Redeux Vintage Furniture: Changes

Change. It’s the uncertain certainty. We never know when it will come, or where it will lead us.

For the past two years I have continued making changes to Redeux Furniture. In a sense it has changed me, too. It began as a hobby. Soon, finding old, often distressed pieces of American furniture and restoring them became a passion. Learning of the companies and people that made each piece was a continuous lesson in America’s history. Trying to improve my skills in restoring made me appreciate more the skills of those that first created. And of those that so generously shared with me their knowledge of bringing furniture back to life. Now, Redeux will have the biggest change yet.

Several weeks ago an opportunity was presented to me to turn Redeux into what I had often hoped for – a real shop. A place where I could work year-round. A place where the furniture could be displayed properly. A place where a better selection of accessories could be offered. All in keeping with my vision of Redeux: Vintage American furniture and accessories brought back to life and offered for sale at fair, reasonable prices. Now, that hope will become a reality.

Redeux Vintage Furniture & Accessories is scheduled to have its Grand Opening the weekend of April 1st ! The new location of Redeux will be 3008 Fairfield Avenue, Quarterboard Row, in Black Rock on the Fairfield / Bridgeport line.

Just 3 miles from North Benson Road, the new Redeux shop will have plenty of parking and is close to many area amenities: Timothy’s Ice Cream, The Field and Ash Creek Saloon restaurants, theatres, etc. My neighbor in the next door shop will be Framemakers Custom Framing and Gallery, which is also re-locating to Quarterboard Row.

With my change of location I can increase my inventory of furniture, offer a selection of lighting, vintage pottery and decorating accessories as well as several other items. The focus, of course, will always remain on the furniture, bringing it back to life and finding it a new home.

These past several weeks I have been busy searching for furniture in anticipation of filling the new shop with lots of great finds. It has been a success! While there are plenty of pieces still awaiting the Redeux treatment, there will be a nice selection of furniture ready for a new home on Opening Day. It will be absolutely the best variety of pieces yet offered by Redeux!

Also, during this time, I have been making wood stain from the old Black Walnut tree that was at the top of our driveway. Using a water base, we’ll soon see how this stain works. I’ll also try experimenting with waxes using natural additives to give particular pieces a very special look. Thanks, again, to Master Restorer Gary Wood, for his latest class on vintage wood finishing. And, at last, I have been getting stenciling lessons on how to use traditional stencil styles on wood furniture. These special pieces will be a new offering at Redeux's new location.

The pieces pictured in this blog have been given a custom blend of oil stains and topped with a century-old formula of varnish that should hold up very well. The darker table with the flower-shaped top had long ago been painted a flat, unattractive brown. Taking a chance (you never know what is under old paint!) the paint was removed using a very gentle stripper. What was revealed was beautiful mahogany wood that had been painted over the original shellac, thus sparing the wood from any real damage. What a treasure! The small side table with shelf is made of nice maple and is beautiful again. Both will be at the Grand Opening!