My name is Aaron, and I restore period furniture in Washington, D.C. with a focus on historically informed restorations rather than cosmetic reinvention.
Most of what you will see here are restored personal finds: period and high-quality revival furniture restored with close attention to historical context. Evidence of age and use is respected where appropriate, and repairs are carried out with restraint and clarity.
I have spent the past several years studying and applying period-appropriate repair and restoration methods, working primarily with hand tools and historically consistent finishing techniques. My approach favors materials and processes that would have been familiar to the original maker.
Restoration, when done properly, requires time, restraint, and careful judgment. Rather than forcing a result, I allow the piece itself to guide the process, letting the finished work reflect both its history and my philosophy. Shellac, linseed oil, and tung oil finishes; hand planes; cabinet scrapers, — practical tools chosen for their compatibility with historic furniture and their proven longevity.
An understanding of design history is integral to bringing furniture back into daily use. My primary focus is on handmade period furniture, and well-executed revival work, from Britain and America, spanning the 17th through 19th centuries. While this is the foundation of my practice, I remain equally engaged by other traditions and styles where craftsmanship, intent, and material integrity are clearly present.