Restoration Process
Our Philosophy
Tom Robinson Modern delivers antique and vintage investment-grade 20th-century furniture that is structurally sound, intended for daily use, showroom-ready, and faithful to the original designer’s intent, materials, and construction. Every restoration decision, from structural repair to finish and upholstery, is evaluated against this rigid standard.
What “Fully Restored” Means at TRM
The term restored is used loosely in the vintage furniture marketplace. At Tom Robinson Modern, it has a precise meaning.
A fully restored vintage piece must meet all of the following standards:
- Structural integrity appropriate for routine daily use
- Faithfulness to original materials, construction methods, and period intent
- Preservation of original proportion, scale, and authentic patina
- Finishes that enhance tonal depth rather than conceal age or history
- Installation-ready, with all functional components fully restored
Anything short of these standards does not meet our definition of fully restored.
Materials: Cane, Rattan, Bamboo & Wood
We specialize in complex vintage furniture executed in cane, rattan, bamboo, and select hardwoods, materials that require fluency, patience, and specialized restoration expertise.
When material replacement is unavoidable, new components are matched precisely for:
- Diameter and profile
- Density and flexibility
- Aging characteristics
Our objective is continuity. Any restored element should feel integral to the original piece, not newly introduced.
Patina Preservation
Patina is a visually essential element that contributes finish depth, richness, and value to many vintage pieces.
Organic materials evolve over time in ways that cannot be replicated. Color deepens. Surfaces mellow. Fibers develop radiance. Our restoration process is designed to protect and amplify these hard-earned qualities, never strip them away.
Aggressive sanding, bleaching, or over-finishing destroys the very attributes collectors seek. We avoid all three.
Lighting Restoration
All vintage lighting is fully restored with new wiring and brought to current electrical standards. Custom shades are fabricated as required, with proportions and materials selected to suit the original design.
Switches are typically replaced with brass or nickel hardware, and finials are custom-fabricated when necessary to ensure visual and functional integrity.
Finishes & Custom Lacquers
Finishes are selected and applied with restraint, always in service of the original design and material intent.
- Custom lacquers and hand-applied finishes are used to enhance tonal depth, and achieve the correct visual presence for a particular piece, whether fully opaque or revealing the natural grain.
- Additionally, we offer custom lacquer finishes in client-specified colors that are executed in the most exacting standards in order to ensure finish longevity.
Upholstery & Soft Materials Restoration
Our expert Staff custom upholsterers are the very best in the country. Their skill and command is without equal in the design industry. Exquisite custom upholstery is viewed as a critical, essential component to the final finished product. There are never any material short-cuts. TRM is routinely engaged to execute the upholstery for a multitude of our ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST AD 100 Clientele.
Craftsmanship & Time
True restoration is an Art Form.
Many of the laborious techniques required to restore 20th-century organic furniture are now practiced by only a small number of master craftsmen. Each piece can demand hours—often weeks—of tedious handwork, adjustment, and refinement.
This scarcity of skill, in combination with the rarity of the furniture itself, is what makes fully professionally restored examples increasingly difficult to source.