Its secrets are not found in any book. It's not just about materials, although an experienced professional does use materials and techniques not available to the amateur. Good furniture restoration is all about real world experience and good judgment. It's about sound opinions vs. poor ones.

Good furniture restoration is about knowing the right questions to ask:

• How old is the piece of furniture?
• What condition is it in?
• Has it been refinished or repaired in the past?
• Were there alterations?
• What did it look like when new?
• What is an appropriate value for the furniture piece "as is" - and restored?
• Would changing the original finish really increase the furniture's value - or would it actually decrease it?

And of course, good furniture restoration is about knowing the right answers...
 

My family has been doing business with Antique Restoration Studio for over 10 years. Dennis Dittmann's work is exceptional! Very precise and thorough!

- Tom Karaffa, Betty Karaffa & Becky Traverson
Antique Brass Cash Registers
Financial Equipment Company
(Serving Colorado since 1985)

In this industry is is especially thrilling for us to find a company that provides exceptional service, such as Antique Restoration Studio. We have been using Dennis' services for the past 3 years and wish that we would have found him sooner. The quality of his work is unrivaled and speaks for itself. And the value that you get from his work is incomparable.

- Ted Porras
Identity
(purchases materials and accessories for upscale architects and interior decorators)
Denver, CO

 
For over 10 years Antique Restoration has been restoring treasured family furniture, heirlooms and purchased "finds" for my home. I wouldn't go anywhere else, as the quality of the furniture restoration is top notch. I've come to appreciate the expertise, knowledge, experience, effort and patience that's involved in making a piece of antique furniture "come alive."

 - Marti C.
Denver, CO

I recommend Antique Restoration Studio to all my clients requiring the expertise, experience and trust to work on their valuable antiques. My clients especially enjoy hearing a little history of their prized possessions.

- Paul
Owner, Denver area furniture upholstery shop

Thank you for your persistence with the renovation of my great-great grandmother's spinning wheel. It looks great! - all put back together from so many parts - a real puzzle. Also the wood treatment is authentic; from dirty to clean, but still with a patina. A furniture restorer in Grand Junction wouldn't touch the piece; he said it looked "hopeless."  Again - thank you!

 - Anne Marie Fuller
Alpine Interiors
Colorado

I went to two other furniture refinishers before finding Antique Restoration Studio. One burned down and my piece was gone forever; the other sandblasted a sleigh bed instead of taking the time and care to strip it properly. It was damaged beyond repair and had to be trashed. So don't make my mistakes. Do it right the first time and visit Dennis at Antique Restoration Studio. You won't be sorry.

- Darla
Wauwatosa, WI