What was wrong

This antique French oak buffet cabinet arrived in pieces—disassembled on arrival—with a split and damaged top surface and a finish that had fully failed under decades of grime.
The carved door panels, egg-and-dart molding, and turned columns were still present, but buried and dulled by the old surface condition.

What we did

• Structural assessment of every component following disassembly.
• Split top repair with proper adhesive work, clamping, leveling, and stabilization before finishing.
• Complete stripping and surface preparation including careful cleaning in carved recesses.
• Multi-layer finish development in a rich, deep smoky oak tone to enhance carving depth (not flatten it).
• Original brass hardware cleaning and preservation (no replacements when originals can be saved).
• Full reassembly with fitting, alignment, and final inspection under multiple lighting conditions.

Care tips

• Dust with a microfiber cloth; avoid abrasive pads in carved detail areas.
• Use gentle cleaners only; avoid harsh degreasers and solvent-based sprays.
• Wipe spills promptly; don’t allow standing moisture on the top edge.
• If the finish begins to dull or see heavy use, book maintenance early.