About Us

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About us

About Luciano Colella

Before Luciano became a master craftsman, he acquired his intense passion for restoration from his father, Vincenzo Colella. Vincenzo was a skillful antique restorer for over fifty years inspiring Luciano to continue the art himself. As a student at the School of Art and Restoration in Bari, Italy, Luciano pursued his talents where he continued to refine his knowledge and skills. After working in the highly regarded artisan shops of Puglia and Piemonte, Luciano opened his own business in Polignano a Mare, his province of origin, in 1996. To this day, Luciano is still regarded as one of the finest in the art of restoration, gold leafing, engraving, carving and inlaying in his province. As a proud Italian immigrant, Luciano takes great joy in incorporating Italian methods into his work and embedding the art of his craft into American culture. He has even been regarded as the Michelangelo of furniture restoration by one of his clients.

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Over 20 years of quality craftsmanship…

“The craftsmanship demonstrated on my refinished table was nothing short of amazing. We had a family heirloom dining table that belonged to my husband's grandmother and it was restored to showroom quality. The table needed woodwork as well as refinishing and he also made a beautiful leaf that matches perfectly. He picked up the table and delivered at precisely the time he was expected. He is courteous and professional, and I simply could not recommend more highly. If you hire him, you will not be disappointed!” – Michele K. in Norwalk, CT

“I entrusted Luciano with a cedar hope chest that had been in my family for 100 years. It needed some repair and needed to be refinished. I wanted the natural cedar wood color, instead of the original dark cherry stain. It came out beautifully, it looks gorgeous and it will now last another 100 years! He picked it up and delivered it back, and sooner than I had expected. Really quality work and he obviously understands antiques and knows what he's doing. Great choice, highly recommend.” – Daphne C. in Norwalk, CT

“From the first contact until delivery of the finished product, Luciano and Anna were professional, courteous and extremely helpful. The chairs were lighter than I expected but Luciano was correct in using the lighter stain since there were many variations of color in the wood. The chairs blend so well with the kitchen cabinets. I have already recommended him to a friend and will definitely use his services in the future!! I am COMPLETELY satisfied.” – Marie S. in Port Chester, NY

About us

Meet our Team

Each piece of furniture is a unique piece of art. Whether it is antique or modern, our intention is to always keep in mind the integrity and originality of the piece. From gilding to lacquer finishes or from reupholstery to restoration — we ensure that everything is customized to the clients taste with great detail and precision.

It is our goal to retain as much of the original piece as possible in any restoration project. We always take into account the construction of the piece to ensure it not be over-restored. From unstable structures to worn out drawer runners, new components can be made to match the original piece. With reupholstery, we can provide a complete service of both modern and period furniture from anything to armchairs to dining chairs and in leather or fabric. We are also proud to specialize in traditional French polishing utilizing much of the same process and materials used nearly 200 years ago.

Over the years, The Gilder Restoration has received numerous positive reviews from clients and worked with well-regarded clientele such as Terri Ricci Interiors, Alice Pirsu Interiors, Pappas Miron, and Robert Passal.