Restoration by Jacqueline

09/28/2026

Restoration Story: A Father’s Legacy, Renewed

This beautiful bookcase came to me carrying more than just layers of paint — it carried 50+ years of family history. Originally crafted by the Missouri Furniture Company in St. Louis, it belonged to my client’s father and had been lovingly used for decades. Under three layers of paint and one layer of stain, I uncovered bleached mahogany wood and the original shelving hardware still holding strong.

My client wanted to bring fresh color into her office while keeping the piece connected to her existing caned furniture. We chose Barberry Green and added hand‑woven caning to the sides, creating the perfect blend of heritage and modern charm.

Now this heirloom stands renewed — a vibrant, meaningful piece that honors the past while beautifully fitting into the present.

Restoration by Jacqueline — where every piece gets a second life.

09/18/2026

More Than a Makeover… It’s a Resurrection.

When this settee came to me, it was little more than dry, worn leather, torn fabric, and a frame that had lost the structural support it once had. There wasn’t much left to work with—but there was something worth saving.

So I went to work.

Piece by piece, I rebuilt what was missing, restored its strength, and gave it a new seat and a new life. Then came the fun part—bringing it all together with this beautiful vintage-inspired fabric that complements the warmth and elegance of the wood.

This wasn’t simply a makeover.

It was a restoration. A revival. A second chance.

There is something incredibly satisfying about taking a piece that looks like it has reached the end of its story and giving it another chapter…a second chance.

And now, this beautiful settee is ready for many more years of being admired, enjoyed, and loved. ❤️

Restoration by Jacqueline
Because beautiful pieces don’t always need to be replaced. Sometimes, they just need someone willing to see what they could become.

09/16/2026

I am very grateful to have is an opportunity to restore an antique such as this. Not all upholstery is the same - each piece has its own unique nuisances. This settee was badly damaged underneath and needed support in the seat frame. I added two wooden brackets (inside of one) to give it back some structural integrity. Instead of putting back a plywood seating, springs were added to create the seat structure giving it a more comfortable space to sit.

While the piece is now finished, it’s always important not only to show the final results, but the steps taken to make the piece more appealing.

09/12/2026

Once a loved memory that now has new life. Lynn Kozlowski Slagle dining table has many positive memories - the first table her and her husband purchased over 40 years ago. She could replace it but the memories can never be replaced or replicated. This is what restoration is all about.

And this is the reason for my love of restoring furniture - the memories.

07/31/2026

Just recently, I finished a 1997 Bayliner Capri Engine Cover - 72 inches long! The wood rotting, the foam was drenched and covered with mold mites and the vinyl trim was brittle, needing to be replaced desperately! So I created a new wood base with marine plywood with drain holes (and yes, I’m a power tool type of gal!), reattached the curve fiberglass and added short marine plywood board, applied epoxy sealant to all sides, installed new drain dry foam to the base and backing, attached the restored vinyl and installed new black carpet as the back undercover. It was delivered yesterday!

How do I receive referrals for boat seat replacements…for right now, it’s usually from a friend of a friend…word of mouth. I haven’t been openly pursuing boat seat restoration work.

How do I know how to restore boat seats? Several years of a furniture upholstery and restoration work, added with the ability to take risks and step outside my comfort zone, with the understanding that you have to do your research first before you start any type of project, which even includes furniture, as well as knowing and having the right tools to do the work!

And yes, I do my own deliveries!

07/27/2026

From this… to this.

A beautiful boat seat starts with something most people never see—the foundation.

The original seat base had extensive rot that compromised the strength and longevity of the entire seat. Simply replacing the foam and vinyl would have been a temporary fix. Instead, I rebuilt the foundation using new marine-grade plywood and reinforced the structure to create a solid, durable base built to withstand years on the water.

Quality upholstery isn’t just about what you see—it’s about what’s underneath. A strong foundation means a seat that not only looks great but performs and lasts.

Restoration is about doing it right, not just making it look right.

07/27/2026

Working on a consignment piece for a resale company. It’s a very interesting piece. When taking the old upholstery off, the original leather was still intact. And beyond the leather is filled with horsehair, making this piece dated in late 1890 or early 1900. The leather was so brittle that it torn like paper in some areas and hardened in other areas making it a challenge to remove. It’s now down to the frame ready to be restored and reupholstered.

07/16/2026

One of the worse things to do with a boat is use non-marine materials for your DYI project. Trying to save money on quick fixes end u to be costly in the end.

This six-foot boat seat was repaired with regular plywood. It didn’t take long before the wood rotted - the foam and other parts of the wood and the 4 inch vinyl trim around the vinyl seat was damaged by mold. The under-covering was regular heavy-duty upholstery Dacron (in red) but not marine grade, which is more costly. The foam retained a lot of moisture and became moldy and infested with mold mites.

The only good thing is that the seat vinyl was protected and didn’t mold - the silk wrap did its job!

Next steps in repairing this seat is recreating a new seat with marine plywood and sealing it with marine water-sealant. Then install new foam with silking to prevent moisture, fix the vinyl trim on the seat and apply a marine carpet as the covering for the underside. Then it should be good as new!

06/25/2026

A little desk with a fresh new chapter. ✨

This child’s desk was ready for a refresh, and instead of covering up the beautiful wood grain with paint, my client chose to preserve its character.

I refinished it using a rich gel stain followed by a durable gel sealer, bringing new life to the finish while allowing the natural beauty of the wood to shine through. The updated hardware completes the look with a timeless touch.

It’s always rewarding to restore a piece that can continue to be loved for years to

Restoration by Jacqueline

06/16/2026