Restoration & Fine Finish Work
Architecture and fine art-trained craftsmanship for Chicago's historic homes
Chicago's greystones, two-flats, and pre-war bungalows weren't built to be gutted and replaced, they were built to last, with details worth keeping. With backgrounds in architecture and fine art, we bring a trained eye and hands-on craft to restoration work most handymen aren't equipped for: knowing what's original, what's worth saving, and how to repair it right instead of ripping it out.
Historic Windows
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Trim & Millwork
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Historic Windows
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Fine Paint Finishes
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Furniture Refinishing
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Historic Windows ✳︎ Trim & Millwork ✳︎ Historic Windows ✳︎ Fine Paint Finishes ✳︎ Furniture Refinishing ✳︎
What We Do
Historic Window & Door Restoration
Sash repair, paint and carpentry. Refinishing old doors and restoring old knobs, latches, mortises & hinges.
Trim & Millwork
Repair, matching, and replication of period trim, casing, and moulding.
Color matching, cabinet and trim refinishing. Specialty finishes for spaces where a standard paint job isn’t enough.
Fine Paint Finishes
Furniture Refinishing & Restoration
Repair and period-appropriate repair and refinishing of antique furniture.
Repair or Replace Consultations
A second opinion before a contractor talks you into ripping out something original.
Past Projects
Customers have loved our restoration work. We take the time to find the best method for every project. Each piece has its unique character that needs a special approach to bring it back to its best.
BEFORE
The customer had a rotted window sill that needed to be repaired.
AFTER
We removed the rotted wood, built up the emptied space, filled it with insulation, sealed it with caulk, matched the original paint color, and painted.
BEFORE
The customer had taken a stab at stripping this closet door before turning it over to us.
AFTER
We stripped and carefully sanded away the paint. We picked paint out of the corners and crevices. We stained to bring out the rich grains in the fir.
BEFORE
Our neighbor had two end tables with deteriorating finish and damaged veneer.
AFTER
We replaced the veneer, restained, and added glass tops.
BEFORE
Our customer’s tenant pointed out that the bathroom wall was spongy - push on it and it moved. After removing the tile, we saw the plaster was deteriorating due to moisture.
AFTER
We replaced the old wall with waterproof concrete board. The client chose tile that brought eclectic flair to the bathroom.
BEFORE
What is this? If you have an old Chicago house with original doors, this is what lives beyond the doorknob. It’s a mortise lock. If your door isn’t closing correctly because the latch won’t move as it should, the solution may be in this mechanism.
Note: If you look at this photo carefully, you can see why the latch wouldn’t work.
AFTER
This was a perfect example of repairing the historic element rather than replacing it. We disassembled the mechanism, cleaned all the parts, and lubricated with solutions made especially for lock mechanisms. And we replaced the damaged part.
What was the problem? See the spring at the top left in the BEFORE photo? It was broken.
“Fantastic craftsmanship, great communication, fair pricing. They exceeded expectations with every job.”
Ross P., Oak ParkGet In Touch
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