Niagara Region, Ontario

Old furniture deserves a second life. So do the animals at TAMS.

I rescue used wood furniture from homes across Niagara, refinish it by hand in my workshop, and put what it raises toward the animals at TAMS Sanctuary in Wainfleet.

Every sale funds TAMS Sanctuary Hand-refinished, one piece at a time
Serving
St. Catharines Niagara Falls Welland Fort Erie Port Colborne Niagara-on-the-Lake Wainfleet and the surrounding Niagara Region

What I do

Furniture with good bones, given a second life

Rescue

Dressers, tables, chairs and cabinets that still have solid wood underneath, but nowhere left to go.

Refinish

Stripped, repaired, and finished by hand in my workshop, using the same coatings knowledge I bring to my day job.

Raise

Every piece sold funds the animals at TAMS Sanctuary in Wainfleet. This is a side project, not a business.

The kind of transformation I'm after

From dated to done right

Illustrative examples showing the style and quality of finish I aim for, not photos of actual client pieces. Real before-and-afters from the workshop will replace these as they're completed.

Before Illustrative Illustrative example: a worn 1980s oak dresser before refinishing
After Illustrative Illustrative example: the same style of dresser refinished in a deep espresso stain

Dresser

Worn oak veneer stripped back and refinished in a deep espresso stain with a modern satin topcoat.

Before Illustrative Illustrative example: a dated 1980s honey-oak kitchen cabinet before refinishing
After Illustrative Illustrative example: the same style of cabinet refinished in painted sage green enamel

Cabinet

Yellowed clear coat replaced with a painted enamel finish and new matte black hardware.

Before Illustrative Illustrative example: a faded and water-ringed 1990s dining table before refinishing
After Illustrative Illustrative example: the same style of table refinished in a rich walnut stain

Dining table

Water rings and scratches stripped out, refinished with a rich walnut stain and a glass-smooth topcoat.

Have furniture to donate?

Tell me what you've got

If you've got a solid wood piece you're ready to part with, tell me about it: a photo and a rough idea of size and condition is a good start. I'll let you know if it's a fit and we'll figure out pickup somewhere in the Niagara Region.

Email me the details

Wood, drawers, joinery, finish, whatever's wrong with it.

Email [email protected]

About TAMS

TAMS, The Ass Menagerie Sanctuary, is a small animal sanctuary on a century-old farm in Wainfleet, about 40 minutes from St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Fort Erie. They take in donkeys, horses and other animals that need rehabilitation and a permanent home, and they run entirely on sponsors, volunteers and donations.

Shoppers browsing handmade goods at a TAMS Sanctuary fundraiser market stall
TAMS at a local market, selling handmade goods to fund the sanctuary
TAMS Sanctuary merchandise table with hand-illustrated tote bags, catnip toys and treat jars
Hand-illustrated totes, treat jars and catnip toys, all donated and hand-made

Visit TAMS Sanctuary →

Wood finishing videos are coming to this site. In the meantime, read more about me, see the full list of refinishing services, or check out the golden oak to modern guide.