Restoration involves bringing something back to its original or former state, or to an improved condition
– perhaps after a disaster or maybe to revive a family heirloom. Contractors, adjusters, businesses and homeowners are among those who search for restoration services, and Oklahoma offers plenty of options. From treasured antiques and family keepsakes to damaged artwork, electronics and classic vehicles, restoration requires a unique combination of craftsmanship, patience and problem-solving. Behind each project is often a story – one that deserves to be preserved rather than forgotten.
The owner of Antique Restoration in Tulsa, José Fernandez apprenticed as a carpenter and woodworker and now has 20+ years experience in restoring everything from gilding and stairs to furniture, porcelain, pottery and fine art. He notes that Oklahomans are plugged into their heritage and want their antiques restored.
Of his career, Fernandez says, “This is art. I grew up around carpentry and art restoration. I’ve restored paintings of the old masters.”
Karen Scott owns HP Basketry & Caning LLC in Duncan. She learned to weave on her own by reading books and listening to experts. Scott began weaving baskets, fell in love with the process, and went into caning 35+ years ago. Now she does caning and wicker repair, seat weaving, hand caning and pressed cane webbing.
Scott says if you need a caner, get references to make sure they know what they’re doing.
“Caning wears out in 20-30 years,” Scott adds. “I repair vintage pieces, and I tell people how to feed their product, or replace the moisture in the cane, to maintain it. Cane is the outside of the rattan plant, so there would be sap inside it when it was growing.”
Dustin Henry is the business development manager for Prism Specialties in Edmond.
“We usually restore the most valuable items in your home or business not attached to the structure,” he says. “We have in-house artists and electronic techs.”
After their pros assess the situation, they bring the item to their brick-and-mortar where they primarily restore art, appliances, textiles and documents.
In western Oklahoma, Steve Adamson owns a home remodeling business, but harbors a special passion for car restoration.
“When I was five, I was taking things apart when I shouldn’t have,” he says. “I was always there with Dad when he rebuilt an engine or repaired the family car.”
Adamson says restorers need artistic/creative ability, and they need to be logical, analytical and determined.
As for restoring cars specifically, “you have to at least have a general working knowledge of mechanical things, and you have to be able to make parts when they no longer exist, or find parts elsewhere that will work.”
Through the years, Adamson has restored a lot of cars, but his holy grail emerged from two dozen boxes of parts and a frame that he restored into a 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1.
“For me, it’s very fulfilling, purposeful and relaxing,” he says. “A great sense of pride goes into doing the best you can do.”
