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Antique Furniture Restoration
Tables, chairs, casework, and heirloom pieces brought back with techniques that respect their age , preserving the original surface and character wherever possible.
Serving Chittenden County, Vermont
Antique Restoration in Chittenden County, Vermont
Antique furniture and historic details aren't just old , they're irreplaceable. I'm Tim Chila, and I've spent decades restoring antiques and period detail in Vermont homes, using traditional techniques that preserve what makes a piece worth keeping.
What We Do
Preserving the Character, Not Erasing It
There's a wrong way to restore an antique, and it's the common one: a belt sander and a fresh coat of stain that strips away the very thing that made the piece valuable. The patina, the original surface, the marks of how it was made and used , once those are gone, they're gone. A genuine restoration protects them.
We restore antique furniture and historic architectural detail the careful way, with traditional techniques and hand skills that suit the age of the piece. Custom woodworking is our core craft, so when a part is missing or beyond saving, we can mill and match a replacement to the original rather than substituting something that doesn't belong.
Vermont homes hold a lot of this history , furniture, built-ins, trim, and period detail that can't be reordered from a catalogue. If you have a piece worth saving, we'd love to take a look and give you an honest assessment of what it needs.
Scope of Work
What We Restore
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Structural Repair & Re-Joining
Loose, broken, or failed joinery repaired properly using methods appropriate to how the piece was originally built, so the repair lasts and stays true to the work.
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Missing & Damaged Parts
When a part is gone or beyond saving, we mill and match a replacement to the original profile and wood , the advantage of being woodworkers first.
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Surface & Finish Restoration
Careful cleaning, finish repair, and conservation that protects the patina rather than stripping it , the difference between restored and ruined.
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Historic Architectural Detail
Period trim, built-ins, mantels, and millwork in older Vermont homes, restored or sympathetically replicated to preserve the home's character.
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Honest Assessment First
Before any work, we tell you what a piece genuinely needs , and when a light touch is the right call rather than a full restoration.
How It Works
How a Restoration Works
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Bring Us the Piece
Tell us about the piece or send a few photos. We'll let you know whether it's something we can help with , and we usually can.
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Honest Assessment
We look it over and tell you what it genuinely needs, what it'll take, and a clear price , including when less is the right approach.
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Careful Restoration
We do the work with traditional techniques suited to the piece's age, preserving its character and milling any matching parts by hand.
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Back to You
We return the piece restored and sound , ready to be used and handed down, with the history that makes it worth keeping intact.
Why Tradecraft VT
Why Trust Us With an Heirloom
Woodworkers First
Custom woodworking is our core craft, so we can mill and match missing parts to the original , not substitute something close that never quite belongs.
Decades of Restoration
Tim has restored antiques and period detail for decades, using the traditional hand techniques the work demands rather than shortcuts that erase value.
Character Preserved
We protect the patina and original surface that make a piece worth keeping. Honest assessment first, always. Fully insured. Vermont Contractor Licence No. 173.0000644.
Common Questions
Antique Restoration FAQs
Usually yes , especially with solid, well-made antiques, where the construction is often better than anything new. A proper restoration keeps a piece that means something and can cost far less than its true replacement. We'll give you an honest opinion first.
Not the way we work. The common mistake is sanding and re-staining, which destroys the patina and the value with it. We use traditional techniques that preserve the original surface and character wherever possible.
Yes. Because custom woodworking is our core craft, we can mill and match a missing or damaged part to the original profile and wood, rather than substituting something that doesn't belong.
Yes. We restore and sympathetically replicate period trim, built-ins, mantels, and millwork in older Vermont homes, to preserve the character that makes them special.
We take on restoration work across Chittenden County, Vermont , Burlington, Essex Junction, Williston, Winooski, and the surrounding area. Call (802) 585-9112 for an assessment.
Let's Talk
Have a Piece Worth Saving?
If you have an antique or a historic detail that needs skilled hands, we'd love to see it. Tell us about the piece or send photos, and we'll get back to you within one business day.
Send My RequestWe'll get back to you within one business day.