Christophe Pourny is a well-known furniture restorer and custom designer in Brooklyn who grew up in the south of France learning his trade in his parents’ antique store. He later moved to Paris to work with his uncle, Pierre Madel, who had a famous antique shop on Rue Jacob. Pourny has brought his talents and his client list of interior designers (Jamie Drake, Bunny Williams, Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz) to a fascinating shop and studio in Dumbo, where he recently gave me a walk-through. Here, his trusty leather tool apron. Photo: Wendy Goodman
One of Christophe’s specialties is the time-consuming process of French polishing. Here a raw surface awaits the many hours of polishing which will transform it into a lustrous piece of wood. Photo: Wendy Goodman
A wood top, post-polish. Photo: Wendy Goodman
Pourny does everything from custom-designing period pieces to regilding antiques to restoring special decorative details like the bronzing on these cabinets. Photo: Wendy Goodman
A pair of Victorian seats in need of a great deal of love. Photo: Wendy Goodman
This diminutive burl-wood dresser belongs to the florist Zezé, who is also a great furniture collector. Photo: Wendy Goodman
The dresser’s veneer is made from one part of a tree that’s been pieced together to form a symmetrical pattern. Photo: Wendy Goodman
This beautiful wood-lacquered Deco desk was restored for client Michael Bruno, the founder of 1stdibs.com. It didn’t look anywhere near this PRISTINE when it landed in Christophe’s shop. Photo: Wendy Goodman
Inside the same desk: a delightfully unexpected cinnabar red! Photo: Wendy Goodman
