Residential • Furniture Refinishing • Expert Wood Finishes
Olek renews worn, faded, scratched and failed furniture finishes with the same attention given to the wood, veneer and construction beneath them. From antique and vintage pieces to Mid-Century Modern furniture, our refinishing work is guided by the existing surface, the owner’s goals and the finish system that best belongs on the piece—not a one-formula strip-and-coat process.
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Olek refinishes tables, desks, cabinets, case furniture, chairs and other wood furniture when the primary problem is the surface rather than the structure. Scope can range from controlled surface renewal to complete stripping and refinishing when the existing coating has failed or a new finish direction is appropriate.
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Existing furniture and adjacent woodwork can be matched for color, tone, sheen and surface character. Olek can use surviving finish, protected areas, related pieces or approved samples as references when a repaired or refinished surface needs to visually continue the original.
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Antique furniture should not be stripped automatically. Olek first considers whether original finish, patina, age or historical significance should be preserved. When refinishing is the right treatment, work is planned around the construction and material of the piece rather than applying a generic modern coating. For conservation-intensive or structurally complex pieces, see Olek’s specialty furniture conservation expertise .
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Mid-Century Modern furniture often combines thin veneers, exposed plywood and finishes whose color changes significantly with age and sunlight. Olek can selectively correct color, protect veneer thickness and develop a finish that respects the original design language. Eames-specific structural, finish or upholstery work remains handled through Olek’s specialist Eames Lounge Chair service .
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Finish systems can include lacquer, hand-applied oils, waxes and specialty or decorative finishes when they are appropriate to the wood or veneer, period, existing finish, intended use and desired appearance. The correct finish is chosen for the object rather than treated as an interchangeable topcoat.
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Scratches, chips, water marks, worn edges and isolated finish failures can sometimes be corrected without refinishing the entire piece. Local repairs are blended around color, sheen and texture so the intervention does not become more visually distracting than the original damage.
From Condition To Final Finish
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Wood, current finish, damage and your desired outcome reviewed.
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Color, sheen and finish type approved, with samples when needed.
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Surface prepared only as much as needed, then finished by hand.
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Color, sheen and continuity checked before delivery.
Finished in our 20,000 sq. ft. Orange, NJ facility, with pickup and delivery across the New York metro area.
A published Olek customer review describes a heavy wood dining table that was disassembled, shortened, reassembled and polished so the modification visually belonged to the original table. Olek also coordinated pickup and return delivery to Manhattan. No specific coating chemistry is claimed here because the public review does not identify it.
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Another published Olek customer review describes an older marble-top coffee table whose failed joinery was rebuilt before the wood was completely refinished. Damaged brass trim was repaired and missing brass detail was replicated so the finished piece read consistently as a whole.
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Established
20,000
Sq. Ft. Facility
25+
Full-Time Craftsmen
In-House
Furniture + Finishing Trades
We used Olek Inc. to shorten and polish our beautiful heavy wood dining table. Olek had to disassemble the table, cut it, re-attach the bookends, and make it look like it was never touched. The result was flawless — you would never know it was modified.
I have a Vladimir Kagan 175 E armchair that was literally falling apart — the wood was separating at the joins and the leather seat and padding were shot. Peter at Olek did an amazing job bringing it back to like-new condition. Highly recommended for designer furniture restoration.
This is the second time I've had Olek reupholster my sofas. Each time I've been astonished at the stunning work. The craftsmanship is impeccable and the attention to detail is second to none. I wouldn't trust anyone else with my furniture.
★★★★★ 4.9 average on Google · 50+ reviews
Olek can refinish tables, desks, cabinets, case furniture, chairs and other wood or veneered furniture. Antique, vintage, Mid-Century Modern and contemporary pieces are evaluated according to their construction, surface condition and significance before treatment is recommended.
Yes. Finish matching can consider color, tone, transparency, grain contrast, sheen, surface texture and aging. Surviving protected areas, related pieces or approved samples can be used as references when a close visual match is required. When color or finish direction is sensitive, test samples can be developed for review before the final system is applied to the furniture.
No. Full stripping is only one possible treatment. Depending on the piece, Olek may recommend localized repair, selective surface preparation, finish recovery or a more conservative treatment when original material or patina should remain.
No. Refinishing can remove original surface history and may be inappropriate for some antiques, heirlooms or collectible pieces. Olek first considers condition, significance, original finish and owner goals; conservation or restoration may be recommended instead.
Yes, when refinishing is appropriate. MCM furniture often requires careful control of sanding and color because veneers may be thin and surfaces can fade unevenly. The treatment is adjusted to the actual veneer, finish and construction rather than using a generic refinishing process.
Depending on the furniture, options can include lacquer, hand-applied oils, waxes, toners, glazes and specialty or decorative finishing systems. The finish is selected around the material, intended use and visual goal of the piece. Lacquer and other film finishes are developed around clarity, build, sheen and repairability; oils and waxes emphasize grain and tactile character where appropriate; glazes, toners and decorative techniques are used when a surface must match an existing finish or recreate a particular effect.
Repair addresses structural failures such as loose joints or broken parts. Refinishing primarily addresses the surface and finish. Restoration is broader and may combine structural repair, veneer work, missing details, finish treatment and preservation decisions. Olek can redirect the scope if the piece needs more than refinishing.
Timing depends on the number of pieces, existing coatings, repairs discovered during assessment, finish complexity, drying or curing requirements, color approvals and logistics. Olek establishes a project-specific schedule after reviewing the furniture.
Olek’s finishing work is supported by cabinetmakers, furniture restorers, carvers, upholsterers and other specialists. That matters when a finish problem reveals loose veneer, damaged joinery, missing wood or a prior repair that should be addressed before the final surface is applied — Olek uses the condition of the piece to recommend the right scope.
Send overall and close-up photos, approximate dimensions, project location, any known maker or age, images of scratches or finish failure, and examples of the color or finish you want. If the piece has been refinished before, that information is also useful.
Start With Photos & The Current Finish
Show us the furniture, the finish problem and the result you want. Upload overall and detail photos, share the maker or age if known, and include reference images if you want to match an existing color, sheen or finish direction.