MacGruer Restorations

Services

Beautiful 18th Century Walnut Desk at 

On site and in shop restoration of antique furniture.

My work in restoration started with a traditional apprenticeship to a master restorer from 1974-1978. This apprenticeship and additional ongoing education have been essential for learning time-honored techniques and proper use of materials for producing quality work. I have been restoring for dealers, institutions, and private clients in the tri-state area, NYC and Boston and beyond, since then.

Restoration returns value and utility to a piece of antique furniture. It is inevitable that pieces need repair. We now have more tools, materials and techniques than ever before to slow down or even, in effect, stop and reverse this breakdown.

My goal as restorer is to carefully and thoughtfully plan and carry out needed repairs to maintain the functionality and the appearance we love in antiques. In my work I follow the basics rules of Conservation, while understanding that pieces that are used in a household setting will likely require more protection than those kept in a museum for viewing only.

I have lectured on Restoration, participated in call-in radio shows, and written for on-line trade publications and local magazines (Homestyle). A sampling of clients includes Camille Cosby with her extensive Shaker collection, the Berkshire Museum (Crane Art Deco Room), Blithewood at Bard College, Blantyre Relais and Chateaux, Miss Hall's School, and many of the fine local antique dealers.