A day in the workshop: what it’s like being a woman in furniture restoration

If you met me at a community event stall or invited me into your home to look at a wobbly chair or tired dining table, you might have wondered how I ended up doing this for a living.

Furniture refurbishment isn’t... the most obvious career path. It’s dirty, physical, and occasionally frustrating, but I absolutely love it.

It’s also traditionally a male-dominated trade, which means I've had a few unexpected moments. And, as you’re about to find out, most of them are funny in hindsight, and some of them are downright bizarre.

So, in honour of International Women’s Day, here’s a small collection of real-life moments from life as a female furniture restorer.

“Is this… your business?”

At community events and markets, I often get a similar opening question:

“Is this your business?”

Once it was followed by:

“You don’t look old enough to be doing this!”

But the funniest version of this scenario happens when I’m not alone behind the stall. On the rare occasions my husband, my dad, or even a male client visiting the event, has been sitting next to me, something interesting tends to happen.

A potential client will approach, look at the furniture or my leaflets, and begin directing all their questions… to the man beside me.

Without fail, the man in question will immediately raise his hands and say something along the lines of: “I’ve got nothing to do with this. It’s Emily’s business.”

Cue a slightly embarrassed pause and a quick swivel back towards me.

It’s actually become a bit of a running joke.

My dad briefly joining me at the Southfields Mend, Fix and Repair Cafe

The occasional bit of “helpful advice”

Every now and then a client likes to offer a bit of guidance on how I might go about fixing their furniture.

One memorable example involved a gentleman explaining that when repairing his chair, I’d need to drill a pilot hole before inserting the screw.

His wife, who was standing nearby, quietly stepped in and said:

“Rob*, I’m sure she knows what she’s doing.”

(*Names changed to protect the guilty.)

I think that's what we call a 'girl's girl'

Occupational hazards

Sometimes I’ll need to work on a project in situ, in clients’ homes.

On one occasion I was sanding the legs of a kitchen table when the client’s husband returned from a cycling trip. He came in to say hello and we had a pleasant exchange about my job.

Unfortunately, he was still wearing his very tight cycling shorts. And unfortunately, I was sitting on the floor. Which meant the entire conversation happened with said cycling shorts directly at eye level.

There are some moments in life which really test one’s ability to maintain professional composure.

I won't attach an image here (your mental image is probably doing enough). You're welcome.

The surprise mentorship offer

Another client once told me how inspiring he found my business.

He was in the middle of a multi-million-pound deal, apparently, and felt he could offer me some life guidance.

His suggestion was that I meet him at Costa with a notebook and pen so he could mentor me on “life and other things”.

Before you ask, I can’t remember what my response was... Perhaps that’s for the best?

And then a few months later (without any mentoring...)

The great dowel vs dovetail debate

Furniture terminology can occasionally cause confusion.

One client contacted me to say a dovetail joint had snapped on his chair.

When I saw the piece, it was actually a broken dowel.

I gently explained that I would need to replace the snapped dowel.

He remained absolutely convinced it was a dovetail.

Even after I showed him.

Sometimes it’s best to just fix the thing and move on.

I do know what I'm talking about, most of the time

“Did your dad teach you?”

This is one of the top five questions I get asked, regrettably, but it’s amusing for me.

People often ask how I learned furniture restoration, and before I even have time to answer they’ll sometimes guess:

“Was it your dad who taught you?”

Now, if anyone reading this knows my dad, they’re probably laughing right about now.

My dad does technically own a toolbox. Inside that toolbox you will find:

• a mallet

• a few screwdrivers

• some Allen keys

• an extension lead

• and a mouse trap

  
  

While these have all been useful items at various points in life, they did not form the foundation of my furniture restoration education.

So my answer is always the same, and just as satisfying every time:

“I taught myself. I’m entirely self-taught.”

I learned this from books (and practice)

The moments I’ll always remember

For every slightly awkward or funny story, there are many more lovely ones.

Quite often people - usually women, but sometimes men too - will look around my stall or workshop and say something like:

“It’s brilliant seeing a woman doing this.”

It’s always said with such genuine excitement and joy that it always makes me smile.

Those little moments mean a lot.

Some of my pieces displayed in a Surrey flower shop

In the spirit of International Women’s Day... anyone can do this - truly

Furniture restoration is a craft which takes patience, practice, and an acceptance that you will be covered in sawdust most weeks.

It’s not something that belongs to one gender, one background, or one particular kind of person  – anyone can learn it. And even though I am working in a male-dominated field, most people don’t even bat an eyelid that I’m a woman – and that’s pretty cool.

The woman behind the business