For the trade · Nationwide
Antique & vintage European and Scandinavian furniture for interior designers
Sourced, inspected and restored as needed in Columbus, Ohio. Shipped white glove to designers across the country.
We’re Leigh and Carrie, and Lessons of Things is our small furniture studio in Grandview Heights. We find antique and vintage European and Scandinavian pieces, with some mid-century in the mix, and fix what needs fixing. Designers come to us for pieces with some history and some personality, restored properly and shipped with care.
White-glove shipping nationwide, quoted at checkout.
Cities
Where we work
What we offer
Antique and vintage European pieces for your clients’ interiors
We buy slowly and choose carefully. Most of what comes through the studio is antique and vintage European furniture, with a strong lean toward Scandinavian and Danish design and good mid-century pieces when they earn a spot. Every piece is inspected and restored as needed, so it arrives ready to place, not as a project.
Dining chairs
Antique and vintage European dining chairs, from Danish modern teak and oak to older Continental and Scandinavian forms, some with cane, Danish cord or rush seats. Full sets when we can find them, pairs and singles when we can’t.
Lounge & accent chairs
Easy chairs, lounge chairs and armchairs, from antique European frames to mid-century Danish designs. Frames are checked and tightened, finishes revived and upholstery assessed honestly, so you know what you’re specifying.
Sideboards & case goods
Antique and vintage sideboards, credenzas, dressers, cabinets and bookcases, including mid-century teak and rosewood. Drawers should glide, doors should close and veneer should be sound. If it isn’t, we fix it before we list it.
Dining & occasional tables
Antique and mid-century dining tables, coffee tables, side tables and nesting sets. Tops are cleaned, repaired and refinished as needed, and extension leaves are checked for fit.
Refinishing for your clients’ pieces
Beyond what we sell, we refinish furniture in house for designers and their clients: repairs, finish revival or a full refinish, depending on what the piece needs. Out-of-state projects are welcome.
Caning, cord & rush for client pieces
We hand-weave cane, prewoven cane, Danish cord and rush seats in house for client projects, often alongside refinishing, so the whole piece comes back ready to use.
Quality
Every piece leaves better than it came in
That’s the whole philosophy. Every piece is inspected when it comes in and restored as much as it needs, and no more. Antique and vintage furniture has earned some patina, and we’re not trying to make it look new. We are trying to make it solid, clean, comfortable and honest about its age, so it holds up in a real home with real people sitting on it.
All of the work happens in our own studio. Refinishing and repairs are done by us, by hand, one piece at a time. When something has a flaw we can’t or shouldn’t fix, we photograph it and tell you, so nothing surprises you or your client at install.
- Joints checked, cleaned and reglued when loose
- Veneer, edges and chips repaired
- Finish cleaned, revived or fully refinished, depending on what the wood needs
- Cane, cord and rush seats checked for wear and noted honestly
- Hardware cleaned and tightened, drawers and doors adjusted
- Honest condition notes with photos of any remaining wear
Shipping
White-glove shipping, nationwide
We ship from our Columbus studio to designers across the country. White-glove shipping is available nationwide, with a quote estimated at checkout. We work with a small number of trusted shipping partners, and every piece is blanket-wrapped in our studio before it goes out.
Timing depends on distance and the carrier’s route. Furniture shipping can take anywhere from a few days to up to 8 weeks when a piece is traveling across the country.
We’ll tell you the expected timeline up front and keep you posted along the way, and our shippers call ahead to schedule delivery, so you or your receiver know exactly when it’s coming. We deliver to receivers, studios and client homes across the country.
01
Inspected
A final check before the piece leaves the studio.
02
Wrapped
Blanket-wrapped in house by the people who restored it.
03
Delivered
White-glove delivery, with a call ahead from the shipper to schedule.
Trade program
A trade program for independent interior designers
It’s simple on purpose. Tell us a little about your studio, send a resale certificate if you have one, and you’re in. We’ll add you to the trade list and start sending new arrivals your way.
First dibs
Trade members see new pieces before they go up on our website, Chairish or eBay.
10% trade discount
On every piece in the shop and on our refinishing services. For caning, the discount applies to labor.
Tax-exempt purchasing
Send us a valid resale certificate and we’ll keep it on file for your orders.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Where do you ship?
Anywhere in the continental US. We have dedicated pages for Columbus, Nashville, Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York and Houston, but we’re happy to ship wherever your project is.
How much does shipping cost?
White-glove shipping is quoted at checkout, based on size, weight and distance. Every piece is blanket-wrapped in our studio and goes out with one of a small number of trusted shipping partners.
How long does shipping take?
Anywhere from a few days to up to 8 weeks for cross-country trips. We share the timeline up front, and our shippers call ahead before delivery.
Can I see a piece before I buy it?
We’ll send detailed photos, including close-ups of any wear, and we’re happy to do a video walkthrough on request. You can also visit the studio in Columbus by appointment.
Can you refinish or re-cane a piece my client already owns?
Yes. We refinish and weave cane, Danish cord and rush seats in house for client projects, including out-of-state ones.
How do I join the trade program?
Fill out the short application and send a resale certificate if you’d like tax-exempt purchasing. That’s it.
About Lessons of Things
Antique and vintage European and Scandinavian furniture, plus refinishing, hand caning, rush and Danish cord seating. A small studio in Grandview Heights, Columbus, Ohio, run by Leigh and Carrie. Studio visits by appointment.
Questions? Email [email protected] or call us at (614) 636-0525. Find us on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Facebook at @lessonsofthings.