Pascale Hayward spotlights antique restorer and re-upholsterer Timothy Warr

• Name: Timothy Warr
• Born: 1977
• Home: Staffordshire, United Kingdom
• Company name: Antique 2 Chic.

Expertise: 18 years experience in traditional restoration, re-upholstery and the history of antiques. I have expertise in sourcing the right style of furniture and matching it to modern contemporary fabrics to create unique bespoke pieces.

Best achievements: Played hockey for Derbyshire and the Midlands and made it to England trials. Fully qualified chef. Developed and self built our last two marital homes. Antique 2 Chic was winner of the Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday.

Ambition: To collaborate with one of the many fantastic current artists, I admire Paul James, his paintings are exceptional. I love the quirky contrast he puts on the background which is an inspiration for my own furniture designs.

I would love for my brand to grow and be recognised world wide. It would be fantastic to have pieces on display in the window of Harrods and to feature on films and TV.  I can just see one of my sofas being used on Alan Carr Chatty Man or the Jonathan Ross show.

The highlights of your career
I have been restoring antique furniture for the past 15 years and have always had a love of antiques which stemmed from my grandmother, Isabel Corry, who had antique shops in Derby, Nottingham, Leicester and London and was a regular face at most of the country’s top antique fairs. At the age of eight, I remember spending hours waxing and polishing furniture for my grandmother, in preparation for the opening day of the Dorchester antique fair.

I studied the history of antiques and all aspects of traditional antique restoration and went on to set up Timothy Warr Antique Restoration in 1998 which has grown from strength to strength. In 2012 I teamed up with Charles Hanson from Hansons Auctioneers & Valuers to become their in-house restorer, to offer advice on items in need of restoration, along with my services.

Antique 2 Chic was launched in 2011 to recreate history with a bespoke modern twist. The company finds distinctive pieces of antique furniture and carefully restores them, re-capturing their heritage, before reupholstering them with a 21st Century creative eye. Each piece we design is unique and completely bespoke.

I have grown up with antiques and appreciate the quality of the workmanship, knowing the amount of dedication and hours required to create and make a piece. I find the provenance fascinating wondering who the piece was made for and where it once graced.

It is my vision to change the way people view antiques. Through the Antique 2 Chic process, antiques can be transformed to suit any lifestyle and home design without compromising antique character and history. These antiques have been enjoyed for generations and we ensure they will be around for many more to come through quality workmanship and excellent design.

Products are for sale on-line at www.antique2chic.co.uk, if you are looking for something specific and would like to commission your own bespoke piece we would love to hear from you.

For shipment, we use The British Shop Company who specialise in the shipment of antique furniture worldwide.