A day in the life...

Step into our Chester workshop at Antique Pine Imports and you’ll find a place where the kettle is never far from boiling, the radio hums in the background playing old classics, and every piece of furniture has a story waiting to be told.

Here’s what a typical day looks like for us…

Morning: New Arrivals & First Impressions

The day often starts with a van pulling up, stacked with freshly sourced pieces. Wardrobes, tables, dressers—you name it. We carefully unload each one, giving it a quick once-over to see what love and attention it might need and making a note on our job board. Sometimes it’s just a polish, other times it’s a full makeover. Either way, it’s always exciting to see what treasures have arrived.

Mid-Morning: Rolling Up Our Sleeves

Once the floor’s clear and new stock is labeled and measured, the real fun begins. Out come the brushes, cloths, and wax. Some pieces are treated to a deep wax that really brings out the warmth of the pine, while others are painted in beautiful shades to give them a fresh, modern feel. It’s hands-on, creative work—and the part of the day where the workshop really buzzes.

Coffee Break & Customer Chats

Of course, no workshop day would be complete without a coffee break (and maybe a biscuit or two). It’s also when customers tend to drop in - it is like they can smell the coffee sometimes! We love showing people around, chatting about what they’re looking for, and helping them find “the one”—whether that’s an old pine wardrobe that will fit neatly into a tricky alcove, or a restored antique pine farmhouse table big enough for family feasts.

Afternoon: Finishing Touches & Sharing Online

After lunch, it’s back to the workbench. A piece waxed in the morning might now be ready for its final polish or another piece could need a little TLC. Once it’s ready, we’ll snap a few photos and share them online—it’s always lovely to give our followers a peek behind the scenes and show them what’s just arrived or freshly finished, many use these posts as inspiration when it comes to their own pieces.

Later in the Day: Wrapping Up

As the afternoon winds down, we tidy up tools, brushes and waxing equipment, sweep the floor, and wrap any furniture that’s heading off to its new home in the coming days. There’s something special about seeing a finished piece ready to start a new chapter with someone else—it’s the best part of the job.

By the time the lights go out, the workshop feels calm again, but we’re already excited for tomorrow: another delivery, another transformation, another story to share.

Want to see more of what’s going on behind the scenes at Antique Pine Imports? Pop into our current stock or join us over on Instagram and Facebook for regular updates from the workshop.