05/24/2026
While I have been working on some more creative pieces that will be available over the next few weeks, I have been spending more time in the studio restoring vintage and antique pieces for clients that want to pass down heirloom pieces.
These truly hold a special place in my heart.
Antique and vintage furniture is not just a cedar chest, a vanity, or a chair - it is history, art, craftsmanship, memories and love.
On September 11, 1940, New York City was a bustling metropolis closely following the intensifying devastation of the London Blitz, while hosting the final weeks of the 1939 New York World's Fair in Queens. This was also the day my grandparents bought a dinette set for their new apartment in NY.
While this may not be a newsworthy moment for most, it certainly was for them. Newly married and purchasing furniture for their new 3 room apartment at The Ardsley in Elmhurst, this dinette set, along with many other pieces, were not cheap. In 1940, the average wage was about $1200-$2600 per year. A new car cost roughly $700-$1500, gasoline was 18 cents per gallon, and milk was 52 cents per gallon. Their furniture bill was $516.60 for a bedroom set, dinette set, and living room furniture!
They raised two boys in that little apartment and the furniture withstood years of bangs, hits, and metal Dinky toys. Over the years the furniture was moved from NY to NJ, then NJ to GA.
The dinette set, along with credenzas, massive desk, dresser, and smaller end tables, were passed down to my father who uses every piece to this day.
Eighty six years later, I am honored to restore my grandparents treasures one piece at a time. While I marvel at how amazing it is to watch years of furniture polish, ni****ne, and aged shellac melt off to reveal beautiful glowing wood and craftsmanship that can be used for another generation or two, there are some things I won’t erase - underneath the dining table top is a reminder that even in the 40’s and 50’s, children would scribble their names on just about anything.
For more info on what was going on September 11, 1940 from the NY Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/sitemap/1940/09/11/
Vintage Revival Furniture Co.
Hartwell, GA
706-371-4550
[email protected]