About Us....

                                           

Rodney Keyser has owned and operated The Restoration Studio since it's

Grand Opening in 1991.  We have risen to the top of our field by remaining a small family

run business. We have strived to provide the highest quality

refinishing and restoration services in the region. We offer a wide range of services,

most all of which are done by us in our  Studio.

Head restorer  Rodney Keyser  still does most of the work himself. This has allowed us to

maintain the high standards we have become known for.

A third generation finisher / restorer, his love of the trade was handed down to him

through his late parents, Rolland and Jacklyn Keyser.  Both Parents worked within the wood 

trade their entire life. Rodney, along with his wife Jennifer have built an impeccable

reputation for  both quality and service.  We are,  always have been, 

and always will remain a small family run business built on exceeding

our customers already high expectations.

 

 

Our Story....

 

 

 

Rodney entered into the furniture trade upon his graduation from high school in 1982.

"I took a job at a local office furniture plant out of high school where both my parents were

employed. I was just a kid and it was just a job". Little did he know , it was the beginning

of a fulfilling career.  "Furniture was always a big part of my life. Growing up, my entire

family was associated with the furniture trade, so it was just part of my DNA".

 

Rodney worked at his first job for 5 years, all of which was spent in the finishing department.

In a company of 300+ employees, Rodney climbed the ladder and his abilities

didn't go unnoticed.  At the age of 22,  he was promoted to supervisor in finishing.

"It was very awkward at the time because I was so young", explains Rod. 

" I was one of the youngest in the department, so nobody really liked to take

instructions from me".

 

 Under challenged and feeling the need for change, Rod

moved on and took an apprenticeship with a gentlemen who specialized in

high end retail furniture repair.  "It wasn't your typical apprenticeship.

I worked in a small garage workshop with very basic tools , supplies and

very expensive damaged furniture that I was expected to fix."   That was Rod's job for the

next two years of his life. "I worked by myself with no formal training, so I had to

learn everything the hard way, but with each accomplishment  I gained self confidence".  

Rodney continues," those two years were the toughest of my career.  I'm glad I did it though,

partly because it was worth it and partly because I'll never have to do it again".

 

Rodney made two more stops on his career trail before his venture into self employment.

One stop was with a well established company repairing furniture damaged in moving

claims and lastly with a company that restored antiques.

 

In 1991, Rod opened his business Artistic Furniture Service. His specialty was on-site furniture

repair & touch up. Over the years, Rodney realized his real passions were on the refinishing

and restoration side of the business, so in 1997 after a fire wiped out much of his business

and home, Rod decided to open The Restoration Studio. "It was the perfect time to

make a change and dive head first into my true passion", recalls Rod.  "It's hard

to believe that was 14 years ago! The Restoration Studio has been such a great success,

and it will continue to be a part of me for the rest of my life. Restoring furniture is all

I have ever known".

 

In 2010, Rod and his wife Jennifer  decided it was time to teach the art of furniture

refinishing, repair and restoration to the world. Rodney began teaching his craft through

his new website The Refinishing Studio Learning Center, in January 2011.  "Nothing has

really changed and we run The Restoration Studio like we always have, but now 

much of  what  I do is filmed so that I can share my techniques with the world".

 

 

Rod and Jen Keyser live in Pleasant Valley Pa with their two children Justin and Lily,

and their  chocolate lab River.  They own and operate The Restoration Studio.

Visit them at www.werefinish.com. They also run an informative "how to" website,

The Furniture Refinishing Studio Learning Center.

 

 

Voted Best Of Philadelphia

2011 by the USCA

 

 

 

 

 With Instructor Rodney Keyser

 

How To Refinish Furniture.

A truly unique website, brought to you

by The Restoration Studio.

Tips, techniques, tricks and advise on

how to refinish, repair & restore

old wood furnishings

 

 

Howard Products,

Family of Fine Wood Care Products