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Finishing

 

Atelier Pérusse creates finishes of lasting beauty, second to none in quality. Our furniture is most distinguished by the nature of our finishing process. This process helps to generate a wonderful patina which imparts our furniture the subtle finished characteristics of antiques evoking altogether the look of fine furniture cherished over time.

 

Finishing is as important as design and craftmanship. It is a labor intensive process which cannot be compromised. From the rustic charm of country armoires to the elegance of fine period pieces you will find a passionate commitment to quality finishing which will embellish your home forever.

 

Nous avons la conviction que la finition des meubles est toute aussi importante que son design et que sa fabrication. Dans cet esprit, Atelier Pérusse offre une variété de finis. Ceux-ci incluent la céruse, un éventail de finis teintés et peints à la main, du vernis au tampon, de la dorure et beaucoup plus encore. Cette gamme d'interventions est le reflet de l'engagement passionné qu'a Atelier Pérusse de créer pour vous une grande diversité de rendus, de textures et de couleurs.

 

 

THE WOODFINISHER

 

 

Many finishers first served as antiques restorers. This is true of the finishers at Atelier Pérusse. Restoring antiques helped them to better understand how pieces aged and, to a certain extend, how original finishes were done and applied. It is that deep understanding of antiques that helps them create some of the most beautiful finishes, as authentic in colors and patina as any original can be.

 

However, finishing is more than just understanding antiques. Finishing traditionnal furniture is an art, as much as it is a trade in itself. It requires a lot of skill and experience, much as it does emotion and sensibility. Skill and experience are the result of a lifetime of scholarly commitment. Emotion and sensibility are what make each and every piece unique. The finisher is a dedicated craftman to whom feelings, as much as expertise and passion, are integral to the successs of his work.

 

 

THE FINISHES

 

Stained finishes

It is critical that the finish has the right sheen and that the colors have clarity and depth. Atelier Pérusse employs water stain which are considered the ultimate when clarity of grain and permanence are desired. Deep penetrating and luminous these stains particularly highlight the natural figure and grain of the wood.
 
The expertise we developped as former antique restorers has greatly helped us create stains suited to every furniture styles and period. Made from vegetable pigments which are most transparent, most fade-resistent and environment friendly, these stains are identical to those found on fine period furniture. Available in a wide range of colors these were especially created to enhance the natural characteristics of lumber. Laquered or waxed, these unique and most beautiful finishes will enhance your home for years to come.

 

 

Hand-painted finishes​

Most of our painted pieces use a milk paint or an industrial acrylic paint finish. Milk paint in one form or another has been around for two thousand years. It contains natural ingredients including lime and casein, a milk protein, which gives milk paint its unique characteristics. Milk paint is solvent free, odorless when dry and its colors are permanent and non-fading. What also makes milk paint unique is that the paint is absorbed into the surface and adheres strongly to the wood fibers, resulting in a warm, soft, authentic and lasting finish that will never chip or peel.

 

Outstanding finishes can also be achieved with industrial acrylic paints. Used alone or with glazes, they result in finishes or great beauty and subtleties. On the practical side, colors can straight-forwardly be selected from any of the large paint manufacturer's charts of colors, making harmonization of colors in your home easier. The three finishes shown on the second row of images were all done with acrylic paint.

 

Gilding

Gilding is an art which few people master. In fact, it is a trade in its own right and a technique that requires a lot of skill and finenesse. The process consists in applying a metallic leaf to the wood surface. The metal is usually gold, but silver and copper are also used. It is a method of decorating wood which can be used as an accent to highlight a shaped edge or a decorative carving. Entire pieces such as chairs, beds and mirrors can also be gilded. It can turn an ordinary looking piece of furniture into something highly refined and unique.

 

Atelier Pérusse carries on the art of gilding and takes great pride in offering his clientele this unique and most refined product. We use gold, silver or copper leaves to do gilding on all types of furniture, traditionnal or contemporary. However, our great strength lies in gilding fine period chairs.

 

French polish​

Shellac is a resinous substance exuded by a certain insect found mainly on the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the oldest finishes still in use today. Many of the beautiful antiques you see in museums use some form of shellac to produce the classic finish that is so admired.

 

French polish is a traditionnal method of applying shellac that uses a cloth pad to apply the finish. The smoothness, unique sheen and optical effects on colour and figure make it the most attractive of all finishes. Still today, despite the sophistication of modern finishing materials, French polish remains a finish which is highly prized and admired. However, its application is notoriously difficult and requires a lot of skill, labor and experience. A good French polisher has to be subtle, both with the finish itself and the use of colour.

 

Atelier Pérusse has the ability to do French polish and takes great pride in offering his clientele this most outstanding finish.

 

Contemporary finishes​

Although we specialise in traditionnal finishes we are by no means limited to them. Along with our traditionnal recipes and techniques we use a wide range of industrial products such as lacquers, glazes, base coats and solvents to name but a few.

 

Our installations, including a fully-equiped spraying booth, enable us to do much more. We have in the past been asked to finish contemporary kitchens, to use industrial products and techniques to match existing finishes, to do limed oak finishes, to use varnish, penetrating oils, shading stains, shellac and much more.

 

 

HARDWARE

 

  

 

Very high quality hardware imparts furniture a sense of refinement and authenticity. Atelier Pérusse uses but the highest quality hardware that is also historically appropriate for the right furniture and style.

 

 

FURNITURE CARE

 

With proper care furniture from Atelier Pérusse will endure a lifetime. However, it is important to understand what can damage any fine piece of furniture.

 

Wood is a dynamic medium. It will expand or contract with changes in humidity and temperature. Excessive humidity or dryness can cause drawers to stick and even perfectly seasoned lumber to warp or crack. Avoid placing furniture in direct sunlight or next to a source of heat and do not place hot items directly on a finished surface. Use coasters and pads. Also, use felt under objects that could scratch the surface.

 

Keep your furniture clean. We advise that you do not use commercial wood care products on your furniture. We recommend first wiping it with a damp cloth followed by drying with a dry soft cloth.