Ever wondered what happens inside an antique furniture restoration workshop? Well, don’t picture a dusty place full of cobwebs and random junk. At La Barbacana, it’s the complete opposite! Our workshop is a magical space where old, forgotten, and tired furniture gets a second life—and yes, sometimes they look even better than when they were first made (and we’re not exaggerating, promise).
The workshop: a place where every piece tells a story
When you step into La Barbacana, it feels like traveling back in time. Every piece of furniture, every artwork, has a story to tell. From a table from the 18th century that’s seen more family dinners than Netflix premieres, to a mirror that’s probably witnessed more fashion trends come and go than any influencer.
We like to think that these pieces speak to us (but don’t worry, we haven’t lost our minds!). Every scratch, every crack, and every stain has a story to tell. Our job, as professional restorers, is to listen to them and bring them back to life without erasing the traces of time.
How do we work? With care, patience, and coffee (lots of coffee)
Every day at the workshop is like a chapter in a novel—we never know what surprise awaits us. The first step is always to evaluate the piece. We ask ourselves: What does it need? A touch-up? An urgent fix? Or a full restoration?
After this “medical check-up,” we take detailed photographs to document everything (because in restoration, if it’s not in the photo, it didn’t happen). Then, it’s time to roll up our sleeves! We secure every loose part, consolidate the structure, and most importantly, respect the original patina (if you’re wondering what patina is, you’ve got another blog post waiting for you!).
We preserve the soul of every piece
Our motto is clear: restore without destroying. Here, we don’t just paint over scratches and call it a day. No way! We use materials similar to the original ones, so each piece keeps its character, its history, and, of course, its value.
Imagine you have an old desk that belonged to your grandfather—the one he used to write letters (yes, people actually used to write letters!). You wouldn’t want us to restore it to the point where it looks brand new, erasing all its history, right? Neither would we. That’s why we restore each piece with care so that it remains the same beloved desk, just a little more polished and sturdy.
Why trust La Barbacana?
Because we love what we do. Each piece is a challenge, a journey through time, and our goal is for you to leave our workshop with a smile and a piece of furniture that has regained its essence. Plus, we follow the IRPA (Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage) techniques, ensuring that our work is of the highest quality and respectful of the original methods of each era.
And if you can’t visit us in person at Calle Geranios 18, Madrid, don’t worry. We offer online estimates and restoration services nationwide and internationally. Distance is not a problem!
Follow the process and restoration secrets on our social media
Would you like to see how we transform a piece of furniture step by step? Of course, you would! Follow us on Instagram: @labarbacana sl and YouTube: @labarbacanasl, where we share videos of our daily life in the workshop. You’ll see everything from how we restore the polychromy of a Renaissance table to how we consolidate a Louis XV chair that looked shakier than a barstool at closing time.
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