“Much of the furniture we work on in Singapore dates from the mid-century (1950s and ’60s), with little attention paid to them over the years. It is typical of the furniture of the era to be coated with heavy varnishes that would deteriorate and result in a rather tired and discoloured look. To restore a piece of furniture, we would strip the surfaces back to the raw wood, sand it smooth and apply colour as required,” he shares. The end result leaves it looking fresh and modern, with enhanced grains of the original wood.

When it comes to heirloom restorations, damage and repairs are handled with absolute care “to protect, respect and celebrate the heritage of pieces”, shares Su-lin. “People are interested in the history, and construction elements such as the patina evident on the wood surfaces will speak to you. The entire process of restoration is a fulfilling one. You spend time with these furniture pieces that are not in good order and become intimately connected to them over a period of time. The furniture will then be sent to someone’s home, and hopefully remain there for generations to come.”

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Alex adds, “For us, any piece that clients bring to us that has history attached to it is unique. From a Chinese hardwood opium bed that once belonged to a client’s grandfather, who had fond memories associated with it, to a restored bench where a client’s late pet used to sleep, which triggered her to burst into tears—we do get very visceral reactions.”

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