Furniture Restoration Specialist in Melbourne
I’m Richard Lloyd. I restore mid-century furniture and interiors from my Fitzroy workshop in Melbourne, mostly pieces from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. I try to keep as much of the original piece as possible, repair what has failed and avoid changing things simply for the sake of making them look new.
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About Richard Lloyd
I’m Richard Lloyd, a mid-century modern furniture restorer working from my Fitzroy workshop in Melbourne. My work is grounded in a simple philosophy: restore what already exists, respect original craftsmanship, and avoid unnecessary intervention.
I specialise in eco-conscious furniture and interior restoration using traditional methods and carefully chosen finishes to preserve vintage pieces from the 1950s-1970s.
A Foundation in Craftsmanship
My path into restoration began long before furniture.
In July 1993, I finished a four-year motor vehicle painting apprenticeship in Box Hill. A lot of the work involved restoring vintage Italian sports cars for national restoration shows, where the preparation had to be right because there was nowhere to hide a poor repair or rushed finish.
That work taught me to slow down, prepare properly and understand the material before trying to improve it. I still work that way now.
From Instruments to Furniture
After that I worked at Maton Guitars, finishing acoustic guitars with stains, high-gloss coatings and nitrocellulose systems.
Guitar finishing teaches you very quickly that more is not always better. Too much finish changes the instrument; too little leaves it unprotected. That idea has stayed with me in furniture restoration: use what the piece needs and no more.
Teaching, Workshops & Mentorship
I also run hands-on workshops for people who want to understand how furniture repair and finishing actually work.
I learnt this work by doing it, making mistakes and spending time around people who knew more than I did. The workshops are a way of passing some of that on.
Learn more about the restoration workshops hereWhy I Do This Work
Good furniture lasts because someone thought carefully about how it should be made. When a piece has already lasted 50 or 60 years, I think it deserves to be repaired properly rather than treated as disposable.
If an original part can be repaired, I would rather repair it than replace it. I also avoid finishes that make old timber look sealed under plastic or erase every sign that the piece has had a life.
Work With Me
If you have a piece you’re unsure about, send me a few photos. I’ll tell you what I think is worth doing, what probably isn’t, and whether restoration makes sense.
Fitzroy, Melbournemidcenturyfurnitureresto@gmail.com
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