VINTAGE FURNITURE. - TO RESTORE OR NOT TO RESTORE

Dear All

Over the years, I observe different preferences or attitudes towards vintage furniture amongst my customers.  Generally, they come under three groups. One group loves vintage furniture in its original condition.  They are anti restoration, loving the furniture as it is.  An unconditional love, for better or for worse. They love the aged look of an old piece, the patina that took years to give that seasoned, mellowed look. And they love how an unrestored piece seems to tell a story in its scratches and stains.  

There is also another group who loves vintage furniture but prefers them to be restored. Their love for restored furniture is no less deep than those who are anti restoration. They believe that by restoring the old pieces, they are giving them a new lease of life, especially for those battered pieces of the past.  Though restoration is seldom cheap, they are willing to spend to get the pieces restored, especially if the furniture are inherited from the family. Once restored these furniture can last for a lifetime, because of the tender loving care given to them   by the appreciative owner.

There is also another group who loves vintage furniture but finds the old style of finishings, make the pieces too sombre for modern living. The pieces are often enlivened  by painting them, often in bright colours  or distressing them. The group tends to be more experimental, converting and using old furniture in entirely new ways sometime: a dresser converted into a television cabinet, sewing machine leg as leg for dining table, vintage teacups as hanging lamps, wooden chest upholstered to become seats rather than mere storage, old chairs given a new look and mood with modern design fabrics. a door as table top,  etc.

To restore or not to restore, to experiment or to keep the old fashion styles, there is no doubt that our love for vintage furniture is genuine and to have them a joy, like all things and people that we love.

A restored vintage 1950's sideboard from Second Charm, that lovingly housed 

vintage collectibles of a beautiful couple, Wang Zineng and Sin Yee. The mirrors

instead of glass panels are original to the piece. Love how they caught the 

reflections of the vintage wall clock.

An eclectic combination of modern and vintage of this  library of Zineng and Sin Yee. 

The vintage kopitiam table and the Chinese bench under the window were bought "as is"  condition and retained their old world charm.  The green painted magazine rack from us adds  a lively colour to the place.

   

Vintage 1940's wardrobe restored sometime ago and still in

 very good condition.  The beautiful etchings of birds and pagoda

on the mirror, makes this vintage piece a rare one.

L101 x D43 x H191 cm.  $850.

1950's solid teak wardrobe.  In relatively good original condition. 

L99 x D44 x 139cm. $550

Vintage 1960's solid teak wardrobe.  Available end 

of  November. L153 x D59 x H175 cm

Old Dutch  Cabinet. Solid teak. L94 x D56 x H108 cm.

Ideal for architects, draftsmen or painters to house

their plans and drawings. $1200.

A much bigger piece than the above. L98 x D72 x H116 cm.

$1500

Art deco 1950's solid teak chest of drawers in beautiful burmese teak.

As is  $450.  Restored at $750.  

1940's old sideboard.  Taken up by Sharayne,  who is one of those

who is fanatical about keeping them in its original condition as best as possible.

We just cleaned up the piece and added a new lock to it.

My favourite find.  Retro 1960's solid teak dresser.  Comes with a tall mirror.

Can be a good TV cabinet. Bad condition as it is.  The top formica had 

peeled off.  But will be beautiful once restored, we guarantee.  Out for

 restoration and will be back end of  November.  Restored at $750

Beautiful french sofa set.  Needs reupholstery. The 3-seater can be taken up

separately from the single armchairs.

Slim french 3-seater.  $450 as is.  Upholstery works available.

French armchairs. $150 each , as is condition. Upholstery works available.

Mid century dining table and chairs. 2 of the chairs taken up by Patricia.

2 more available at $75 each.  Dining table out for restoration.

Restored table at $550

D Scan teak dining table, same as the above. L135 x W88 x H69 cm.

 Restored at $550.

Indonesian teak settee.  As is $250.  L150 x D51 x H38 cm.

Upholstery at $150.  

Vintage kopitiam table,  36 inches or 91.5 cm in diameter.  With carvings at the legs 

and round top. Both the table and the marble in good condition.

Table at $550.  Original bentwood chairs $60 each.

Fine rattan and metal dining set.  Glass top at 4 ft or 122 cm in diameter.

$350

l

Garden set.  $150. 

Vintage 1960's -70's iron decorative table. Table top 91cm. Height 75 cm.

 Original condition $250. Paintworks available at extra $150

Beautiful iron dining table with 4 ft or 122 cm glass top.  Reserved.

Table with solid wooden top on metal leg. 60 x 72 cm. $50

Beautiful solid teak Chinese style armchairs. $150 each.

Upholstery at $50 per seat.

3 armchairs.  I taken up by Joanne. $80 each.

Mahogany chairs with decorative back. $100 each, as is condition.

Upholstery for the seat at $50 each.  Fabric separate at 0.75 meters.

Beautiful Chippendale chairs. $120 per chair  as is.  Upholstery for seat at $80.

Fabric separate at 1 meter per chair

French dining chairs in mahogany wood. $80 per chair as is.

Upholstery works separate.

Vintage 1960's solid teak armchairs. Per chair at $350.  Will come with

restoration, cushions and cushion covers.  Fabric of 2 meters per chair 

is separate.

Vintage iron chairs of the 60's and 70's.  3 pieces available.

$120 each.  Upholstery for seat at $80 each. New cushion

with piping. Fabric of  3/4 meter separate.

Mid century chairs at $50 each, as is condition.

Country dining chairs at $50 each.

Beautifully carved big square mahogany coffee table.

L126 x W100 x H42 cm. 

Retro 1960's -70's solid teak coffee table .  L106 x D46 x H45cm.

As is  $250. Extra $150 for restoration.  Fully restored at $400.

Beautifully designed contemporary coffee table.  Originally in natural teak colour.

Badly painted.  Top 87cm.  Height 40 cm. Restored at $350

Solid brass decorative table legs with marble top.  In very good condition.

Marble 46cm.  Height 63 cm. $200. 

French coffee table.  $300 with restoration.

French coffee table in solid mahogany good.  L116 x D56 x H46cm

$450 with restoration.

Coffee table with decorative sides.  Restored at $300.

Beautiful french cream coloured table.  L126 x W65 x H46 cm.

 As is for $200.

Another favourite find. Cute vintage 1960's side coffee tables. With a solid

teak leaf design shape.  One taken up, another reserved.

Retro 1960's solid teak side coffee table .  As is $ 100. 

Restoration extra $80.

French design console in light pink.  Taken  up by Yun and Tony.

Wooden console with wrought iron legs. L110 x W45 x H80cm.

As is $ 180

 

Bar counter.  Combination of wood and bamboo.

L152 x D60 x H115cm

The inner side of the bar counter. $400

The bar counter above has a rustic solid wooden top. 

Beautifully carved wooden chest in very good condition.

L 79 x W 39 x H39 cm. $300

The inside view of the wooden chest.

Wooden chest in solid pine.  L91 x W46 x H44cm. 

$250

The inside view of the wooden trunk.

My favourite find.  Beautiful solid teak art deco 1940's queen size bed.

 $750 with restoration.

Another favourite find of mine. Art deco 1940's super single bed.

Original condition as it is. To be restored at $ 650

1950's solid teak queen size bed. $750 with restoration.

Art deco 1950's solid teak side cabinet. L48 x D50 x H79cm. 

Restored at $300

1950's solid teak bedside cabinet. Out for restoration.

Restored at $300.

Art deco 1950's solid teak dresser stool. Wooden frame restored.

$180

Another art deco 1950's solid teak dresser stool in good condition.

$180

Vintage sewing machine leg repainted in cream colour instead  of the 

usual black and gold.  With vintage solid teak table top.

Taken up by Kay West.

Big beautiful decorative gilded bevelled edge mirror for that grand entrance.

162 x 92 cm.  $400

Wooden frame mirror. 150 x 90 cm. $200

Same mirror as above horizontally.

Bevelled edge mirror. 81 x 121 cm . $120

Decorative rattan oval mirror. $25

Hand made and hand painted figurines of an Indonesian couple.

$200 for both.

Vintage embroidery in glass frame.44 x 39 cm.  $50

Water colour. 80 x 67 cm. $50

Painting of a fighter plane on canvas. 113 x 81cm. $100

Comic hero poster. Taken up 

Batman poster.  Taken.

Another comic hero poster. 73 x 51 cm.  $50

A wonderful collection of vintage trunks we are restoring for Emma.

Vintage shoe rack.  Restored at $150

Cane hanging swing on metal stand. $150

Hand made silk persian carpet.  Taken up by Hans Cheong.

Seasoned stone planter. Top 58 x H78cm. $150

Vintage luggage $25

Decorative wooden stand. $80

Beautiful oval marble slap. 122 x 78cm. Ideal for table top

$200.

Bamboo stool.  L39 x W34 x H 44cm. $25

Beautifully carved wooden barrels cum stools. A wooden cap at top

that can be opened. $200 each.

Solid wooden stools.  50 pcs available.

Vintage high stools. $25 as is condition.

Cane chest. Taken up.

So much for today's posting.  Hope you like them.  We are expecting newly restored pieces this coming Thursday 29 September.

Till my next posting,

Warmest regards

Sharifah

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Write by: Dj Ganden - Monday, September 26, 2011