apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Dept. of Fixes & Repairs. There comes a time in everyone's life when you fall in love with a piece of furniture that has seen better times.

Elizabeth Hargraves is a specialist in antique surface restoration. Each day she is either in her studio bringing a forlorn piece of furntiure back to life, or out zipping around the city visiting clients and giving new meaning to their lovely old possessions.

Surfaces are her specialty, including the restoration of lacquer (Asian & Japanning), painted furniture, gilding, and French polishing. Being an artist, she also does new work in painted surfaces, laquering, faux marble & mahogany.

On coming down to our offices to speak with us, she mentioned that she is laquering a pair of cabinets blue at the moment and rebuilding the missing frame of a gilded mirror (above and below you can see the before and after of a restored laquer table). Contact Elizabeth directly at 212.744.3214 or ehargraves@mindspring.com.