What we do and how

We restore furniture, preserving its substance – from 18th-century Bernese Baroque cabinets to mid-century armchairs.
We stabilize constructions, supplement veneers and inlays, rebuild surfaces with shellac, oil, wax, or varnish, and repair fittings.

For historical pieces, we work with traditional materials such as hide glue, bone glue, and natural pigments. Material-appropriate, restrained, precise.

Our Services

  • Restoring furniture

    Restoration of tables, cabinets, chests of drawers, secretaires, upholstered furniture. Baroque, Biedermeier, Empire, Louis styles. Stabilize construction, restore function.

  • Antike Bauernmalerei an historischem Schrank – Restaurierung, Holzmaserierungen und Marmorierungen durch Carmine Home in Bern

    Bernese Furniture & Rustic Furniture

    Regional tradition from Bern and the Pre-Alps. Chests, cupboards, farmhouse cabinets with original or restored painting.

  • Veneers & Marquetry

    Damaged veneers and inlays are secured, supplemented, or reconstructed. Transitions remain invisible within the overall appearance.

  • Wood Surfaces & Patina

    Clean, stabilize, and refinish surfaces with shellac, oil, wax, or varnish. Deliberately preserve traces of use and patina.

  • Fittings & Locks

    Cleaning, restoration and replication of historical fittings. Making locks functional or replacing them professionally.

  • Stabilisierung und Reparatur der Holzkonstruktion eines antiken Möbelstücks – Restaurierung in Bern

    Construction & Function

    Secure connections, eliminate wobbles, make drawers run smoothly again. The furniture should not only be beautiful but also remain usable.

  • Rekonstruktion von Fehlstellen an vergoldetem Rahmen durch Carmine Home in Bern

    Restorations of Picture Frames & Gilt Mirrors

    Missing areas are filled in by hand and integrated into the overall image. Material, technique, and surface follow the original. Our interventions remain deliberately restrained.

  • Restaurierung einer furnierten Tischoberfläche mit Leimauftrag in der Werkstatt von CARMINE HOME

    Leather inserts

    Writing surfaces and leather inlays in various colors. First, we prepare the subsurface. The best quality, just as the Romans did it.

This is how we work

  • 1. Initial Consultation and Findings

    You show us the furniture — workshop, on site or by photo. We check the construction, surface and history.

  • 2. Quote and Material Selection

    Written estimate with cost framework. If required, we can discuss surfaces, pigments, or veneer additions with samples.

  • 3. Collection

    Free within the city of Bern. For orders in the extended catchment area, we calculate transport individually.

  • 4. Version

    The restoration takes place in our workshop in Ostermundigen. We work to preserve the original substance. We document interventions.

  • 5. Handover and Care Instructions

    Upon return, we will provide specific care instructions. We can also take over later maintenance if required.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the approximate cost of furniture restoration?

Minor repairs (loose connections, loose veneers) from CHF 250.-. Table tops or chests of drawers CHF 800–5,000.-. Full restoration of a Bernese cabinet or secretary desk CHF 4,000–10,000.-. Complex historical pieces at cost. Prices depend on condition, substance, and material used. Written offers are free of charge.

Is a restoration or a new piece of furniture worthwhile?

For high-quality hardwood furniture (walnut, oak, cherry), restoration is almost always worthwhile. This is especially true for pieces with family history or folk art painting. For industrial furniture from the 70s and later, we will assess together.

How long does a restoration take?

Smaller interventions 1–2 weeks turnaround. Medium restorations (table, chair, chest of drawers) 3–6 weeks. Full restorations of historical furniture 1–2 months. Time is primarily needed for drying and curing phases – good things take time.

Are you altering the furniture or is it staying as it is?

We work to preserve the original substance. This means that as much of the original material as possible is retained. Patina, signs of wear, and signs of aging are part of the furniture's history and are deliberately preserved, not removed. Interventions are reversible, where possible.

Are you picking up the furniture?

Yes. Free of charge in the city of Bern. For the agglomeration and the rest of Switzerland, we calculate transport costs individually. We pack and secure the pieces professionally.

Do you also work with historical monument preservation?

Yes. We are familiar with the processes of the Bern City Monument Preservation Office and the Cantonal Monument Preservation Office Bern and support owners with subsidy applications. For protected properties, we coordinate interventions with the responsible authority before starting work.

Do you have a piece of furniture that's important to you?

Write to us or call us directly. We will get back to you with an initial assessment within two business days.

Send inquiry

Or call us: 031 312 61 61