Ainsworth Antiques

Definitely the place to go for all your restoration needs. I've been using High Grade Finishing for several years now. Russell and Valarie are a pleasure to work with. Keep up the great work

After thirty years of dealing with Rus and VAL I can say all the projects they have completed have far exceeded my expectations. Keep up the great work.

We have had Russ and Val restore our furniture for over 20 years. You will never find a more qualified refinishing company in the entire Northeast. Their attention to detail is unmatched, as well as the quality of their craftsmanship unparalleled. I have grown up with antiques all of my life and can appreciate the warmth and beauty that a piece of furniture can bring to your home.

Throughout my 62 years, I have bought and refinished numerous fine pieces of furniture only to be dissatisfied with the finished product. I happened to be surfing the internet looking for an above average refinishing/restoration company to find out that this little goldmine was in our backyard the entire time. My advice would be this, if you have a piece of furniture that is sentimental or you made an investment in the purchase of a new antique this is the place for you. Look no further, the best of the best is located in Enfield, CT.

Over the last couple of years, Rus and Valerie have refinished and repaired several pieces I inherited from my grandparents. All turned out beautifully, but my favorite thus far, is their kitchen table and chairs. They used the chairs until they both passed away, but the table had been relegated to the garage. When I got them, the chairs required repair and the table was in pieces. Rus and Val do phenomenal work as evidenced by these photos.

I have the set in a new addition to my home and use the table on occasion as a desk. My grandparents would not recognize the set, but they would be so pleased that their "old furniture" is still used. Thank you to High Grade Finishing for restoring all my childhood memories associated with these pieces!

Thank you so very much for refinishing my kitchen cabinets. Buying an older home is a challenge, and with your services I was able to have beautiful cabinets and keep the style of my 1700s farmhouse. Rus and Val were professional and responsive. The quality is exceptional.

I have enjoyed many memories of visiting my Grandmother in Santa Fe as a young girl. I would snuggle under the covers in her bedroom as she read me stories before bedtime. It was a small bedroom with a lovely antique bed and dresser. I loved to open up her dresser drawers and smell her perfume scented sweaters and lingerie. When the dresser was sent East after she passed away, I only opened the drawers occasionally to preserve the scent of long ago.

I was reluctant to restore her dresser until I could find someone who would handle it with care, love, and the realization of its invaluable worth by the owner. For it is so much more than a dresser; it is a feeling, a smell, and a pathway to a special time in my life. You have brought back a part of my life with the exquisite restoration of my Grandmother's dresser.

The feel of the wood, the perfect shade of the stain, the smooth gliding of the drawers, and the careful repair of one of the glass knobs. Thank you for the effort, time, and expertise that you put into this project. You have done a stupendous job.

A one of a kind restoration, repair and refinishing facility run by two consummate furniture experts. There simply isn't another place to have your precious heirlooms handled than this business.

Russ was personable and professional at every step, from taking me on a short tour of his shop to sending pictures as the work progressed. I had six family heirloom chairs of high quality (but in well used shape) refinished by him. The work was done well and color matched perfectly to the original. Don't know where the review from two years ago came from, but ignore it completely and go see Russ.

The work did take a few weeks, but was finished precisely in the time frame I was told on day one- I was made aware of his current influx and a pending vacation. The end results were worth the wait, and at this point I wouldn't go elsewhere. This is the only review I've ever felt compelled to leave for a business. Visit with confidence

Word to the wise: If you get your finishing work done at Ainsworth, be on the ball and be very specific or you may be surprised at the lack of care and detail. It took well over a year for a rocking chair to be stripped and refinished. Most times. you have to call numerous times over long periods just to finally get a call back and more excuses. I find the wails by Russ of how difficult it was seem to be a false excuse to charge you the highest prices.

If you try to get an estimate at first, . easily double this and don't have any criticism as Russ finds it very easy to show his true and nasty colors making the customer the enemy for daring to question. He told me he had a helper do the stripping work, then said he did it. Russ hired out a large portion of the work on the chair. and then explains this work as though he did it.

I tried in the politest way to explain a good difference in staining colors on different parts of the chair and was walloped by bad behavior. A large part of the work was commissioned out which I paid for in full to the second party. (The person hired out to do part of the work was awesome and I have only praises for him). Russ claims to guarantee his work. but if you cannot get this in writing. he will literally berate you no matter how softly you tread on eggshells and you quickly find out. there is no guarantee.

What is the hourly rate at High Grade Finishing? You will be amazed at the nebulous reasoning. Although after being very specific the overall work on the chair was very nicely done, the back is glued unevenly however so the chair back remains at an angle and the staining is obvious in daylight to be mismatched. I do not mind paying a high price for a job well done, yet it is obvious Russ is probably tired of this work and his customers and perhaps should retire.

I was patient throughout this entire process and as polite as I could be. I was more than patient and understanding of his extraordinarily long time and unanswered phone calls. Indeed I had to call the man hired out who was very responsive to me, polite and wonderful as Russ never could get around to following through on just about everything. All of this following through was also on my dime, time, and gas money from repeatedly having to drive out there.