“New Old” exclusively from The Karges Finish.

Old pieces can be restored to look better than new using our exclusive process of "New Old". It involves naturally working the old dirty part of the finish off and restoring it to a new and improved quality. "New Old" is superior to original not only because of the environmentally-friendly (VOC) compliant finishes we now have access to, but also due to color and clarity that was not possible using traditional methods.

The most common question asked of Karges & Caron is whether a piece is worth restoring. Here are the four factors to consider:

First: the bones. Recently we restored a desk chair over 100 years old. It had been refinished so many times it looked like black plastic. Our research determined that this piece came from a prestigious manufacturer and that it was made from solid mahogany. It was clear that "the bones" were worth restoring.

Before		After

Note the amazing beauty of the century old mahogany. Sadly, these boards with their natural crotch markings and “stripey” effect no longer exist. This family hand-me-down is now “New Old” and better than ever.

Second: the emotional value. Unfortunately, today’s consumer is famous for knowing “the price of everything and the value of nothing” -Oscar Wilde. Furniture that stays in a family for many generations becomes priceless. Our customers frequently tell us not only how much they love keeping a piece that was treasured by their parents or grandparents, but also how much they look forward to passing it down to their children (and hopefully grandchildren). Restoration makes that possible.

Third: aesthetics. There are simply some pieces that do not exist anymore and are worth preserving. We commonly see pieces so complex that reproduction would be very difficult and costly or others so unusual that there is truly nothing like it anymore. It is a shame to lose these original works of art.

Fourth: expense. We encourage our clients to shop around, both online and in stores, flea markets, etc. When challenged to find completely restored pieces with the same bones, the asking price always drives them back to restoration. We often fall so in love with these masterpieces that we are sad to see them go. However, our sorrow turns to joy upon delivering the pieces. Often received with tears, we consistently hear “I so wish my (relative of choice) could see this piece now. They would be so happy for our family that we have restored this piece.”