For the trade · Columbus, Ohio
Antique & vintage European and Scandinavian furniture for Columbus interior designers
Sourced, inspected and restored as needed in Columbus, Ohio.
We’re Leigh and Carrie, and Lessons of Things is our small furniture studio in Grandview Heights. We source antique and vintage European furniture, with Scandinavian and mid-century pieces in the mix, for interior designers in German Village, Clintonville, Bexley, Upper Arlington and the Short North. Columbus is full of brick Tudors, Italianate rowhouses, 1950s ranches and brand-new builds that could use something with a little history in it. Since the studio is here in Grandview Heights, you can see, sit in and poke at anything before your client commits.
White-glove shipping nationwide, quoted at checkout.
What we offer
Antique and vintage European pieces for Columbus 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
Studio visits & local delivery in Columbus
Being local has its perks. Book a time to come by the studio, bring your client if you like, and sit in the chair before anyone commits. We’ll pull pieces aside for you and talk through options for the room.
Around town, most designers either pick up from the studio or have us deliver straight to the job site. Local delivery is available within a 30-mile radius of the studio for $100. We hire out the lifting and placement.
Working on a project outside Columbus? White-glove shipping is available nationwide, with quotes estimated at checkout.
01
Visit
See pieces in person at the studio by appointment.
02
Hold
Trade clients can place a 48-hour hold while clients decide.
03
Deliver
Pick up from the studio, or we bring it to the job site.
Trade program
A trade program for Columbus 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
Can I see pieces in person?
Yes. Book a studio visit and come by. Bring your client, bring a tape measure, sit in everything. If you can’t make it in, we’re happy to do a video walkthrough on request.
Do you deliver around Columbus?
We do. [DELIVERY AREA AND FEE]. Studio pickup is always an option, too.
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. Drop it off at the studio and we’ll give you a quote and timeline.
Can you source something specific for a project?
Tell us what you’re looking for. We can’t promise, but we’re always hunting and we’ll keep your list in mind.
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.
Do you work with designers outside Columbus?
All the time. White-glove shipping is available nationwide, with pages for Nashville, Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York and Houston below.
Cities
We also work with designers in
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.