https://www.lestrates.com/homepage daily 1.0 2023-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/6c2f6554-6858-42ab-a5b4-3cc93b65a720/Furniture.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/26d96f97-7031-44e0-9bf5-bd6a3bd648df/Transformation.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694583486-2PQT0LQ193RL7MCB6DX4/20140228_Trade+151_0046.jpg Homepage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694644871-IC85FNH781UNZSZEGHDR/Aro+Ha_0428.jpg Homepage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618497259178-6XJGK9GR6YAVBQL5L519/20140301_Trade-151_012-2.jpg Homepage https://www.lestrates.com/insurance daily 0.75 2023-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/5c79bdee-a4dc-46ea-8830-51bc53272efb/Chair+1.jpg Insurance https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/6c39a2f0-446b-43b0-bbb4-a7d40ca32b2d/Chair+2.jpg Insurance https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/fe73b74e-4e94-45ee-be32-902d9d41602f/Chair+3.jpg Insurance https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/8ed9a275-7cc6-4768-9eb1-33b821777ca4/Chair+4.jpg Insurance https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/7a520bd9-b5d4-4072-a71f-8d5963c05bea/Chair+5.jpg Insurance https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/8f7df065-f35b-480e-a2ab-95221ff7030a/Customer.jpg Insurance https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/17a20eca-cd92-4980-a1b3-748726a005af/Remover.jpg Insurance https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/06c4bee9-aa2a-4f98-b233-48c2a166783e/Insurer.jpg Insurance https://www.lestrates.com/contact daily 0.75 2023-07-11 https://www.lestrates.com/examples daily 0.75 2024-02-09 https://www.lestrates.com/examples/dining-table-makeover monthly 0.5 2023-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/cdecec92-b165-4aed-831c-594ef1e98b9e/In+Situ+Top.jpg Examples - Dining Table Makeover (click for images) The top and extension show wear and tear swell as sun damage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/b8f591fa-8b1d-4151-93c4-3aa212e71ec1/In+Situ+Process.jpg Examples - Dining Table Makeover (click for images) Working in-situ, here's the stripping stage of the process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/6d6d8557-268d-4ec1-aafd-e6cd9d601616/In+Situ+Base.jpg Examples - Dining Table Makeover (click for images) As you can see, the base is very nice, but not what the customer wants any more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/26e75fde-2e03-471d-b194-4a0ba19c7951/In+Situ+After.jpg Examples - Dining Table Makeover (click for images) Re-polished top and extension leaves with base transformed using hard-wearing chalk paint: nice. https://www.lestrates.com/examples/queen-anne-chest-of-drawers monthly 0.5 2023-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/f5c42b06-4efd-4d88-9b02-1140699f2e87/Queen+Anne+Before.jpg Examples - Chest of Drawers Renovation (click for images) Here's the piece in its original state: veneer peeling away, drawers misaligned, sun damage, and missing inlays. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/ea7ae2a6-8967-4fef-8980-ca7ab2bbc1b0/Queen+Anne+Splicing.jpg Examples - Chest of Drawers Renovation (click for images) An example of having to splice-in new wood to fix significant damage - colour matching and blending comes later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/f899d24f-ae20-4a7a-bf96-ceed7ab19c7c/Queen+Anne+Stripping.jpg Examples - Chest of Drawers Renovation (click for images) Here's the top mid-renovation with major damage fixed and veneer re-added; still a bit of work to do on the edges, but you can't see where we spliced-in new wood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/061c5a5c-8cba-442b-a5db-626d05687137/Queen+Anne+WIP.jpg Examples - Chest of Drawers Renovation (click for images) This shows work in progress with the surfaces re-polished and the drawers being re-fitted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/1688493336460-5R7VEROUD9UEVRQA6GSA/Queen+Anne+Finished.jpg Examples - Chest of Drawers Renovation (click for images) And here it is completed and ready to return to (a very happy) customer. And breathe. https://www.lestrates.com/examples/oak-chest monthly 0.5 2023-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/a533ff5e-5674-4f64-90a0-4923772c403b/Oak+Chest+Pre-stripping.jpg Examples - Oak Chest Makeover (click for images) Here's the chest in its original state. The customer wanted to change it's look and wasn't worried about a 'creative' approach. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/ab1307be-47de-4a52-9627-ba7123987ef1/Oak+Chest+Stripped.jpg Examples - Oak Chest Makeover (click for images) This is where we bleached the oak back to its original colour - but leaving-in some of the original stain to provide depth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/c3d173c2-99d3-4843-a18a-d6d2ae8b83fe/Oak+Chest+FInished.jpg Examples - Oak Chest Makeover (click for images) And here's the final piece. The tope was painted to match the client's colour scheme. Everything was completed with a wax seal to maintain the effect. https://www.lestrates.com/examples/desk-leather monthly 0.5 2024-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/979cda8e-9cc2-423a-9f6e-fc61df9da2fc/Releather.jpg Examples - Desk Leather Renovation (click for images) Here you can see the state of the old desk leather - bits completely missing and guilding gone. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/3afedb25-3538-4199-b3aa-731cebaa9ea7/Releather+Strip.jpg Examples - Desk Leather Renovation (click for images) Stripping the old leather away and refinishing the desktop surface. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/17975fb3-d26c-433b-8347-354a18f3bc4d/Releather+Apply.jpg Examples - Desk Leather Renovation (click for images) Applying the leather for a permanent fix ready for trimming into shape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/f0980316-921b-4fc9-8a67-7c4c902999d7/Releather+Finished+copy.jpg Examples - Desk Leather Renovation (click for images) And the finished piece - ready for future generations to enjoy. https://www.lestrates.com/examples/churchpaneltransformation-lpsxe monthly 0.5 2024-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/7e465fc9-e2d9-48a5-af28-10346bc32113/20220427_101511.jpg Examples - Church Panel Transformaton First glance. My customer really wasn't sure what to do with the panel, a flash of inspiration hit me and a plan was made. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/842862a6-8b58-4c87-a476-ff02c54dd6b4/20230913_144431.jpg Examples - Church Panel Transformaton With all the carvings removed from the larger sections, I went about preparing and cleaning up the old glue and pins ready for glass https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/3ccb6d6e-d2c4-46d8-ad78-5bee4ebccf05/20230914_142629.jpg Examples - Church Panel Transformaton Bevelled mirrors on the smaller sections really stand out and add a lot of light bounce https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/8f43c374-c860-4c7c-bf7d-b66a3fc5ee26/20230914_145158.jpg Examples - Church Panel Transformaton Larger, flat panels let into where the carvings were https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/02d0385d-7afd-4686-9030-0c68abfad367/20230914_165953.jpg Examples - Church Panel Transformaton And finished, such a statement piece, gluing the mirrors in was a tad nerve wracking but everything turned out perfectly! Imagine something like this over a Jack & Jill sink... https://www.lestrates.com/examples/bleachcoffer-cnrpz monthly 0.5 2024-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/d9b47f34-445a-438a-bd41-a139810ee736/20220526_125825.jpg Examples - 1720 Oak Coffer Transformation (click for images) Starting the stripping process here, 300 year's worth of wax and oil does not want to come off easily... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/388cb7a7-8f62-4aa2-8aff-9a3500fafc41/20220523_161143.jpg Examples - 1720 Oak Coffer Transformation (click for images) Bleaching the darkest sections first, the peroxide can be seen fizzing away reacting with... something, in the carved sections https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/2b768783-0e0d-4057-8b73-3070c5bfa940/20220526_161924.jpg Examples - 1720 Oak Coffer Transformation (click for images) Really starting to pull the colour out now! I think it took around 3 passes in the end to get that bone white colour perfect. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/1707481658513-H5WSHFBQ9X5WPQMIW3LT/20220527_121509.jpg Examples - 1720 Oak Coffer Transformation (click for images) A little bit of titanium white washed over with meths goes a long way https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/54de2a33-a5f6-4786-8310-6eef27ca9a22/20220530_135618.jpg Examples - 1720 Oak Coffer Transformation (click for images) Now finished with a few coats of white shellac for a matt finish and durability https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/12f82752-d894-4e04-b1bf-d597f14c8d74/20220916_142900.jpg Examples - 1720 Oak Coffer Transformation (click for images) The perfect match and a little bit of contrast to any modern home, more than a little bit proud of this project! https://www.lestrates.com/examples/banisteraging-ar25e monthly 0.5 2024-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/e8b979b4-cd9b-4ff8-b452-c1a3bad1fb04/20210618_114338.jpg Examples - Faux aging of a freshly installed banister (click for images) Here's where we start, a blank canvas if you will and a beautiful example of timber ready to go. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/8667096c-40fe-4d55-8967-7472e4d34c8b/20210618_114342.jpg Examples - Faux aging of a freshly installed banister (click for images) Water stain was generously (but carefully) applied and allowed to dry completely, looks bleak, gets better... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/ad87910a-a670-42af-b349-b64ddcafaeb6/20210618_131140.jpg Examples - Faux aging of a freshly installed banister (click for images) This stage is where the magic happens. All the high and wear points were rubbed back to give the illusion of a couple generations worth of use. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/d53bdee5-f580-45f6-992d-2dc9e5c12c90/20210618_151722.jpg Examples - Faux aging of a freshly installed banister (click for images) Gradually building up the shine with a fad or two of polish https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/323be558-5e28-4302-b50a-ce206f560603/20210618_161739.jpg Examples - Faux aging of a freshly installed banister (click for images) Aged down, subtle shine, looks like it's always been there! https://www.lestrates.com/examples/hoss-z7f2t monthly 0.5 2024-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/2172b72c-97f1-455b-bee7-2882f76ce59a/20220124_175238.jpg Examples - Rocking Horse Transformation (click for images) As you can see, this old Collinson rocking horse came to me in a very sad state https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/04d5b60c-ef4e-4103-aa7e-76433e90df87/20220124_180821.jpg Examples - Rocking Horse Transformation (click for images) Definitely wouldn't put money on this nag winning any races just yet https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/3e75ad8a-d133-4765-8055-1981622ed2af/20220124_174925.jpg Examples - Rocking Horse Transformation (click for images) Poor old thing was ready for the knackers, but! With a little bit of can do, the project started https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/c8b19466-fc37-433a-b5ce-cf0a8e797a66/20220124_200246.jpg Examples - Rocking Horse Transformation (click for images) Slowly rubbing back the old paint, I really didn't want to chemically strip the body just in case https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/0ca46924-0169-4f91-a750-a4241f6fb1c3/20220124_200252.jpg Examples - Rocking Horse Transformation (click for images) The original plaster started flaking and falling away https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/9a0a54ec-be85-487a-a9e9-40e8539d0816/20220125_124105.jpg Examples - Rocking Horse Transformation (click for images) So I reapplied a good few handfuls of plaster then topped it all up with a coat of filler primer for good measure. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/410acc22-57b9-4c7e-8965-7388eb6f446a/20230712_122323.jpg Examples - Rocking Horse Transformation (click for images) There's a Goldfrapp song about this... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/03c2f03a-666d-4aad-9f7b-b7df9a856abd/20230724_161835.jpg Examples - Rocking Horse Transformation (click for images) The spots were achieved with cardboard cut outs spaced slightly away from the body to allow for a little bit of overspray. The legs were finished with the same shade, who knew you could airbrush chalk paint? (thinly) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/a022ecba-624c-46d4-9d7a-8112a33f3d47/eye.JPG Examples - Rocking Horse Transformation (click for images) Easily one of the hardest parts of the project, starting the eyes, I really did not want to have to start over! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/21b9e853-4d26-42b6-831b-76e6a042d984/20230802_114439.jpg Examples - Rocking Horse Transformation (click for images) Warm and kind, with a little white dot to add a bit of life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/10170c8a-6bd6-4976-8944-f0ec4a327170/mane.JPG Examples - Rocking Horse Transformation (click for images) If hair was this easy to replace, I think I'd go for a mullet... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/6da9c961-da05-4d7c-82a5-5b6d02afaf7a/saddle.JPG Examples - Rocking Horse Transformation (click for images) Saddle taking shape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/9b43ffca-35f3-4581-af10-7040e119e359/Stirrups.JPG Examples - Rocking Horse Transformation (click for images) Stirrups on, decided to use a bigger bolt for a little extra security. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/1b1c2cb9-0df7-42e3-ac04-b4844296d256/20230802_165329.jpg Examples - Rocking Horse Transformation (click for images) Saddled and almost ready to ride. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/1685d621-6caa-486b-8658-bb639a4d35e6/bridle.JPG Examples - Rocking Horse Transformation (click for images) Strangely enough the bridle and saddle were the easiest parts of the project! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/72764441-78a8-4961-a2c1-9ac8641c3076/20230802_193015.jpg Examples - Rocking Horse Transformation (click for images) With everything attached, Gigi is now back on her frame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f116ee2bacb5b1f3bf2d1e8/e35efa13-9cef-4110-91fe-081458052073/20230802_214207.jpg Examples - Rocking Horse Transformation (click for images) The end of a very difficult project but one that I'm immensely proud of. Litres of paint and a touch of colourful language wet into restoring this rocking horse, Gigi is now ready to go back to surprise her new owner!