Good Craftsmanship Takes Time

Several decades ago Hubby Tony inherited a lovely oak secretary desk with a mirrored hutch top from his great aunt. The carvings and skeleton-key locks were a clue to the vintage, which was probably 1930s.

Because of its age the desk had some issues. The drop down had a couple of large cracks running across it, and the keyhole plate of the lock was detached from the inner workings. One of the two pieces of wood covering the back of the desk was coming loose. Most of the drawers had lost their back stops, so they slid in too far.

We lived with the issues for years, but eventually refurbishing the piece made it to the top of the project list. I contacted a company that had done fantastic work for us in the past. They had an interesting, multiple step procedure:

1. Send an email with photos and an explanation of the work requested.
2. Receive an email estimate.
3. Accept the estimate and get on their future work list
4. Be contacted to schedule appointment to pick up desk.
5. Desk picked up from house.
6. Desk delivered to house.

Good craftsmanship takes time. Once we accepted the estimate, there was a a four to five month wait until the work would be done. After the desk was picked up it was gone for six weeks. During that time its contents lived in two large plastic tubs on the living room floor. Finally we received notification that the company was ready to deliver the finished desk.

Everything I asked for had been done. The cracks in the drop down had been filled. The key once again fit into the ornamental plate.The back no longer had a loosely hanging piece of wood. All of the drawers pushed in flush with the body of the desk. Per instructions, they did not refinish the desk, but instead gave it a good restoration and cleaning.

Now every day I get to enjoy our newly-renovated heirloom.

Five years ago: How Hot Is It?