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Our key services

FRENCH POLISHING


FRENCH POLISHING

A traditional skill that brings life into the colour and finish of wooden furniture.

 

ANTIQUE RESTORATION


ANTIQUE RESTORATION

For your furniture (old or contemporary) when it’s a bit tired or damaged.

INSURANCE


INSURANCE

Helping the insured or the insurer when things go wrong and need fixing.

Take a look at my most recent work

BOW FRONTED CHEST OF DRAWERS – COMPLETE STRIP AND POLISH

BURL WALNUT AND INLAY COFFEE TABLE – POLISH AND REVIVE

VICTORIAN WRITING BOX – WORK IN PROGRESS

VICTORIAN WRITING DESK – LEATHER REPAIR

BABY GRAND PIANO – STRIP AND POLISH

QUEEN ANNE CHEST OF DRAWERS

DINING TABLE STRIP AND POLISH – BASE PAINTED

BOOKCASE – COMPLETE RESTORATION

BOOKCASE – STRIP AND POLISH

DOWRY CHEST – COMPLETE RESOTRATION

CHEST OF DRAWERS REVIVE

COFFEE TABLE – WASH AND POLISH

DRESSER PAINT AND POLISH

VICTORIAN CAMPAIGN CHEST-COMPLETE STRIP AND POLISH

CHERRY TABLE-COMPLETE STRIP AND POLISH

HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

DELIVERY & COLLECTION

Moving antique furniture can be daunting. I’ll make sure that it’s hassle free and your pieces are looked after like my own.

FRENCH POLISHING

A wood finishing technique that became prominent in the 18th century. I am able to revive, or entirely re-polish any piece of furniture you need.

MINOR REPAIRS

Has the veneer split on your beloved side-table? Ring marks left on your dining table by an over-enthusiastic guest?

FREE ESTIMATES

All estimates are free of charge, no matter what work you require. Through email or a home visit I can talk you through whatever solution you require.

Meet Zach

ABOUT ME: ZACH NEWMAN (LESTRATES)

Having learned the trade from the greats at Chess Restorers and Bushwood Antiques, Zach decided to set-up as LESTRATES and step out on his own into the restoration game, carrying-on a family tradition of antique restoration from the heart of Buckinghamshire.

Here you can find my progress blog. Check here weekly for updates on my new project!

UPDATE 01

First character built! The Emissary has been built and almost fully textured

Second character is in the process of being built

Screens and renders will be posted up in the gallery showing progress and final models

UPDATE 02

Shifting armour achieved on the Emissary, importing it into Maya was problematic

Fingers crossed it will work…

UPDATE 03

The armour does not work in Maya. the linked objects from Max didn’t transfer properly

I’m going to try rebuilding the whole suit in Maya now with more detail

UPDATE 04

Made a start on the environment today, just roughing out buildings and bits of rubble.

These will then be converted into DMM objects with Maya so that they can be smashed around

and broken when they get a foot put through them.

UPDATE 05

Before i build the armour i’m going to build a muscle system that will work on both the

Emissary and the Walking god. Its work well so far, have a screenshot.

UPDATE 06

The muscles system has not worked. i’ve spent far too much time on it anyway

Time for forget it and get back to unwrapping

UPDATE 07

The unwrapping is not working, every time I think I’ve done it right it will fail.

I’ll try following another tutorial see if that works out.

UPDATE 08

The definition of madness is done something the same way over and over and

expecting a different result. this is killing me, I’m going to switch to 3DS Max

UPDATE 09

Everything is working in Max! Both characters are rigged and textured, ready to start animating

UPDATE 10

Animations are coming along well, I’ve got the first two parts roughed out

and the 3rd I’ll start at uni, been off with an ear infection but it will be easy

to catch up