A client in Austin told me my finish was too perfect and it changed my whole approach

I was finishing a mid-century dresser for a client last month and I was super proud of the job. I used my usual process, a full strip, grain fill, and three coats of a high-gloss lacquer, sanding between each one. When I delivered it, she looked at it and said, 'It's beautiful, but it looks like it just came from a factory. I wanted the character to show.' That hit me hard. I realized I'd been over-finishing pieces, basically erasing their history to get a flawless surface. Now, for pieces with a story, I leave some of the old patina in the corners and only lightly sand the top surfaces. I'll use a satin finish instead of gloss to let the wood's age show through. It feels more honest to the piece. Has anyone else had a client push back against a 'too perfect' finish?

3 comments

3 Comments

claire_grant3426d ago

Honestly, that sounds like a dream client to me. I work SO hard to get that flawless, perfect finish. It's the whole point of a restoration in my book. Leaving scratches and old finish feels like I didn't do my job right. That "factory new" look is what people pay for. If they want "character," they should buy it already beat up.

shanescott26d ago

But what about pieces where the history is the point, @claire_grant34?

jessechen26d ago

Ugh, @claire_grant34, that's how you ruin a priceless antique.