January is the month we try to find a place for each holiday gift and view our ‘nests’ with a more critical eye. It’s time to tackle all those little projects that have piled up. Here are some resources that might help you to repair, restore or fix all those treasures you don’t want to part with, but that are temporarily out of service.
The more ‘recherché’ the object, the pricier the restoration may be. But if you love it, it’s worth it. Most of these sources will accept items from anywhere in the country.
Ceramics
ARK Restorations & Design Ltd. not only repairs all ceramics, but also jewlery, enamel and more. 212-244-1028
Chandeliers, glass light fixtures of any kind cleaned
John meticulously cleans, but can also repair chandeliers and can replace lost or broken pieces. Call John McCahill at 718-762-0623
China
Not using those dinner plates because you only have 7? Complete your china, silver or crystal patterns at Replacements, Ltd. They have over 13 million pieces in over 300,000 patterns.
Furniture Restoration
Founded by Brian Stair, formerly of the now closed Sotheby’s Restoration. It is staffed by craftsmen from Sotheby’s Restoration.
Oxford Restoration
212-860-0410
Phil Guttridge restores and sells antiques.
Cold Spring, NY
845-265-5209
Glass objects
Glass Restorations will repair mirrors, glasses and crystal.
Glass Restorations
1597 York Avenue
New York, NY (212) 517-3287
Handbags
Artbag has been repairing handbags for 60 years.
1130 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10028
(212) 744-2720
Leather
Leather furniture can be restored by Dino Carlilno at:
Falotico Studios
315 E. 91st St.
New York, NY
212-369-1271
Leather shoes, clothes and accessories
Occhione is the best. They made a pair of vintage Pucci leather pants larger, and you can’t tell!
Occhione Fine Leather Goods
42 N. Main Street
Port Chester, NY
914-937-6327
Superior lives up to its name! They will back needlepoint belts and restore leather clothes or coats.
Superior Leather Restorers
212-889-7211
Linen
Johnston’s does not have a website. We have not used them ourselves, but they come highly recommended by linen retailers.
Johnston’s Linens, Inc.
Medina, NY
585-798-0170
Linens Limited can handle “virtually any fine linen or fabric”. In addition to expert laundering, they also repair and restore. We sent sets of old tablecloths and napkins with stains and aging. They came back cleaned, ironed and carefully rolled on cardboard tubes, or folded over roller hangers, as good as new. It was remarkable
Milwaukee, WI
800-637-6334
Neckties
Tie Crafters can alter out of date ties. They can widen or narrow them lengthen or shorten them. They also mend and clean fine silk ties.
Needlepoint
Needlepoint, Inc. is the best needlepoint finisher I’ve ever been to. Their creativity is remarkable, their workshop is on site. If you send them your piece they will send you back finishing suggestions with swatches for you to choose from.
275 Post St.
San Francisco, CA
415-392-1622
Rugs
There are many carpet and rug repairers. We’ve tried and recommend the following:
Costikyan has service centers from Washington, D.C. to Newport, RI, and accepts rugs from all over the U.S.
800.247.RUGS (7847)
Naptha
93 Division Place
Brooklyn, NY
718-387-0200
Proudian is particularly good for hooked rug repairs.
120 East Putnam Ave
Greenwich, CT
Ship models and shadow boxes
The Art of the Sea repairs and restores ship models and ship dioramas/shadow boxes and also sells beautiful nautical art work.
Thomaston, Maine
Silver
Silversmith, Inc. takes great care with your repairs, and they turn out beautifully.
Silversmith, Inc.
392 W. Putnam Ave.
Greenwich, CT
203-869-4244
Thome Silversmiths repair silver, gold, pewter and brass and can also reproduce missing pieces. They also polish. If you are missing pieces of silverware, they may have them in stock.
39 W. 47th St.
New York, NY
212-764-5426
Textiles of all kinds
The Workshop restores and repairs textiles from museums and individuals. They’re the best in this category.
Textile Conservation Workshop
3 Main St.
South Salem, NY
914-763-5805
Other ideas that need to be local sources:
Reline bathtubs that are stained where the porcelain has worn through.
Get the piano tuned.
Re-cane old caned chairs or benches.
Take your jewelry to your trusted local jewelry store to be cleaned or buy some liquid jewelry cleaner. You won’t believe how much dirt has accumulated on your gold and silver jewelry and how much better it will look!