Furniture refinishing and repair in Central Pennsylvania
Livingston Enterprises restores solid wood furniture, family antiques and architectural doors from a Newmanstown workshop near Lancaster and Lebanon. Every project starts with an honest assessment of what the piece needs—and what it does not.
From practical alterations to century-old family furniture, customers remember the care taken with the details.
Tom did a great job with my entertainment center. Lowered it from its original height of 4' to 25" so we had a stand for our big screen TV. Excellent workmanship and turn around time. Had it finished in less than a week. Highly recommend!
Tom restored a very large cabinet, about 8 feet tall, that is over 100 years old. Most important of all he adapted it as requested with simulated antique glass in the top panels where it had been solid wood. This turned it into a great piece to display several rows of glass collectibles. He found the glass maker, helped select the right type of glass from samples the manufacturer provided, then installed it after the general restoration of the wood was done. What was a totally wood piece that was rather "dense" in appearance is now a striking display cabinet.
I commend Tom Livingston and the work that he did in restoring my 1880s German immigrant chest. After rescuing this abandoned-to-the-attic-for-a-century trunk, I reclaimed it for my library. However, with the paint flaking faster from its camel back lid than snowflakes falling in an Onion Snow, I wanted the trunk to be repainted partly because of fear that the flaking paint had lead in it and for aesthetic purposes.
Tom clearly communicated in writing what he envisioned for restoring the trunk as well pricing. His work exceeded my expectations. He painstakingly preserved the original paint on the numerous pieces of hardware so that the hardware patina is a nice contrast to the wood, he personally made two pieces of hardware and one piece of interior molding that were missing and thoroughly cleaned the interior of the trunk—all while retaining an aged look to the trunk. I am very happy to have this piece of family history preserved by Tom for the enjoyment and use of me and my family.
Some pieces need a complete strip and new finish. Others need one broken joint rebuilt without disturbing the surface around it. Separating those jobs is how we protect both your furniture and your budget.
Remove a failing or unwanted finish, repair the surface, choose a new color and protect the wood with a finish suited to how the piece is used.
Explore refinishingRe-glue loose chair joints, rebuild drawers, replace broken wooden parts and stabilize pieces that have become unsafe or difficult to use.
Explore repairPreserve the age, story and character of an heirloom while addressing structural damage, missing elements and a finish that no longer protects it.
Explore restorationStrip accumulated paint or deteriorated clear coats from interior and exterior doors, then rebuild protection without erasing architectural detail.
Explore door workA damaged surface can make a sound piece look disposable. Loose joints, water rings, sun fade and old varnish are often repairable—especially on solid wood furniture built with joinery worth preserving.
We also tell customers when refinishing is unlikely to be a good investment. Particleboard, badly compromised veneer and some factory finishes can limit what a traditional restoration can achieve.
The goal is not to make an old piece look anonymous. It is to make it useful, stable and beautiful again.
You should know what is being changed, what is being preserved and why a particular finish is appropriate before work begins.
Share the whole piece, damaged areas and the result you have in mind.
We identify construction, finish condition and repairs that should happen first.
Loose or missing elements are addressed before the visible finish work begins.
Stain, toner and protective coats are chosen for the wood and intended use.
The finished piece is checked before pickup or delivery arrangements are completed.
Send photographs, dimensions and a short description. We will help you determine whether the right next step is repair, refinishing, restoration—or leaving it alone.
