Greg Wilson approaches furniture restoration with a less is more approach, “doing the minimum amount to get it right.” (Photo courtesy Avarie Wilson)
Greg Wilson had been tinkering in woodworking for years after retirement from the U.S. Navy in 2005, making a lot of lamps and other items, and dabbled in furniture restoration, but “nothing major” until this fall.
Furloughed from his current work at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the recent government shutdown, a friend brought him a table needing restored, knowing he’d need “something to do.”
But the project, coupled with a steady stream of online videos from noted furniture restorers like Thomas Johnson in Maine, sparked more than just busywork, leading him to launch Easton Antique Restoration in October.
“The original intent was just a hobby,” he said. “Quite honesty, I just enjoy doing it.”
So far, he said work has been a mix of owned pieces brought to him for restoration and pieces he found himself and restored for sale online and through his booth at the Big Rooster Mall in Easton.
Whichever way a piece finds him, he said he takes the same approach and the first step is studying and researching to know what he has in front of him and what needs to be done.
“I want to do that right up front so when I go into the shop, I know to use this and don’t use that, do this and not that,” he said. “A lot of it I learned on my own stuff. If I make a mistake there, it’s OK.”
One of his most recent and surprising pieces was a Martha Washington sewing cabinet that he restored for sale.
“I thought it was cool but I didn’t know what I was looking at,” he said.
After sufficient research, he found its value restored ranged from $400-$600.
For pieces brought to him, Wilson said he talks extensively with clients to understand it’s value to them and what their intent and expectations are.
“I want to get a feel for where they’re at in terms of a connection to the piece,” Wilson said.
In the furniture, he’s looking for anything that indicates when and how it was made. Is it solid wood or does it use veneers? Is the joinery hand-cut? Irregular marks from hand tool use and natural wear patterns are other things that can pinpoint age and value, separating antiques from vintage work.
If he’s unsure about anything, he’ll consult an appraiser or reputable restoration sites to get answers. If he’s still not satisfied, he may decideto pass on the project entirely.
The value can be monetary, sentimental, or a mix of both, and that can determine which path they take, he added. Often, part of the discussion is differentiating between restoration, refinishing and upcycling furniture.
Restoration is “doing the minimum amount to get it right,” Wilson said. It preserves the piece’s original finish and makes repairs in keeping with the methods and materials that honor its original craftsmanship and historical significance.
Refinishing strips all the finish away going down to bare wood, in order to give the piece a fresh look and longer life.
“Refinishing may make it look better, but could wipe away most of its value,” Wilson said.
A refinishing may also erase marks that arrived over the life of a piece that a restoration may preserve.
Wilson recalled once piece where the client carved his initials on the bottom and was emphatic that they remain.
“You don’t necessarily want to get rid of those because that tells a story,” Wilson said.
Upcycling and repurposing can take away value too if you’re not careful, he said, supporting the importance of knowing as much about the piece as possible.
With an agreed upon plan, Wilson will take the piece into his shop and get to work, continuing research as he goes.
Over the past few months, along with picking up furniture repair skills, he said the demands of proper restoration has also forced him to have more patience and give projects the time they need and deserve.
“It’s taught me to sit back and take my time,” he said. “This is all by God’s glory.”
He said he enjoys doing the research on pieces but the actual repair and restoration process takes a slight edge.
And when he has one finished, reuniting it with its owner has its own thrill.
“It feels good when you turn it back to them and their eyes light up,” he said.
