furniture restoration course Archives - Chippendale School of Furniture

Furniture restoration expert visits the Chippendale School of Furniture

This blog based on a conversation with Simon Macintyre, a visiting furniture restoration expert who runs his own restoration business in Sussex near London. Simon works on private furniture restoration and for the antique trade. It’s the ninth year that Simon has been running his course at the Chippendale School of Furniture.

“The furniture school students are always very enthusiastic; they love the learning experience. Usually they’ve not done any furniture restoration before. They maximize the learning opportunities here and many enjoy the furniture restoration week more than they initially expected.

“Each morning we discuss the pieces of furniture being restored. I’ve also given a talk on setting up a furniture restoration business. Several of the students want to go on to do furniture restoration rather than furniture making.

Chippendale School Student Dreams of Boat Building

This blog is by Fergus McCoss who was a deckhand on super yachts but his long term plan is becoming a woodworker. After graduating from the Chippendale School of Furniture, he dreams of building boats in the style of 1960’s Riva Aquarama speedboats!

I started in Palma, did Mediterranean loops, Atlantic crossings and Caribbean routes.

I was working with 60-75m yachts which had crews of 13 to 23 people. The interiors were like 5 star hotels. Doing a refit in a boatyard in Germany made me want to work with my hands on the interior design and maintenance of yachts.

The Riva Aquarama Lamborghini

I was attracted to the Chippendale School by the no frills, get-on-and-do-it approach. I’m not really one for the classroom – you learn more when you make mistakes. I enjoy being really hands-on, and, having been away for 3 years, it’s great to be back in Scotland.

The Chippendale School Adventure

A blog by Chippendale School student Ashley Petersen who loves working with wood.

Ashley was employed by an advertising agency in New York, but always had a passion for furniture and knew she had to make it a part of her life.

“I started working with an antique furniture restorer in Queens in the evenings after work and completed a short woodworking class in Brooklyn. I learned how to French polish, replace missing veneer and how to repair gilding and loved every minute of it!

“I also spent time working at a vintage furniture shop in Manhattan refinishing or adding a ‘shabby-chic’ flair to various pieces.”

Ashley had considered furniture design schools in the US, but found they were too expensive and meant taking 4 years out of the workforce. The intensive Chippendale School course only lasted 9 months and also offered the antique restoration course she was looking for.

“I was encouraged by the small class size which ensured more individual attention, and the amount of hands-on experience the program provided. I really liked that the students were of all ages and nationalities. This furniture course also provided an opportunity for a great adventure!

Some of the Things that Make our Furniture Design Course Stand Out

Do you dream of building a rewarding career in professional furniture design and restoration? There are still some places on our furniture making and furniture restoration course starting this October 2013.

He came He saw He conquered. Chippendale School of Furniture.

Our students learn more than 80 woodworking techniques.

Our feedback suggests that our courses are that little bit different:

1. We teach you up to 80 woodworking techniques in just 9 months (other schools take 2 to 3 years to cover the same ground);
2. We lay on lectures, visiting experts, learning from your colleauges and field trips, as well as spending up to 1,400 hours doing practical benchwork on your own projects;
3. We provide all the tools you need – planes, safety gear, routers, chisels, hammers (worth at least £2,500);
4. Your fees include all the wood required to make 3 pieces of furniture, sourced and dried here from local Scottish hardwoods;