The Furniture Bible: Everything You Need to Know to Identify, Restore & Care for Furniture by Christophe Pourny

Author: Christophe Pourny; with Jen Renzi; foreword by Martha Stewart; photographs by James Wade; illustrations by Christophe Pourny

Christophe Pourny learned the art of furniture restoration in his father’s atelier in the South of France. In this, his first book, he teaches readers everything they need to know about the provenance and history of furniture, as well as how to restore, update, and care for their furniture—from antiques to midcentury pieces, family heirlooms or funky flea-market finds. The heart of the book is an overview of Pourny’s favorite techniques—ceruse, vernis anglais,and water gilding, among many others—with full-color step-by-step photographs to ensure that readers can easily replicate each refinishing technique at home. Pourny brings these techniques to life with a chapter devoted to real-world refinishing projects, from a veneered table to an ebonized desk, a gilt frame to a painted northern European hutch. Rounding out this comprehensive guide is care and maintenance information, including how to properly clean leather, polish hardware, fix a broken leg, and replace felt pads, as well as recipes to make your own wax, shellac, varnish, stain, and more.

Wall Street Journal, 10 Crucial Home Design Books for Beginners

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Review Quotes:

“A guide for the pros, DIYers and furniture aficionados eager for tips from the expert. Pourny’s practical advice on all things antique is coupled with historical notes.”—Time
 
“A comprehensive but accessible guide to restoration that lays out everything you need to know about making over wooden furniture.”—Martha Stewart Living

“Authority wafts from [Pourny’s] handsome how-to book like the sweet smell of lemon oil.”—New York Times
 
“A practical, visual guide for anyone who wants to restore a cherished heirloom or simply correct a water stain.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“Pourny’s book will serve brave DIYers as well as design aficionados wishing to hone their connoisseurship.”–ArchitecturalDigest.com