Transforming Old Furniture into Unique Treasures at Carmen’s Workshop in the Canary Islands

Carmen Jiménez was born in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, but she became more widely known by another name in her professional career. “After participating in craft and antique fairs for several years, I realized that people recognized me as ‘the restorer of La Laguna’,” she recounts, and that’s how the workshop got its name: La Restauradora, Carmen explains.

“My great passion is antique furniture, its restoration, and preservation,” confesses this graduate in Fine Arts from the University of La Laguna. After a few years in teaching, she decided to move to Madrid, “to study furniture and antique wood restoration at the Furniture Restoration Centre,” recalls Carmen Jiménez, who opened her workshop almost 25 years ago.

Respecting the Essence of Furniture

“I carry out restoration work on antique and auction furniture, especially for private clients, where I can have direct and personalized contact with the customer. My work is carried out with seriousness and professionalism, applying traditional knowledge and techniques to each piece of furniture,” affirms Carmen. At La Restauradora, they practice “upcycling with a criterion”, respecting the characteristics of the objects and materials, applying conservation and restoration techniques.

Showroom with Unique Products

“In our showroom, customers can find antique and vintage pieces, restored and recovered in our workshop,” says Carmen Jiménez about a project that includes restoration and upcycling furniture classes.

“They arose as a way to meet the demand of people interested in learning the traditional techniques we use, thus valuing our trade,” Carmen explains, while reaffirming the environmental philosophy of the workshop, “which is summarized in recovery, reutilization, and upcycling,” she concludes.