit: Consider the skills, physical demands, patience, household support, and uneven income involved in restoration projects.
  • Financial planning: Examine pricing, labor estimates, material costs, operating capital, cash-flow delays, funding needs, and project profitability.
  • Workshop requirements: Plan equipment, workflow zones, supplier accounts, chemical storage, dust control, spray finishing, and location approvals.
  • Risks and warnings: Identify problems involving weak skills, underpricing, inadequate insurance, incomplete records, and compliance gaps.

Start by deciding whether the craft, physical demands, income pattern, and responsibility for customer-owned furniture suit your circumstances.

Furniture Restoration Business Overview

As a furniture restoration shop owner, you receive customer-owned pieces and assess their condition.

Then you bring them back to life through stripping, repairing, refinishing, and sometimes reupholstering.

The work ranges from touching up a scratched dining table to a complete structural overhaul on a 19th-century armoire.

Most of what you handle will have sentimental or monetary value to the person handing it over.

That’s part of what makes this work satisfying — and part of what makes mistakes costly.

You might restore heirloom pieces for homeowners or prep antiques for dealers.

You might also tackle high-wear upholstered seating for commercial clients like restaurants and hotels.

Before you go further, be honest with yourself about whether this business matches your life at this point.

Read through the startup steps for small businesses to understand what’s involved in any new venture.

Is This Business a Good Fit for You?

Furniture restoration isn’t a desk job.

You’ll lift heavy, awkward pieces regularly and stand for long stretches.

You’ll also sand through clouds of fine dust and work around chemical fumes that require real respiratory protection.

The craft demands patience and precision. A single piece may take 20 to 40 hours from intake to final topcoat.

Do you have the hands-on skills to take paying customers’ furniture — including irreplaceable antiques — and return it in better condition than you received it?

If the honest answer is not yet, that’s not a reason to walk away. It is a reason to build your skills first and open later.

Think about your financial situation, too. Project income is uneven.

A completed dining table may take six weeks from intake to payment.

Your household needs to manage during that ramp-up period without depending on the shop’s revenue.

Do you have support at home — a partner or household members who understand the income uncertainty that comes with any new service business?

Talk to people who run furniture restoration shops in markets where you won’t compete before you open.

Prepare specific questions before those conversations.

  • How long did it take to reach profitability?
  • What do you wish you’d known about pricing?
  • What does a slow month actually look like?

Experienced shop owners have hard-won perspective that no article can fully replicate. Their answers will differ, but the patterns will tell you something real.

Consider whether to start from scratch, buy an existing shop, or explore a franchise.

All three paths exist in this industry.

The best choice depends on your capital, timeline, skills, and how much structure you want behind you.

Red Flags Before You Start

Some warning signs belong at the beginning of the decision, not at the end of it.

Review these honestly before committing to a lease or a tool purchase.

Your craft skills aren’t portfolio-ready yet. If you can’t demonstrate professional-level results on practice pieces, don’t take money for customer work.

A botched antique restoration is hard to undo and harder to recover from reputationally. Train first.

You haven’t figured out the spray booth situation. A shop that offers spray-applied finishes without a code-compliant enclosed booth violates federal safety standards and local fire code.

If the space you’re considering would need a booth installed from scratch, price that out before signing a lease. It can be a significant part of your startup budget.

You’re underestimating chemical compliance. Solvents, strippers, and spent finishing materials are regulated under federal hazardous waste rules.

Air quality permits may be required for spray operations in your jurisdiction. This isn’t something to sort out after you open.

You don’t have referral relationships in place. Furniture restoration demand comes largely through antique dealers, interior designers, and estate sale operators — not walk-in traffic.

Without those relationships at opening, the time before your first profitable month can stretch further than you plan for.

Your operating capital plan is too thin. A piece that comes in on Monday may not leave the shop for six weeks.

Rent, utilities, insurance, and materials don’t pause while you wait for jobs to finish.

Running out of operating capital is one of the primary reasons small shops close before they find their footing.

Pricing is a structural challenge in this industry. Furniture restoration is a skilled-labor business. You can only produce what you and any employees can physically complete.

Margin comes from accurate estimating, controlled material costs, and a consistent work queue — not from volume shortcuts.

Underpricing work in the first months creates patterns that are difficult to reverse.

For more on the challenges that come with owning any service business, the hardest parts of business ownership are worth reading before you commit.

Step 1: Assess Your Fit and Skill Level

The first step isn’t paperwork. It’s a candid self-assessment of whether you have the craft competency and personal readiness to run this business now.

The core technical skills are wood identification, finish assessment, and chemical stripping.

They also include surface preparation, joint repair and regluing, color matching and toning, stain application, and topcoat finishing.

Upholstery — spring repair, foam replacement, fabric cutting, and sewing — is a separate and distinct skill set that some shop owners offer and some don’t.

If your skills aren’t at a professional standard, get there first.

Vocational programs, community college courses, and hands-on furniture restoration certificate programs are legitimate pathways.

So is time working alongside an experienced restorer.

Build a portfolio of before-and-after photographs on practice pieces before you take a single paying job.

That portfolio is the primary thing prospective customers evaluate when deciding whether to trust you with a piece they care about.

Read about the essential skills that help any business owner succeed — the craft is only part of what you need.

Step 2: Talk to Shop Owners in Non-Competing Markets

Before you make any major decisions, find furniture restoration shop owners who operate outside your target market and ask for their time.

These conversations are most useful when you go in with specific questions, not vague curiosity.

  • Ask how they price estimate jobs on pieces they haven’t seen in person.
  • Ask what chemical or equipment purchases they regret.
  • Ask what slow months actually look like for cash flow.

Their individual answers will vary.

Across several conversations, though, patterns will emerge that shape your service scope, equipment priorities, and pricing approach before you spend any real money.

The inside perspective from real business owners is something no article can replicate.

Step 3: Define Your Service Scope and Business Model

What will you actually offer when you open?

Wood refinishing, structural repair, veneer work, and upholstery are all options.

Trying to do everything from day one stretches your skill set, tool investment, and shop layout.

Offering one or two services you can perform expertly builds reputation faster than spreading yourself across a broad, uneven lineup at the start.

Think about your primary customer mix.

Residential homeowners with heirloom pieces, antique dealers prepping items for resale, interior designers sourcing restored period furniture, and commercial clients with high-wear upholstered seating all have different expectations for turnaround time, pricing, and communication.

Decide early whether you’ll offer pickup and delivery or operate as a drop-off shop.

Pickup and delivery opens the market considerably, but it adds a vehicle, commercial auto insurance, and physical logistics to your operations from day one.

Also decide whether you’ll work exclusively on customer-owned pieces or whether you’ll also source, restore, and resell furniture on your own account.

The latter creates inventory, cash flow, and sales tax considerations that differ from a pure service model.

The three entry paths worth evaluating are:

  • Start from scratch: Full control over model and location; no existing customer base; longer ramp-up period.
  • Buy an existing shop: Inherits customer relationships, equipment, and workflow; requires thorough due diligence on lease terms, equipment condition, and reason for sale.
  • Explore a franchise: Structured training, brand recognition, and supply chain support; requires capital for franchise fees and ongoing royalties.

The best path depends on your available capital, desired timeline, skill level, and how much structure you want behind you at the start.

Step 4: Research Local Demand and Competition

How many established furniture restoration shops are operating in your area?

Are they turning away work? Do they have wait lists?

The answers matter before you commit to a location or service focus.

Demand in this industry concentrates in areas with historic housing stock, higher household incomes, active antique markets, and a strong interior design community.

A market without those anchors may produce thinner volume than you need to cover fixed costs.

Identify your likely referral sources before you open.

Antique dealers, interior designers, estate sale organizers, real estate agents staging homes, and moving companies all send restoration work to shops they trust.

These relationships often drive more early revenue than any advertising you could place.

Understanding local supply and demand is a go/no-go question, not a post-opening one.

Validate that your target market and service mix can support enough volume to cover fixed costs before you sign a lease.

Business Plan

Your business plan is where the startup steps turn into numbers and decisions you can act on.

Start with the profit structure question: how many jobs per month do you need to cover rent, utilities, insurance, materials, and your own income?

What’s the average ticket value in your planned service mix?

Can a single-owner shop cover fixed costs on project work alone, or do you need a minimum job volume per week to stay solvent?

This business has a built-in cash flow lag.

A piece that arrives on Monday may not leave the shop for four to six weeks. You’ll be paying overhead the whole time.

Plan operating capital to cover your full work queue at any given point, not just the first month’s rent.

Running out of operating capital with a full shop is a real scenario for underfunded startups.

Material costs, labor time per job, and shop overhead are the three variables that determine profitability.

Accurate time-tracking from the first job is essential to refining estimates as you go.

Pricing errors in the first months of the business compound quickly.

Underestimating labor hours on antique or structurally damaged pieces is the most common mistake.

Build pricing based on actual hours, not optimistic guesses.

Identify your funding needs before committing to a lease or major equipment purchases.

Personal savings, SBA loan programs, and equipment financing are all options worth exploring.

A business line of credit for working capital is another option to look into.

The business plan process and how to estimate profitability for a new business are useful resources as you build this out.

Step 5: Choose a Legal Entity and Register the Business

Your legal structure determines how the business is taxed and how much personal liability protection you have.

The most common choices for a small shop are a sole proprietorship and an LLC.

An LLC provides a layer of separation between your personal assets and business liabilities, which matters when you’re working on expensive or irreplaceable customer property.

Consult an attorney or accountant before deciding — the best answer depends on your situation.

Once you choose a structure, register the business with your state.

If you’re operating under a trade name that differs from your legal name, you’ll need a DBA (doing business as) registration as well.

Apply for an EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS even if you’re starting as a sole proprietor.

You’ll need it for banking, tax filing, and supplier accounts.

Sales and use tax obligations for a furniture restoration shop vary significantly by jurisdiction.

Some states don’t tax repair labor on personal property but do tax materials; others tax both.

If you also sell restored furniture directly, those sales are typically treated as taxable retail transactions.

Verify with your state’s revenue agency before setting up your billing system.

Step 6: Find a Suitable Location and Confirm Zoning

Not every commercial space can legally or practically house a furniture restoration workshop.

Confirm that the address is zoned for workshop or light industrial use before signing anything.

Some commercial zones prohibit public customer access. Some prohibit spray finishing operations entirely.

A zoning verification letter from your local planning department confirms this — not the landlord’s word.

Beyond zoning, evaluate the physical space:

  • Does the concrete floor handle the weight of large furniture pieces and heavy equipment?
  • Is there enough amperage for sanders, compressors, and spray equipment?
  • Can the space accommodate a spray booth with compliant exhaust ventilation?
  • Is there room for functional work zones — intake, stripping and sanding, spray finishing, drying, and completed-piece storage?
  • Will the landlord allow chemical use, dust generation, and spray finishing operations?

A certificate of occupancy may be required if you’re changing the use of the space.

Check with your local building department before you sign a lease.

Step 7: Get the Licenses, Permits, and Compliance Items in Order

What permits do you actually need?

Start with a general business license from your city or county — most jurisdictions require one regardless of business type.

Verify with your local clerk or licensing office.

The spray booth is the compliance item that catches owners most off guard when they’re getting started.

Operating a spray booth with solvent-based finishes without a code-compliant setup is a serious violation of OSHA 29 CFR 1910.107 — the federal spray finishing standard — and local fire code.

That standard governs booth construction, exhaust direction, explosion-proof lighting, and fire suppression requirements.

Many jurisdictions also require an air quality permit or registration for spray operations through the local or regional air quality management district.

Check with that agency separately — it’s often a different approval process from the fire department inspection.

Chemical and waste compliance is a federal matter.

Solvents, paint strippers, and solvent-contaminated rags may be classified as hazardous waste under the EPA’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

Your generator status — based on how much hazardous waste your shop produces — determines how long you can store it and how it must be disposed of.

The EPA’s guide for small businesses explains the generator tiers clearly.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for every hazardous chemical in the shop are required under OSHA standards.

Set up a binder before you open and add to it as you bring new products in.

If you hire employees, register for state employer withholding and unemployment accounts.

Review the OSHA woodworking and finishing standards — they cover wood dust exposure limits and chemical safety requirements for shop workers.

For an overview of business licenses and permits, start there, then verify the specifics with your local agencies.

Step 8: Build Out and Equip the Workshop

A furniture restoration shop isn’t just a room with tools in it.

The layout determines how your workflow runs, how securely you can operate, and how much you can realistically produce in a given week.

Think in zones.

Pieces should move through the shop in a logical sequence: intake and condition assessment, stripping and sanding, spray finishing, drying and curing, and completed-piece holding before pickup or delivery.

A layout that requires pieces to travel back and forth across each other creates bottlenecks and increases the risk of accidental damage.

The spray booth is the most infrastructure-intensive element.

It must be enclosed, with an independent exhaust stack directed outside the building, explosion-proof lighting, and fire suppression.

This isn’t a DIY build — it requires inspections from the local fire marshal and potentially the air quality district before first use.

Dust collection must be active at the source.

Sanders, orbital tools, and any cutting equipment should connect to a dust collection system.

Fine wood dust is both a health hazard under OSHA standards and a fire risk.

Flammable materials — solvents, lacquers, strippers — require a fire-rated storage cabinet away from ignition sources.

This is a code requirement in most jurisdictions, not a suggestion.

The core equipment list for a shop-based operation includes:

  • Belt sander, random-orbit sander, detail sander, and oscillating multi-tool with sanding attachments
  • HVLP (high-volume, low-pressure) spray gun and compressor rated for spray use
  • Enclosed spray booth with compliant exhaust, explosion-proof lighting, and fire suppression
  • Central or portable dust collection system
  • Bar clamps, pipe clamps, and corner clamps in multiple lengths
  • Scrapers, heat gun, and putty knives for stripping
  • Heavy-duty workbench, sawhorses or padded trestles for large pieces, and dollies for moving
  • Fire-rated cabinet for flammable liquid storage
  • Respirators rated for both dust and organic vapor, chemical-resistant gloves, safety goggles, and a Class B fire extinguisher

If you plan to offer upholstery, that requires its own additional tool set.

A commercial walking-foot sewing machine, a pneumatic upholstery staple gun, foam-cutting tools, a webbing stretcher, and a fabric cutting table round it out.

Invest in quality tools from the start.

Professional-grade equipment lasts longer, performs more consistently, and protects customer furniture better than consumer-grade alternatives.

Step 9: Set Up Your Supplier Accounts

Your finishing products directly affect the quality of your output.

Establish trade accounts with professional finishing supply distributors — not just the home improvement store down the street.

You’ll need stains, lacquers, conversion varnishes, water-based finishes, shellac, wax, and oil products.

You’ll also need chemical strippers, neutralizers, wood fillers, and epoxy repair compounds.

A range of sandpaper grits from coarse through fine rounds out the basics.

Period-appropriate hardware — hinges, casters, drawer pulls, and period fittings — is often needed for antique work.

Identify reliable sources for these before you take on antique restoration jobs that require them.

If you offer upholstery, you’ll need fabric and leather suppliers, foam and padding, and springs and webbing.

A range of findings — tacks, thread, and trim hardware — typically comes from separate specialty suppliers.

Step 10: Set Up Pricing, Intake Forms, and Payment

How will you price a job you’ve never seen in person?

Most furniture restoration shops use flat-rate project pricing: estimate labor hours and materials per piece, then calculate a total that includes shop overhead and desired income.

The challenge at first is that accurate estimates require knowing how long each type of job actually takes you.

That only comes from tracking time on real jobs and using that data to refine future quotes.

A materials-plus-labor method is another option: bill materials at cost plus a markup, and add labor at a defined shop hourly rate.

Either way, you’ll need a shop minimum fee to ensure small repairs cover intake and handling overhead.

Sales tax on labor and materials varies by state.

Set your billing system up correctly from the start — don’t discover a sales tax obligation after months of billing at the wrong amount.

The intake and estimate process should include:

  • A written condition assessment form that documents existing damage before any work begins
  • A work authorization signed by the customer that specifies scope, agreed finish, timeline, and total price
  • A deposit or partial-payment policy for high-value or complex pieces
  • A job tracking system that shows where each piece is in the workflow at any given moment

A piece sitting in your shop is your legal responsibility.

Clear intake records protect you from disputes about damage that existed before you touched it.

Open a dedicated business bank account once your legal entity and EIN are in place.

Set up payment processing that accepts credit cards, checks, and business accounts for commercial clients.

Read about how to price your services before setting your rates.

Step 11: Get Your Insurance in Place

A furniture restoration shop carries specific liability exposures that standard personal coverage doesn’t address.

You need coverage in these areas before you open:

  • General liability insurance: Covers third-party bodily injury and property damage — a customer who slips in the shop, or a completed piece that causes damage after delivery.
  • Commercial property insurance: Covers tools, equipment, and the building contents.
  • Bailee’s coverage (customers’ goods coverage): Specifically covers customer-owned property while it’s in your care, custody, and control. This is essential for a shop holding high-value antiques and heirloom pieces.
  • Workers’ compensation: Required in most states if you hire employees. Verify the threshold and rules in your jurisdiction.
  • Commercial auto insurance: Required if you use a vehicle for pickup and delivery. Personal auto policies typically exclude commercial use.

A Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) bundles general liability and commercial property coverage.

It’s a common starting point for small shop operators.

Add bailee’s coverage separately — it isn’t typically included in a standard BOP.

Read more about your options through the business insurance guide.

Step 12: Set Up Your Business Identity Before Opening

Before you take your first customer, a few identity and administrative items need to be in place.

Your portfolio — before-and-after images from practice pieces or early jobs — is the primary thing prospective customers look at when deciding whether to trust you with their furniture.

Get this documented and organized before you announce you’re open.

You’ll need a phone number or contact method and a basic web presence showing your services and portfolio.

You’ll also need signage at your location if required by local ordinance.

Check your local rules on business signs before ordering anything.

Your job tracking system, intake forms, and work authorization forms should all be ready before the first piece comes through the door.

So should your customer pickup or release forms.

A shop without clear intake records is a shop waiting for a customer dispute.

Step 13: Run a Test Before You Go Public

Don’t advertise to the public until you’ve completed at least one or two test jobs from trusted contacts.

A dry run confirms that your intake process works and your chemical workflow is efficient.

It also confirms your equipment performs correctly — and, critically, that you can physically handle the daily demands of the work over a full week.

Before opening, confirm that every item on this checklist is done:

  • All licenses and permits obtained and posted as required
  • Spray booth installed, inspected by the local fire marshal, and cleared for use
  • Air quality permit or registration in place (if required by your jurisdiction)
  • Hazardous waste disposal arrangements confirmed with a licensed hauler
  • SDS binder complete for all chemicals in use
  • All insurance policies bound and active
  • Dust collection operational at every major tool
  • Flammable storage cabinet in place and stocked correctly
  • Class B fire extinguisher mounted and accessible
  • Supplier accounts open and opening materials inventory on hand
  • Business bank account open and payment processing active
  • Intake forms, work authorizations, and job tracking system ready
  • Portfolio documented

Don’t begin any chemical work before your hazardous waste disposal arrangements are confirmed.

That’s the one item that can’t wait until later.

Opening-Day Red Flags

Even a well-prepared shop can encounter problems in the first weeks. Know what to watch for.

The spray booth hasn’t passed inspection. Don’t spray solvent-based finishes until it has.

Use this time for stripping, sanding, and prep work on jobs already in the queue.

Don’t risk a stop-work order in your first week of operation.

Your estimate on the first paying job is already off. If you reach the halfway point and realize the hours are running far beyond what you quoted, stop and review your estimating method before moving on.

One underpriced job is a lesson. A pattern of underpricing is a business model problem.

A piece arrives with undisclosed pre-existing damage. Your written intake assessment form is what protects you here.

If that form isn’t completed and signed by the customer for every piece that comes through the door, you have no documentation when a dispute arises.

Chemical storage isn’t properly set up yet. Correct that before a fire marshal visits or an accident occurs.

Keeping solvents and finishes in unapproved containers or locations is not something to fix later.

The shop layout creates bottlenecks. Watch for a freshly stripped item near a finished piece, or a sanding area producing dust that contaminates your finishing zone.

Adjust the layout before the queue builds up. Workflow problems compound with volume.

Customer communication breaks down. If a piece is going to take longer than quoted, tell the customer before the deadline passes, not after.

Transparency on timeline delays preserves trust. Silence damages it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a formal credential or license to operate a furniture restoration shop?

There’s no nationally required trade license or certification specific to furniture restoration.

That said, most jurisdictions require a general business license and zoning approval.

If you’re operating a spray booth, fire department approval and potentially an air quality permit are required.

Optional certifications from vocational or finishing-product training programs can build credibility with high-end clients, but they aren’t required by regulation.

Can I start from a home garage?

Possibly, but with real limitations.

Residential zoning rules and HOA restrictions may block or restrict a home-based shop.

Fire code limits on flammable liquid storage and spray booth installation can restrict it further.

Before setting up at home, verify zoning rules and fire code with your local authorities.

Many shop owners begin at home for bench-level refinishing work and move to a commercial lease as volume grows.

Spray-applied solvent-based finishes in an uncleared residential space create compliance and safety issues, though.

What’s the difference between restoration and refinishing, and does it matter for how I describe my services?

In the trade, refinishing typically means stripping the existing surface and applying a new one.

Restoration can mean a broader scope of work — including repairs — with or without removing the original finish.

For antique clients, the distinction matters more: some collectors insist on conservation, meaning no new finish applied, rather than full refinishing.

In practice, residential clients use the terms interchangeably.

Clarify scope in writing with every customer regardless of what term you use.

Do you have to install a spray booth before you can open?

No, not if you start with hand-applied finishes.

A skilled restorer can produce strong results with brushed or wiped lacquer, shellac, and oil finishes, without spray equipment.

This keeps your first-year equipment list shorter and lets you open sooner.

A spray booth still adds value once your job volume grows, since it speeds finish work and expands the range of finishes you can offer.

If you plan to spray solvent-based products at any point, the booth and its compliance requirements still apply before you turn the sprayer on.

Is buying an existing shop better than starting from scratch?

It can be, depending on the specific shop.

An established shop offers existing customer relationships, in-place equipment (potentially including a compliant spray booth), a documented workflow, and revenue history you can evaluate.

The risks include aging equipment and customer relationships that may not transfer smoothly.

Lease terms that are unfavorable or non-transferable, and an asking price that reflects goodwill you may not be able to maintain, are risks too.

Do full due diligence on equipment condition, lease terms, customer concentration, and reason for sale before committing.

Interviews with Furniture Restoration Business Professionals

These interviews share firsthand insights from furniture restorers, conservators, refinishing professionals, and business owners.

They discuss training, technical skills, workshop practices, client expectations, restoration decisions, and the realities of operating independently.

Readers can use this advice to evaluate training options and choose a specialty.

The interviews also help readers understand professional standards and prepare for the practical and financial demands of starting a furniture restoration business.

Interview with Plowden & Smith’s Head of Furniture Restoration

Tom Palmer discusses his training, career progression, and how furniture styles have changed over time.

He also covers restoration methods, unusual materials, major projects, and collaboration with other specialists.

The interview helps prospective restorers understand the depth of training required.

This interview also shows how different furniture periods, materials, and finishes affect the services a professional workshop can offer.

Read the Interview

A Chat with Furniture Restorer John Hartnett

John Hartnett shares how he entered the antiques trade, learned restoration skills, and became self-employed.

He also discusses organizing his workshop, managing customer expectations, and building a client base.

His experience shows why technical ability must be supported by customer communication and sound business management.

His experience also shows the value of realistic promises, organized tools, and enough income to cover expenses while the business develops.

Read the Interview

Interview: The Restoration Expert

Matt Stevens explains his education and workshop experience, along with his decision to establish Stevens Furniture Restoration.

He also discusses his relationships with specialist artisans and the challenges facing the restoration industry.

The interview is useful for understanding how formal study and experience in established workshops support an independent restoration business.

The material also shows how professional connections, suitable premises, and a commitment to continued learning play a role.

Read the Interview

Put Down That Paint Brush! And Other Tips from an MCM Furniture Restoration Expert

Bob Kennedy discusses his furniture restoration business, professional apprenticeship, and his focus on mid-century furniture.

He also covers common refinishing mistakes, suitable products, structural repairs, veneer damage, and project selection.

His guidance helps prospective owners see how specialized knowledge protects furniture value and prevents costly mistakes.

That knowledge also helps a business decide which projects can be completed profitably and which should be declined.

Read the Interview

Better Than New Furniture Refinishing Book: Author Interview with Chloe Kempster

Chloe Kempster explains how she entered professional furniture refinishing, developed her techniques, and sold pieces online.

She also describes building a furniture art brand, selecting projects, and creating designs around each item’s condition and history.

Her experience is useful for readers considering a refinishing or upcycling specialty.

That combination links technical preparation to design, online selling, brand development, workshops, and home-based production.

Read the Interview

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