Rheirloom Frequently Asked Questions

We know that buying furniture online can be scary, especially vintage furniture.

We answer all the burning questions to make sure you are confident in your purchase and will love your Rheirloom for generations!

This page is in progress. Some answers have links to new pages that are in progress. Check back soon.

Do you have a retail location?

No, not at this time. However, on the first Saturday of every month, we host Open Studio time for local customer visits. We often do an Instagram Live to provide a little tour of what we’ve got going on in the shop that month.  

We are also happy to book private viewings. Just click here to schedule. 

What payment methods do you take?

We accept multiple payment methods, including Shop Pay Installments, Paypal, Venmo, Visa, Mastercard.

Can I return something?

Please see our Return Policy for details. Note there are separate policies for art and furniture.

Can I just pickup my furniture puchase?

Yes. Local pickup is free. Just choose Local Pickup at checkout and then contact us to schedule.

Do you offer local delivery?

Local Delivery within the Portland Metro Area is $200.00, Delivery can usually be arranged within a week.

Do you offer nationwide shipping?

Yes. Shipping is available in the contiguous United States. We use a private network of independent white-glove shippers, who are trusted resources for sellers throughout the country. Sellers on Chairish, 1st Dibs, Etsy, Ebay, and more, depend upon their services daily.

The shipper will take possession and responsibility for the product from the time the product leaves our premises. They will be responsible to wrap the product (per our direction), to accommodate their needs for their trucks. This allows them to see the design and construction of the product for proper handling and placement on their truck. 

Once the item has shipped, we provide you with their contact information and an approximate date of delivery. They will get in touch when they have a more firm date of arrival.

All our shippers are insured, and we offer the option to purchase further protection at checkout for an additional 10% of the purchase price.

For details regarding shipping rates, check out this Shipping Info Page.

What are your shipping rates?

Our rates are determined by your location and the scale of the piece.

To make this easy, we categorize all our furniture into simple size categories of small, medium or large.

Check out the map below this section to know what your shipping rate will be.

How long will shipping take?

Shipping ranges from 2-12 weeks depending upon season and distance. Most pieces arrive within 4 weeks of the order. If you require a piece to arrive at a specific time, please contact us and we'll be happy to try and accomodate.

What if my piece is damaged during shipment?

Each piece will be wrapped individually by the shipper under our direction. We find that it is important for the shipper to see the anatomy of the piece. Shippers have to rearrange their loads to accommodate deliveries and additional pickups along their routes.

Our shippers understand the rare nature of the furniture we sell and it’s highly likely we could never replace it. Rest assured though, the shipments are insured. We also offer additional insurance at checkout, calculated at 10% of the purchase price. (coming soon)

How do I care for my new lacquered treasure?

Our lacquer finish is fully catalyzed (2k) with every coat. It is a very durable finish and will endure for decades with proper care. The finish is waterproof and will withstand limited abuse, but sharp objects, such as rings on your fingers or car keys, will scratch the finish. We recommend dusting often and using coasters and protective felt feet on any decor objects.

The best way to clean spills on high gloss furniture is with a small amount of dish soap, warm water, and a very soft cloth. For day-to-day cleaning, we provide you a mini bottle of finish spray with your furniture delivery. You can purchase more spray here. There is also a link on the bottle itself. Do not substitute with a solvent-based finishing spray. Do not use any cleansers with ammonia or other harsh chemicals, it will dull the finish. 

How do I care for a natural wood piece?

At times we rescue pieces that are pretty close to original condition. In those cases, we clean and repair any minor issues before offering them for sale. If the piece is an original wood finish, we will have sealed it with a varnish. Just dust often and wipe up spills quickly.

Do I have to care for the hardware?

No care required. Brass is our go-to hardware choice. If we purchase new brass hardware, it will have a lacquered finish to inhibit tarnish.

The vintage brass hardware we choose to keep has been stripped, cleaned, polished and lacquered as well to inhibit tarnish.

or

The hardware will either be new or the original. Original hardware is cleaned, polished, and protected to inhibit future tarnish. We do not spray paint any hardware gold, but we can re-plate vintage hardware if the original plating has worn off. Most of our new hardware is lacquered to inhibit tarnish as well unless our listing specifically says “unlacquered” brass.

If it is unlacquered, our recommendation is BarKeeper’s Friend or Brasso for cleaning periodically. However, please remove the hardware from the furniture before cleaning. Do NOT attempt to clean the hardware while it is still installed on the furniture.

What kind of condition will my Rheirloom arrive in?

Your refinsihed Rheirloom will not have any odor from prior owners, nor any off-gassing smell from our lacquer product.

The drawers will retain their original structure and function. It is not possible to reconstruct how the drawer functions to add modern glides. However, we often replace missing or broken glides to ensure they all work properly. Wax does wonders for wood on wood glides. We also will apply a wood conditioner to any drawer interiors that seem excessively dry and thirsty. If any drawers are stained, we will add a stylish wallpaper to ensure they are clean and fresh.

We add adjustable feet to the base or feet of each piece. Keeping your new Rheirloom level will ensure drawers and doors do not get out of square over time.

Do you lacquer all the interiors and backs?

Sometimes. If the interior of a hutch or buffet is quite dirty or damaged, we will spray it to match the body in color.

We will spray the back of pieces that are meant to be floating vs. against a wall. Many pieces have maker marks on the back that help identify the piece. We try not to cover those up.

Where do you find your vintage treasures?

We have written several blog posts about our process here. There are many good tips to help you find the piece of your dreams!

What is your painting process?

Technically we are not "painting" with paint, but it's easier to explain the process using "painting" as a verb.

We finish our pieces in a fully catalyzed (2k) high gloss lacquer. The process includes 8-10 layers of primer, color, and top coat, and sanding between every layer. 2k means that we add a catalyst product to the lacquer at each step to enhance durability. Lacquer and especially catalyzed lacquer is very different than paint. The consistency of lacquer is closer to water and has no body or thickness to paint with a brush. The product must be professionally sprayed. It also dries in 7-10 minutes so you can keep your process moving. But it’s total “open” time before it totally hardens is 1 hour. So you must have completed your spray pass 

It is quite technical but we believe the extra effort is worth it. Our final stage is a 4-step buffing process to achieve that piano finish. This includes a wax coat at the end, just like with automobile paint. We clean all remaining residue with this product.

What finishes do you offer?

Our specialty is high gloss, but we can also do satin or matte. All of our pieces are finished with an industrial water-based lacquer product. 

We also can achieve a ceruse finish. Ceruse is a specialty finish that is intended to highlight wood grain. It involves a base color and then a lime wax process buffed on and wiped off to reveal the grain. We typically put a topcoat over the ceruse for additional protection.

You can check out Bentley and the Mitchells for examples.

Where do you find your hardware?

We have many resources for hardware. I have a curated Etsy collection here with some of my favorites. Modern Matter, MyOhAmerica, and others offer beautiful high-end hardware.

What products do you use?

We use a water-based lacquer that we catalyze just before spraying. The catalyst product, also known as 2k, is added in a specific ratio to the lacquer. That speeds up dry time and produces a much harder and durable surface. Catalyzed or 2k lacquers are tricky and hard to do. Application is only through professional spray equipment. It dries in a very short amount of time, which also risks damage to the equipment if you don’t time it right.

We believe though, the risk is worth the gorgeous outcome!

We've shared some of our unique tools in a blog post you can read here.

Do you paint the backs of every piece?

We do not paint the backs of the items unless it is a piece that was intended to be viewed from behind (as opposed to against a wall where most furniture is placed). We also do not paint any original markings of any vintage pieces, such as the underneath of a table that might indicate the maker. These maker marks are often on the backs and might be useful in the future to preserve the value of the piece.

Do you lacquer the insides of your pieces?

It depends upon the piece. We mostly stick to spraying the most visible parts. That includes drawer fronts, but not insides/sides. If multiple drawers are stained or damaged, we will often add a wallpaper finish. This can be a beautiful addition but adds quite a bit of cost. Cabinet door front & backs are always sprayed, and often the interior of a cabinet section, unless it’s quite clean already. 

Can you refinish a piece I already own?

Yes, we can. If you are out of state, we can help arrange shipping to us as well. If you are local, we can also arrange pickup and delivery as well. Just drop us a linehere.

Do you have pieces I can customize?

Yes, just check out our Rescued section here to see unfinished pieces or those in progress. Not everything is listed there, so if there is something you're looking for, just contact us. We can also search for a specific piece you have in mind.

Do you have a color palette?

We do not. The lacquer product we use can be customized to hit almost any color or swatch. However, you can view all the colors we have done. Use the Shop All Furniture link on the home page, then filtering by color family. You’ll be able to search by color family and see actual pieces finished in various colors. 

Can I get a custom color?

We are happy to consult with you on custom colors or work with you if you have a specific color that you are trying to match. We general stick to the Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams palettes, however the Home Depot Behr and PPG swatches are also popular.

Do you have a retail location?

No, not at this time. However, on the first Saturday of every month, we host Open Studio time for local customer visits. We often do an Instagram Live to provide a little tour of what we’ve got going on in the shop that month.  

We are also happy to book private viewings. Just click here to schedule. 

What payment methods do you take?

We accept multiple payment methods, including Shop Pay Installments, Paypal, Venmo, Visa, Mastercard.

Can I return something?

Please see our Return Policy for details. Note there are separate policies for art and furniture.

Can I just pickup my furniture puchase?

Yes. Local pickup is free. Just choose Local Pickup at checkout and then contact us to schedule.

Do you offer local delivery?

Local Delivery within the Portland Metro Area is $200.00, Delivery can usually be arranged within a week.

Do you offer nationwide shipping?

Yes. Shipping is available in the contiguous United States. We use a private network of independent white-glove shippers, who are trusted resources for sellers throughout the country. Sellers on Chairish, 1st Dibs, Etsy, Ebay, and more, depend upon their services daily.

The shipper will take possession and responsibility for the product from the time the product leaves our premises. They will be responsible to wrap the product (per our direction), to accommodate their needs for their trucks. This allows them to see the design and construction of the product for proper handling and placement on their truck. 

Once the item has shipped, we provide you with their contact information and an approximate date of delivery. They will get in touch when they have a more firm date of arrival.

All our shippers are insured, and we offer the option to purchase further protection at checkout for an additional 10% of the purchase price.

For details regarding shipping rates, check out this Shipping Info Page.

What are your shipping rates?

Our rates are determined by your location and the scale of the piece.

To make this easy, we categorize all our furniture into simple size categories of small, medium or large.

Check out the map below this section to know what your shipping rate will be.

How long will shipping take?

Shipping ranges from 2-12 weeks depending upon season and distance. Most pieces arrive within 4 weeks of the order. If you require a piece to arrive at a specific time, please contact us and we'll be happy to try and accomodate.

What if my piece is damaged during shipment?

Each piece will be wrapped individually by the shipper under our direction. We find that it is important for the shipper to see the anatomy of the piece. Shippers have to rearrange their loads to accommodate deliveries and additional pickups along their routes.

Our shippers understand the rare nature of the furniture we sell and it’s highly likely we could never replace it. Rest assured though, the shipments are insured. We also offer additional insurance at checkout, calculated at 10% of the purchase price. (coming soon)

How do I care for my new lacquered treasure?

Our lacquer finish is fully catalyzed (2k) with every coat. It is a very durable finish and will endure for decades with proper care. The finish is waterproof and will withstand limited abuse, but sharp objects, such as rings on your fingers or car keys, will scratch the finish. We recommend dusting often and using coasters and protective felt feet on any decor objects.

The best way to clean spills on high gloss furniture is with a small amount of dish soap, warm water, and a very soft cloth. For day-to-day cleaning, we provide you a mini bottle of finish spray with your furniture delivery. You can purchase more spray here. There is also a link on the bottle itself. Do not substitute with a solvent-based finishing spray. Do not use any cleansers with ammonia or other harsh chemicals, it will dull the finish. 

How do I care for a natural wood piece?

At times we rescue pieces that are pretty close to original condition. In those cases, we clean and repair any minor issues before offering them for sale. If the piece is an original wood finish, we will have sealed it with a varnish. Just dust often and wipe up spills quickly.

Do I have to care for the hardware?

No care required. Brass is our go-to hardware choice. If we purchase new brass hardware, it will have a lacquered finish to inhibit tarnish.

The vintage brass hardware we choose to keep has been stripped, cleaned, polished and lacquered as well to inhibit tarnish.

or

The hardware will either be new or the original. Original hardware is cleaned, polished, and protected to inhibit future tarnish. We do not spray paint any hardware gold, but we can re-plate vintage hardware if the original plating has worn off. Most of our new hardware is lacquered to inhibit tarnish as well unless our listing specifically says “unlacquered” brass.

If it is unlacquered, our recommendation is BarKeeper’s Friend or Brasso for cleaning periodically. However, please remove the hardware from the furniture before cleaning. Do NOT attempt to clean the hardware while it is still installed on the furniture.

What kind of condition will my Rheirloom arrive in?

Your refinsihed Rheirloom will not have any odor from prior owners, nor any off-gassing smell from our lacquer product.

The drawers will retain their original structure and function. It is not possible to reconstruct how the drawer functions to add modern glides. However, we often replace missing or broken glides to ensure they all work properly. Wax does wonders for wood on wood glides. We also will apply a wood conditioner to any drawer interiors that seem excessively dry and thirsty. If any drawers are stained, we will add a stylish wallpaper to ensure they are clean and fresh.

We add adjustable feet to the base or feet of each piece. Keeping your new Rheirloom level will ensure drawers and doors do not get out of square over time.

Do you lacquer all the interiors and backs?

Sometimes. If the interior of a hutch or buffet is quite dirty or damaged, we will spray it to match the body in color.

We will spray the back of pieces that are meant to be floating vs. against a wall. Many pieces have maker marks on the back that help identify the piece. We try not to cover those up.

Where do you find your vintage treasures?

We have written several blog posts about our process here. There are many good tips to help you find the piece of your dreams!

What is your painting process?

Technically we are not "painting" with paint, but it's easier to explain the process using "painting" as a verb.

We finish our pieces in a fully catalyzed (2k) high gloss lacquer. The process includes 8-10 layers of primer, color, and top coat, and sanding between every layer. 2k means that we add a catalyst product to the lacquer at each step to enhance durability. Lacquer and especially catalyzed lacquer is very different than paint. The consistency of lacquer is closer to water and has no body or thickness to paint with a brush. The product must be professionally sprayed. It also dries in 7-10 minutes so you can keep your process moving. But it’s total “open” time before it totally hardens is 1 hour. So you must have completed your spray pass 

It is quite technical but we believe the extra effort is worth it. Our final stage is a 4-step buffing process to achieve that piano finish. This includes a wax coat at the end, just like with automobile paint. We clean all remaining residue with this product.

What finishes do you offer?

Our specialty is high gloss, but we can also do satin or matte. All of our pieces are finished with an industrial water-based lacquer product. 

We also can achieve a ceruse finish. Ceruse is a specialty finish that is intended to highlight wood grain. It involves a base color and then a lime wax process buffed on and wiped off to reveal the grain. We typically put a topcoat over the ceruse for additional protection.

You can check out Bentley and the Mitchells for examples.

Where do you find your hardware?

We have many resources for hardware. I have a curated Etsy collection here with some of my favorites. Modern Matter, MyOhAmerica, and others offer beautiful high-end hardware.

What products do you use?

We use a water-based lacquer that we catalyze just before spraying. The catalyst product, also known as 2k, is added in a specific ratio to the lacquer. That speeds up dry time and produces a much harder and durable surface. Catalyzed or 2k lacquers are tricky and hard to do. Application is only through professional spray equipment. It dries in a very short amount of time, which also risks damage to the equipment if you don’t time it right.

We believe though, the risk is worth the gorgeous outcome!

We've shared some of our unique tools in a blog post you can read here.

Do you paint the backs of every piece?

We do not paint the backs of the items unless it is a piece that was intended to be viewed from behind (as opposed to against a wall where most furniture is placed). We also do not paint any original markings of any vintage pieces, such as the underneath of a table that might indicate the maker. These maker marks are often on the backs and might be useful in the future to preserve the value of the piece.

Do you lacquer the insides of your pieces?

It depends upon the piece. We mostly stick to spraying the most visible parts. That includes drawer fronts, but not insides/sides. If multiple drawers are stained or damaged, we will often add a wallpaper finish. This can be a beautiful addition but adds quite a bit of cost. Cabinet door front & backs are always sprayed, and often the interior of a cabinet section, unless it’s quite clean already. 

Can you refinish a piece I already own?

Yes, we can. If you are out of state, we can help arrange shipping to us as well. If you are local, we can also arrange pickup and delivery as well. Just drop us a linehere.

Do you have pieces I can customize?

Yes, just check out our Rescued section here to see unfinished pieces or those in progress. Not everything is listed there, so if there is something you're looking for, just contact us. We can also search for a specific piece you have in mind.

Do you have a color palette?

We do not. The lacquer product we use can be customized to hit almost any color or swatch. However, you can view all the colors we have done. Use the Shop All Furniture link on the home page, then filtering by color family. You’ll be able to search by color family and see actual pieces finished in various colors. 

Can I get a custom color?

We are happy to consult with you on custom colors or work with you if you have a specific color that you are trying to match. We general stick to the Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams palettes, however the Home Depot Behr and PPG swatches are also popular.

Shipping Rate Chart

Identify the item you're interested in having shipped. Review the Shipping & Delivery tab in the listing, to find its designated size: small, medium, or large. Locate the zone you need to ship to and refer to the rate chart below. Additional examples for each size are outlined below.

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