I have a mammoth, creaky, painted dresser that I love. I call it Alice in Wonderland, my husband calls it driftwood. He hates the thing. Yes, it’s completely falling apart: the knobs pop off in your hand, the drawers stick, it lists a bit. So I invited Tad Fallon of Fallon and Wilkinson Conservators to have a look. If you peruse their website, you’ll assume Tad and Randy are fancy guys with their Smithsonian Degrees, Metropolitan Museum resume and a workshop full of Hepplewhite and Sheraton.  And you’d be correct. But what I didn’t know, is that they will come to your house and spiff up your furniture, even the extremely humble sort (mine). I don’t know about you, but I have plenty of wood furniture that has never seen more than a dust rag. Tad showed up with with his box of tricks (pictured), gave my chest (19th century, probably Canadian, a nice piece, according to him) a once over and declared it entirely salvageable, banishing the driftwood label forever.  He also had a peek at my 19th century bedside table (needs nothing but a good cleaning and wax), an old chest missing the original brasses (no problem, he’d buy the brasses, antique them in a secret solution, and restore), and an Arts and Crafts bookcase that he said should be left alone despite the stains on the top (he knows when it’s better to leave the original finish). He whipped out his magic kits of gold leaf, colored pigments and shellac chips and in two minutes restored the legs of a favorite old leather chair. Tad will come to your house (for free!), assess your furniture and return to repair, clean, and wax your beloved belongings, whether they’re Queen Anne or Goodwill. One day in my house will cost $850. Well worth it to get everything in well-loved instead of well-worn shape. Loved him and so does my furniture.

www.fallonwilkinson.com