Posted by Jim Sutter on Wed, Jul 28, 2010 @ 10:08 AM
Redecorating can make us critical of the wood furniture we own... But before you decide to toss that old worn and scratched wooden 
table, you may want to give it a new life by having it refinished.
Decor changes, such as deciding to renovate and update colors are an inexpensive way to breath new life into old furniture.
Sprucing up an accent piece can revitalize and give a whole different look and feel to a room. By sprucing, what we mean is to refinish furniture or refurbish furniture to give it a whole different feeling.
Wood furniture can be stripped and refinished to the natural beauty of the wood, or colored with a fashionable accent stain. Washes and glazes add dimension to wood, and colored wood stains can be either natural colors or enhance colors in transparant that let the grain show through the wood, or opaque, where the resulting finish is a solid color.
Unlike do it yourself results, which sometimes have a tacky, sticky feeling, professionally refinished furniture is lustrous and resistant to weather related fluctuations. In fact, there are special treatments for different situations and conditions that can extend the life of your furniture. For example, marine situations are exposed to water and possibly salt, and the finishes will be more durable for wood furniture exposed to these conditions than the finish applied to a delicate antique that will reside in a climate controlled and air conditioned environment.
Bottom line, though - it's much less expensive to have your existing furniture refinish done by a professional, and have many more years to enjoy using it, than to buy new. Plus, with the exciting new colors and finishes, you wind up with unique, quality pieces that are matched to your taste and color scheme.
Posted by Jim Sutter on Thu, Jul 01, 2010 @ 07:36 PM
When antique furniture is inherited, it's not uncommon for most people to wonder about it's value. Everyone secretly wishes to find some incredible treasure in the attic. Of course, some furniture, which may have been in the family for years may have intrinsic value based upon its history. Other pieces may have true value based upon factors that may seem obscure to the casual observer. 
The television show Antiques Road Show, has popularized the notion that there must be a fortune lurking in one of those aged tables or dusty, tattered chairs. However, not every older furnishing valuable, and not every person who inherits furniture has the opportunity to find competent antique valuation services. Reliable resources to determine the value of antiques is important to collectors, investors and casual buyers of antiques.
The single most important factor in determining whether to restore antique furniture or refinish antique wood furniture is the value.
Refinishing antique furniture is an art, and it's something that should be done by a professional. While it may seem tempting to pick up a product at the local Lowes or Home Depot be aware that you could be greatly reducing the value of the piece. Restoring wood furniture is an art that JC Wood has practiced for years. We understand how to refinish furniture and restore wood while preserving it's value. Before deciding whether to attempt to restore the wood yourself, have a professional craftsman evaluate it for you. (We offer this service at no charge).
Just as in Kelly blue book, antique furniture is subject to different categories of valuation. These multiple tier values for antiques are based upon who is the purchasing agent. Here is an explanation of what these levels of pricing are:
1. Insurance Value.
Insurance value is generally the highest retail value of an item. It is the replacement cost of the antique if it is stolen or destroyed. The insurance value is a formal appraisal that is put in writing.
2. Fair Market Value
Fair market value is the price a buyer and a seller agrees upon when neither one is under any pressure to buy or sell the item. Both parties need to be aware of any relevant information and facts about the particular item.
3. Estate or Tax Value
Estate or tax value is determined by the IRS by averaging the actual auction prices of similar items.
4. Retail Value
Retail value, or retail price, is the price an item sells for at an antique shop.
5. Wholesale Value
Wholesale value is the price that an antique dealer generally pays for a piece. It is approximately 1/3 to ½ less then the item would sell for on the secondary market.
6.. Auction Value
Auction value - the open market price the item would generally sell for when neither the buyer nor seller is in a forced sale position.
Most of these values are given in a dollar range rather then a specific figure.
If you are located within the Chicago metro area, and have a question regarding inherited furniture or possible antique furniture, whether it's restoration or valuation, the experts at JC Wood are available to guide you. Although we are not licensed appraisers, we can connect you the the appropriate professional.